Law enforcement officials across the state are fed up with motorcycles, dirt bikes, mopeds and ATVs being illegally operated on city streets.

This is an issue across the state from Rochester to Rome to Albany — where a woman was struck, causing a fractured leg and serious head injury.

What You Need To Know

  • Sheriff Craig Apple said people have been operating uninsured, unregistered dirt bikes on city streets, weaving in and out of traffic and surrounding cars

  • This is an issue across the state from Rochester to Rome to Albany -- where a woman was struck, causing a fractured leg and serious head injury

  • The Albany County sheriff said if you encounter these operators to steer clear, keep your windows up and don’t provoke them

“We will not let up. We're going to continue to go out as many nights that we have to until people start following the laws and keeping dirt bikes and illegal bikes off of our roadways," said Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple.

Apple said people have been operating uninsured, unregistered dirt bikes on city streets, weaving in and out of traffic, surrounding cars, even riding on one wheel.

“Enough is enough and we're not going to sit back and allow this to happen. And you know what? If we have to chase them a little bit, we may have to chase them a little bit. If they fall off their bike, they fall off their bike. You know what? We're done sitting there and turning our head to this behavior. We have to stop this," he said.

Of course, it’s not just an issue in Albany County.

Spectrum News 1 spoke with a lieutenant with the Rochester Police Department.

“Right now, we're here at the auto pound, the city's impound lot. And what we have behind me is just some of the dirt bikes and ATVs that we've collected both this year and last year. So beyond these, these are some of them. We've got a barn full of dirt bikes and ATVs as well. And so we're going to work through is here is we're going to continue to impound these as we collect them throughout the city," said Rochester Police Department Lt. Greg Bello.

And what about the consequences?

“As far as the operation, you're talking about everything from uninsured, unregistered, aggravated, unlicensed operation, reckless driving. I mean, some of it can turn into criminal mischief. Some of them could be stolen. I mean, the amount of charges, it's just a laundry list of charges. So, again, listen, it's not about arrests. It's about safety," Apple said.

He said if you encounter these operators to steer clear, keep your windows up and don’t provoke them.

The Albany County sheriff added that law enforcement agencies could always use more funding from the state to do more special operations, catching dirt bikers.