New London — Almost as soon as you see them, they're gone — their engines whirring and zipping as riders pop wheelies and weave through city streets.

"The challenge is, you can't engage them in a chase," Mayor Michael Passero said of illegal dirt bikes and all-terrain vehicles, which have long plagued residents, drivers and law enforcement. "You have to take other measures, like educating the public to let us know where the bikes are coming from."

In June 2018, the New London City Council passed an ordinance to curb illegal dirt bikes and ATV use — outlawing any unregistered ATV, dirt bike, pocket bike and mini motorcycle on public streets and parks, schools and sidewalks, as well as private property without written permission of the property owner.

Riders found in violation face $1,000 fines for a first offense, $1,500 for a second and $2,000 for a third and subsequent offenses. And passengers won't hold on to their cash either, as they're subject to $100 fines for each offense. Retailers and auto dealers must post a copy of the ordinance or face a $100 fine, and gasoline retailers are banned from selling gas to riders.

"It's been a huge success for us," Capt. Brian Wright of the New London Police Department said. "They cause chaos and more importantly are a danger to the rider and other motorists."

New London Crime Prevention Officer Ryan Soccio said last year that the vehicles often went through traffic signals, popped wheelies, rode three or more abreast and sped the wrong way on one-way streets. Sometimes riders taunt others on the road, wear masks and cut off other vehicles.

Residents lodged more than 100 complaints of the illegal vehicles in 2017, but police said the summer months of 2018 and 2019 saw 56 and 34 motor vehicle violation calls, respectively.

"The general public has been a great partner providing us with information," Wright said. "We don't chase motorcycles. It causes greater harm. But through investigative techniques, we can find them. Social media has also helped in getting the word out and with riders not being too smart about posting stuff."

Passero called it "a perfect example of how community policing solves problems — with the community helping identify individuals who create a hazard. Above and beyond the social media brouhaha, there was anecdotal evidence that there was a public safety problem. The detectives and police officers have done an amazing job."

Certain kinds of dirt bikes are road legal if the driver is licensed and the bikes are registered and meet certain criteria, including being equipped with turn signals and mirrors. Scooters, mopeds and motorbikes, defined by state law as having an engine displacement of fewer than 50 cc and having a seat height measuring 26 inches or more, can be driven on road shoulders only and require a licensed driver but no registration. Meanwhile pocket bikes, or mini bikes, and ATVs do not require a registration but can't be driven on state roadways.

Bridgeport, New Haven and Hartford have enacted similar rules over the last few years. Stonington in 2014 considered but ultimately rejected a proposed ordinance that would have curtailed the use of dirt bikes, ATVs and go-karts in neighborhoods.

When a rider in New London is caught, police seize the prohibited vehicle, which can be sold or destroyed unless it's subject to a lien or listed as stolen. Teen riders wind up in juvenile court, Wright said. Parents could be on the hook ultimately for the fines, Wright said.

"We just grabbed a guy the other day. They're still out there," said Capt. Todd Bergeson. "But one of our undercover guys was able to get him. The ordinance has helped."

In that case, police stopped and seized a brand new Kawasaki dirt bike operated by a 14-year-old "without regard for safety for himself or other vehicles," Wright said.

"Obviously the riders don't see the inherent dangers associated with it, or it could be they just don't care," Wright said. "We're hoping they see the bigger picture."

b.kail@theday.com