Police Crack Down On Illegal Mini Bike Use In Long Beach

LONG BEACH, CA — Long Beach police say they are cracking down on illegal use of mini bikes across the city.

Officers have already started enforcement, seizing at least four mini bikes this month during separate incidents across the city, according to the Long Beach Police Department.

"The Long Beach Police Department does not tolerate reckless driving and the illegal use of pocket bikes," the LBPD said in a statement on Wednesday on social media. "These vehicles are not only unlawful to operate on public roads, but they also pose serious safety risks to the rider and our residents."

Three minors had their mini bikes towed away on July 1 for riding them on the street, according to police. At least one of them was cited for the action, police said.

A fourth minor was riding a mini bike on the street and stopped at a local business, where officers took possession of the vehicle, police said.

"We will continue prioritizing enforcement operations that address this ongoing crime trend while protecting the safety of our officers, residents, and neighborhoods," the LBPD said.

The announcement to crack down on mini bike riders comes nearly a month after a tense confrontation between an officer and a group of people on mini bikes, which was recorded and uploaded online.

The video, according to the Long Beach Post, offered a glimpse into why police officers were previously discouraged from trying to arrest or cite people on mini bikes.

Drivers are only allowed to use pocket bikes or mini motorcycles on private property, according to the California Highway Patrol. It is illegal to use them on highways, sidewalks, bikeways and hiking or recreational trails.

The LBPD asks that the public report illegal use of mini bikes or pocket bikes and reckless driving to dispatch at 562-435-6711.