Peabody Police Crack Down On Bike-Riding Kids

PEABODY, MA — Police confiscated bikes from more than 30 kids who were riding without a helmet Thursday morning as part of "a concerted effort to educate those children who are riding their bicycles in an unsafe manner." The crackdown comes after complaints in social media forums for Peabody residents about kids riding bikes. Children who had their bikes taken by police were told they could get it back by going to the Peabody Police Station with a parent.

"At the police station the child and parent were given a copy of the law, an explanation of our concerns, a bike helmet, a water bottle and a coupon for ice cream at Treadwell's," Peabody police said in a Facebook post.

Riding a bike without a helmet is illegal and, Peabody police said "quite frankly very dangerous."