Articles/CrackDown

The NYPD has issued almot 6,000 summonses to motorcyclists so far this year. The summonses are the result of safety violations, speeding, unlicensed operation, unregistered and uninsured motorcycles.

Your bike will be confiscated if you don't have an "M" on your license, or if your bike bike is unregistered or uninsured. More than 360 motorcycles have been impounded with the vast majority over the past month.

"There have been 16 motorcycle fatalities this year; 12 were unlicensed operators," Deputy Police Commissioner Paul Browne said. He also stated that the NYPD initiated the crackdown in a bid to try to stop the mounting death toll, and pointed out that the 16 motorcycle accident deaths already this year represent a 100% increase over the same time last year.

In 2006, 33 motorcyclists were killed in accidents on streets of NYC. The riders killed this year include Foster Burton (23), an off-duty NYPD cop. He was killed April 23 when he struck a parked car on Zerega Ave. in the Bronx. He also did not have a motorcyle license...

"I believe my son had a [motorcycle] permit and rode for about a year and a half. He never drank and was very responsible. I don't understand how this happened," said Burton's mother, Leslie Buie.

Confiscated motorcycles will be taken to the local precinct stationhouse.

If you are not a licensed rider your bike will not be returned to you unless you show up at the local precinct stationhouse with a licensed rider or a tow truck.

Unregistered or uninsured motorcycles will not be returned to you until proof of valid registration and insurance is presented.

If you fail to get to the stationhouses quickly your bike will be transfered to the NYPD auto pound in Whitestone, Queens and you will have to hike over there to get it back.

"Having a driver's license does not give someone the right to ride a motorcycle," said NYPD Sgt. Richard Angeletti of the Highway Patrol Accident Investigation Squad, adding "a motorcycle license is a totally different license requiring the passing of a written test and road test."