Queens Crackdown on Illegal Scooters: Authorities Seize Nearly 100 Mopeds

Queens Crackdown on Illegal Scooters: Authorities Seize Nearly 100 Mopeds

Edited by: TJVNews.com

In an aggressive enforcement action, nearly 100 illegal scooters were seized from the streets and sidewalks of Queens in the latest effort to curb the growing menace of unregistered mopeds. According to a report in The New York Post, this four-day operation, carried out by detectives from the Queens District Attorney’s Office in collaboration with the NYPD, highlights the significant steps being taken to address the issue of illegal scooters and their association with violent crimes.

Starting on June 4 and concluding on Tuesday, the crackdown resulted in the confiscation of 99 unregistered and uninsured scooters. These vehicles were found parked illegally across various neighborhoods, including Corona, Elmhurst, and Jackson Heights, as was reported by The Post. In addition to the illegal scooters, authorities also seized five legally registered scooters that were parked in violation of city regulations.

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz emphasized the urgency of this initiative, noting the increasing use of illegal scooters in criminal activities. “Illegal scooters have become a significant concern in our city, as we see them increasingly being used while carrying out violent crimes,” Katz stated, as per The Post report. This operation is part of a broader citywide effort to combat the surge in scooter-related felonies, which have seen a 400 percent increase in scooters being used as getaway vehicles since 2022.

The connection between illegal scooters and criminal activity has been further underscored by the involvement of migrant gangs. Recent data revealed by The Post indicated that newly arrived migrants have been linked to 80% of moped-assisted robberies. This troubling trend highlights the role of illegal scooters in facilitating crimes such as robberies and shootings.

One high-profile case involves Bernardo Raul Castro Mata, a 19-year-old migrant accused of shooting two police officers on June 3 while riding a scooter. The Post reported that Mata, who was staying at a shelter in East Elmhurst, confessed to being recruited into a “snatch and grab” gang, further illustrating the dangerous nexus between illegal scooters and organized criminal activity.

Since February, more than 500 scooters have been seized by detectives and police officers in various operations across the city. This sustained effort reflects the authorities’ commitment to tackling the issue head-on and restoring order to the streets of New York.

In a harrowing incident on May 21, Rabbi Michael Miller, a prominent Jewish leader in New York City, was struck by a hit-and-run e-bike driver, resulting in a broken leg. The New York Post that the incident occurred as Rabbi Miller was returning home from a Jewish heritage event downtown to his Upper East Side residence.

Rabbi Miller, who served as the head of the Jewish Community Relations Council for 35 years and is a retired NYPD chaplain, had just exited the No. 6 train station at 77th Street and Lexington Avenue when he was blindsided by an out-of-control e-bike driver, according to the information provided in The New York Post report.  The driver, traveling the wrong way down a one-way street, hit Miller as he attempted to cross Third Avenue at 77th Street.