The Springfield City Council has approved an ordinance that would ban the sale of gasoline to those who operate illegal dirt bikes in the city. The measure approved unanimously- despite the objections of gas station owners who questioned how their teen clerks were going to enforce the measure.
Mayor Sarno states, “I want to thank and commend the City Council, especially Councilor/Representative Orlando Ramos, who was the lead sponsor, for his efforts and leadership on passing this public safety and quality of life ordinance. This is yet another tool we can now use to crack down on these illegal dirt bikes. As Councilor/Representative Ramos indicated, Hartford and New Haven already have similar laws in place with little to no issues. We are not going to stand for this lawlessness, dangerous and disrespectful behavior; this is not ‘Mad Max Thunderdome’! I want to also thank our Springfield Police Department, State Police and Sheriff Nick Cocchi who have been good partners with our ongoing response to keep our residents and business community safe. Now we need our courts to back up our actions.”
Councilor/Representative Ramos stated, “I hope that this ordinance will make the streets a little safer. The goal is to work in partnership with the local gas station owners, and to give the police department the tools that they need to get these illegal vehicles off the road; and I think we’ve accomplished that.”
That ordinance is about the same as measures already in operation in both Hartford and New Haven. Stations that violate the ordinance could be fined 100 dollars per offense.
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