Local law enforcement look to crack down on illegal dirt bike activity

WICOMICO CO., Md. – With the arrival of warmer weather, law enforcement agencies in Salisbury and Wicomico County are looking to reduce the number of illegal vehicles on the roads.

“We thought this was a good opportunity to join forces as law enforcement agencies within Wicomico County and just form a coalition to really tackle the issue,” said Chief David Meienschein of the Salisbury Police Department.

Wicomico County Law Enforcement, in conjunction with the State Attorney’s Office, is requesting the community’s help in providing information about illegal dirt bike activity in the area.

“We’re looking for information that helps our law enforcement officers address the issue by finding out where they are storing them and who’s operating them so we can maybe address the issue before they hit the open road,” said Meienschein.

To get that information, law enforcement have developed a survey where you can report these types of illegal activity.

Chief Meienschein said in a lot of these incidents, the motorist is unlicensed and uninsured.

“We get an enormous amount of calls, folks complaining about aggressive behavior basically traffic safety, folks being intimidated on the roadways, intersections, so forth, so it’s really a quality of life issue, not just in Salisbury Wicomico County, but it’s really a phenomenon crossing the state and the nation,” he said.

Chief Meienschein said addressing the issue before motorists hit the roads will be safer and more effective for police and the motorists themselves.

“It makes our jobs much more difficult in addressing the issue because they are mobile and it does put our officers at risk to actively pursue those vehicles from other motorists on the road as well as the dirt bikers and our police officers as well,” he said.

Chief Meienschein also said they are getting to roll out reward money for those who report information to them.

To report dirt bike activity, you can call the tip line at 443-359-3546 or email dirtbiketips@salisburypd.com.