Providence Police Community Response Team and Citizen Report Line to combat illegal vehicles

Mayor Brett P. Smiley and Colonel Oscar L. Perez announce Providence Police “Community Response Team” dedicated to combat the operation of illegal vehicles on City streets 

Mayor Brett P. Smiley and Colonel Oscar L. Perez today announced the implementation of a Providence Police Community Response Team to combat illegal ATV and dirt bike riding throughout the City. Under his administration, Mayor Smiley has made it a priority to address quality-of-life issues effecting the citizens of Providence and addressing the use of illegal vehicles is at the forefront. With the summer months approaching, Mayor Smiley and Colonel Perez want to send a clear message to individuals who operate these vehicles, that law enforcement officials will be working to prevent this illegal activity and reckless behavior on our roadways will not be tolerated by police.

“We want people to know we are serious about stopping the use of these illegal vehicles that put everyone at risk and make our streets unsafe,” said Mayor Brett Smiley. “By creating the Community Response Team, we will be using more resources than in the past to detect activity before it occurs, and we will be pursuing the appropriate criminal charges. No one should be using these vehicles and if they are caught doing so, they will face serious consequences.”

The Community Response Team is comprised of officers who are dedicated to identifying illegal activity and targeting individuals associated with ATV storage and operation. Under the leadership of Mayor Smiley and Colonel Perez, the PPD plans to strengthen both the volume of vehicles seized and empower investigations into illegal ATV activity by utilizing undercover detective work, video from existing technology and social media activity. Through these means, PPD will be able to identify illegal activity within the city, proactively seize vehicles, pursue additional and higher criminal charges as it may relate to a case, and ultimately ensure the safety of our residents and visitors. 

“I am proud to be unveiling this new, proactive strategy to address what has been a problem in our community for years,” said Colonel Oscar Perez. “Every Providence Police officer knows the real dangers and impacts the use of illegal ATVs and motorcycles has had in our neighborhoods. Beginning today, the officers of the Providence Police Department will be working with the community, stakeholders and surrounding cities to investigate and fully pursue all illegal activity associated with the operation and storage of these vehicles now through the summer months.”

Providence Police will also lead coordinated efforts with state, city, and the community partners, including dedicated members of the Office of the Attorney General and City Solicitor’s Office. All members of the community response team and high-ranking officials of the Providence Police Department will attend a mandatory training to ensure officers are aware and mindful of potential liabilities, best practices, and techniques. 

Lastly, the City is engaging with and enhancing its relationships with private and public Businesses and organizations to help detect and deter operation of illegal vehicles within our city before it occurs. People are encouraged to use PPD’s dedicated ATV Tip Line 401-680-TATV (8288) and email [email protected] to anonymously report any non-emergency information they have about ATVs being illegally driven or stored.

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Support from Cranston

We reached out to Mayor Hopkins for his reaction to Providence’s efforts and he said, “We (Mayor Smiley & Mayor Hopkins) met recently. He liked the Public Safety policy that I put in place in regards to banning public use of illegal ATV’s. Our police department is collaborating with theirs to keep our roads safe.”

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RI ACLU and BLM Rhode Island

Later in the day after the Mayor’s press conference, the RI ACLU and BLM Rhode Island issued a statement. In part –

“Black Lives Matter RI PAC and the American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island issued the following statement in response to Mayor Smiley’s press conference this morning:

“Our organizations share the City’s goal of creating a safe environment for all residents, but seeking ways to criminalize ATV and dirt bike use – and utilizing expansive surveillance techniques to do so – are deeply troubling methods to pursue this laudable goal. We know that turning civil traffic offenses into criminal ones in this context will disproportionately affect young people and Black and Brown neighborhoods, have a severely discriminatory impact, and undermine the critical need for greater equity in the criminal justice system. 

“These concerns are compounded by the City’s stated intention of using ‘video technology’ to track down ATV and dirt bike users. Given the objections that we and others have raised about the intrusive installation of Flock Safety surveillance technology in Providence and the severely limited protections that residents have from this technology, the potential use of these cameras to track and target ATV users should be extremely troubling to anybody concerned about privacy. That Providence is promoting the use of an anonymous tip line to report any ATV or dirt bike possession, even on a private residence or in a private garage, only enhances these surveillance concerns. 

“In short, criminalizing traffic offenses that primarily impact communities of color and using questionable surveillance tools to enforce this program will ultimately not support community safety, but instead will further contribute to justice inequities and distrust in the community.  We strongly urge the City, in addressing the problem of unlawful ATV use, to reject intrusive surveillance techniques and the criminalization of conduct that does not belong in the criminal justice system.”

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Citizens Report Line:

We encourage anyone with non-emergency information about illegal ATV activity to use our dedicated ATV tip line 401-680-TATV (8288) or email us anonymously at [email protected]. Together, we can keep our streets safe.

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RINewsToday has been covering the issue of ATVs on city streets over the past several years. Yesterday we did an informal Twitter poll on support for this Providence effort:

Past stories on ATV problems:

RI’s (final) crack-down on ATVs sets example for nearby cities – Taunton increases enforcement of ATV/bicycle laws

ATV group pulls mother out of car, beating her, with child in the car – calls for Emergency Meeting in Providence

Providence City Council to Mayor Elorza: Enforce existing ATV Laws…

Cranston-Providence ATV Task Force – “none of us are safe until all of us are safe”

RI Mayors work together to shut down ATVs. Bike Life Lives Matter says it’s “a bait and switch” in Providence (VIDEO) (updated)

Cranston to power-down ATV menace in city