‘We Will Not Let Up’ Sheriff Doubles Down on Albany Dirt Bikes

More Dirt Bikes Taken Off of Albany Streets

On Monday, we received some better news about Alexa Kropf, the University at Albany student hospitalized after she was hit by a dirt bike last month.  While acknowledging that there's still a long road ahead, yesterday, her father told reporters that she's now out of a coma and off a ventilator.

Encouraging news, to say the least, but are Albany streets any safer as a result of her catastrophic injuries?  That remains to be seen.  But, thanks to the Albany Sheriff's Office, at least 25 illegal dirt bikes are off Albany streets.

25 Dirt Bikes Seized Within the Last Week

Last week, according to a report from News 10 ABC, the Albany County Sheriff’s Office ran an illegal dirt bike/motorcycle detail in Albany County that led to the seizure of 10 illegal motorbikes and 21 traffic violations while arresting two people for aggravated unlicensed operation.

On Tuesday, residents received more positive news about a city-wide problem plaguing Albany for years. Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple announced they had conducted another successful dirt bike sting operation.

According to a report from News 10 ABC, Albany County Sheriff's seized another 15 bikes while issuing 36 traffic violations and one arrest for aggravated unlicensed operation.

"We Will Not Stop"

Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple posted a picture of the recently confiscated bikes to his Facebook page, along with a vow to keep going after these morons who wreak havoc on the city.

Here was his message:

"15 more bikes (motorcycles) being operated illegally on city streets were removed last night after another detail was held to make the streets safe. We will not let up."

As a resident who lives near Washington Park, when the weather gets warmer, the morons on dirt bikes come out, and these idiots on illegal dirt bikes and ATVs rip through the city, traveling in large packs with seemingly no regard for any person or any law.

It's Been a Long Time Coming in Albany

I remember eating outside at a little restaurant on Lark Street last summer.  Most tables and chairs were relatively far from the street, but one couple was seated at a table just a foot from the road. Usually, that's not an unsafe place, but Lark Street is different in the spring and summer.

You can hear them coming from five blocks away, and the people riding on these dirt bikes will do anything to get around cars, even if that means driving on sidewalks.  They pop wheelies while zooming around traffic and are arrogant about it.  I've seen them flip off police officers while they speed on by.

As far as the couple goes, thankfully, they heeded my warning and moved away from the danger zone, but it's stuff like this that makes me think that someday I will bear witness to seeing someone get obliterated. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Alexa Kropf as we wish for her speedy and full recovery.