Rochester Reporter

Mayor Malik D. Evans and his team oversaw the disposal of over 50 illegal ATVs and dirt bikes at Rochester's City Auto Impound Yard. This event was intended to underline the city's commitment to public safety and neighborhood quality of life.

“The former owners of these vehicles invested a lot of money into a pastime that doesn’t work on our streets,” Mayor Evans stated. “Because they didn’t use them according to the law, they will be turned into scrap metal. The choice is simple: Street legal, or scrapyard ready.”

With warmer weather approaching, the Rochester Police Department (RPD) is intensifying operations to address gatherings of illegal ATVs and dirt bikes, which may disrupt city roadways, parking lots, parks, and green spaces. Confiscated vehicles undergo oil, gas, and battery removal in preparation for conversion to scrap.

The vehicle disposal coincided with the latest Public Safety Updates. Mayor Evans and his team have been holding these updates since the Gun Violence State of Emergency was declared in 2022. This emergency order has led to significant reductions in gun violence, with key gun crimes decreasing by around 50 percent from 2021 to 2024, and continuing the downward trend in 2025. Shootings have decreased by 32 percent, and shooting victims by 43 percent compared to last year. Moreover, total homicides have dropped by 36 percent, from 11 last year to seven this year. However, all homicide victims this year died from gunshots, a detail Mayor Evans noted as a reason to maintain the Gun Violence State of Emergency.

“While gun violence and overall violent crime remain and continue to be our top priority, we are also taking a vigorous approach to enforcing ‘quality-of-life’ crimes – the illegal activity that negatively impacts our residents and businesses and fuels and overall disdain for law and order,” added Mayor Evans.