Sunday saw a coordinated law enforcement operation on downtown Los Angeles' 6th Street Bridge, as police corralled and arrested scores of minibike riders attempting to take over the roadway. The action resulted in 78 arrests and the impounding of 78 minibikes and pocket bikes, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
LAPD officers, alongside personnel from the California Highway Patrol and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, encountered a group of more than 70 young people. Many in the group were minors, operating unauthorized motorized minibikes, blocking the bridge, and performing stunts like doughnuts and wheelies. They were also observed riding on the wrong side of the roadway and weaving through traffic.
Sgt. Robert Leary of the LAPD Street Racing Task Force stated that police had received "intel that there was going to be a takeover on the 6th Street Bridge with e-bikes and minibikes." In response, a team was assembled to "block them in," which Leary described as "really the only way we could combat this problem."
L.A. Police Deputy Chief German Hurtado confirmed to KTLA that authorities had been tracking the group, as they were known for engaging in such illegal activities. Hurtado added that police were "following this group until we got them into a position where we could safely stop them all, take them into custody and impound the minibikes." Once surrounded on the bridge, police took the riders into custody without incident, Leary noted.
All violators received citations for riding an illegal bike on city streets. Given that approximately "half the group" consisted of juveniles, police notified their parents, who then arrived at the scene to take custody of their children. In addition to the 78 misdemeanor arrests, two vehicles were also impounded for drivers allegedly "aiding and abetting" the riders, Leary said. Local news video showed the bridge temporarily closed during the operation, with officers standing among the youths, some with hands zip-tied. Dozens of minibikes were loaded onto tow vehicles as parents waited behind yellow tape.
Minibikes, by their nature, do not meet Department of Motor Vehicles safety provisions, making them illegal to ride on streets or sidewalks in California. They can only be legally operated on private property with the owner’s consent.
