SPRINGFIELD — In an operation to curb illegal off-highway vehicle (OHV) activity, Springfield police apprehended an unlicensed dirt bike rider and confiscated the bike on Wednesday evening.
The Springfield Police Department’s Anti-OHV/Dirt Bike public safety detail targeted areas with frequent illegal riding reports.
At 6:25 p.m., undercover officers spotted a rider on Wilbraham Road.
They conducted a traffic stop near Eastern Avenue after safely trailing the individual.
The rider, 19-year-old Yencer Payano of Springfield, lacked a valid driver’s license and was arrested.
His bike was towed from the scene.
Payano faces multiple charges including unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, operating an uninsured and unregistered snow/recreational vehicle, and violations for not wearing a helmet and riding on public ways.
The crackdown follows ongoing complaints about reckless dirt bike riding endangering community safety.
