Speeding down Stefko Boulevard, dirt bikes have been catching the attention of both residents and Bethlehem police.

During City Council’s June 18 Public Comments, resident Eddie Rodriguez raised safety concerns for a second consecutive meeting about what he perceives as a growing issue in the city, unruly dirt bike riders.

“It’s gotten to a point of being a dangerous situation,” Rodriguez said.

Councilwoman Hillary Kwiatek asked Police Chief Michelle Kott to address the growing concerns of dirt bikes on city streets.

Kott confirmed to Kwiatek, “It is something that we are actively working on with not only the Northampton County district attorney’s office but also our city solicitor’s office.”

“And I’m going to be reaching out to Councilwoman (Rachel) Leon to have a Public Safety meeting set up to discuss it and a new ordinance that I’m currently drafting to help us address this pervasive issue.”

Kott went on to explain although the state does have legislation concerning dirt bikes regulations, “A local ordinance would make it easier for us to seize the dirt bikes after the individuals are taken into police custody.”

She added other municipalities have introduced “nuances” in relation to gas stations, affecting where individuals can gas-up their dirt bikes.

In responding to a question from Councilwoman Grace Crampsie Smith about the possibility of her department requesting assistance of Pennsylvania State Police similarly to what Allentown Police requested with aviation policing recently, Kott explained the situation in the city of Allentown is a bigger problem and it would be hard to justify this request at the moment.

“I’m very happy for Chief Rocca that that partnership is occurring and that they were able to seize the number of dirt bikes that they did this past week and a half. It’s something I don’t want to say that we wouldn’t explore in the future if the problem persists and gets to be more of an issue, but at this time I don’t think it’s something that would be as successful here in our city,” she said.

With several key players missing, including the mayor and Councilman Bryan Callahan, who were attending a community meeting, Crampsie Smith questioned the logic of timing of the meeting.

“I want it on the record that in the future, I proposed that if there is a meeting with the community and the city, such is happening tonight, that it not be scheduled at the same time as council,” she said.