Hartford police crush 30 confiscated illegal ATVs. See the photos.

As part of its effort to fight illegal use of ATVs on city streets, the Hartford Police Department has had 30 of the vehicles crushed.

The crushing took place on Wednesday Dec. 20, police said. The 30 all-terrain vehicles were seized from “recent operations within the city of Hartford,” and all were destroyed, Lt. Aaron Boisvert said.

“All of the ATVs destroyed were turned over from the court after the adjudication of the cases from which they were seized,” Boisvert said in an email.

“This is part of the Hartford Police Department’s ongoing efforts to combat illegal all-terrain vehicles from operating on city streets,” Boisvert said.

Many cities and towns throughout Connecticut have been struggling this year to crack down on illegal ATV and dirt bike riding by large groups who often ignore traffic laws.

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Authorities say it creates a dangerous environment for the riders and other motorists, as evidenced by a dirt bike crash in Groton earlier this year that left the daughter of a former NBA player dead and another person seriously injured.

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In 2022, police statewide cracked down on illegal car, ATV and dirt bike meetups. Drones in one city helped to ‘make streets safer.’

In September 2022, police said about 100 people blocked an intersection in Wethersfield while performing dangerous maneuvers including doughnuts, revving their vehicles and playing loud music with flashing lights, which prompted several neighbors to fear for their safety. But when police arrived, the vehicles scattered and officers were unable to pull any of them over.