Man Sentenced For Driving Dirt Bike On City Streets
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- A district court job throws the book at a Baltimore man arrested twice for riding a dirt bike on city streets.
Pat Warren reports it's part of a get-tough initiative on a public menace.
"Specifically targeting these individuals that are driving these things on the street," said State's Attorney Gregg Bernstein.
Lawrence K. Russoe, 23, was arrested twice for driving a dirt bike. Tuesday, he was sentenced to nearly six months in prison in the quest to ensure public safety. City police consider these renegade riders a danger to themselves and others.
"Yeah, it's dangerous 'cause I saw a couple people get killed on dirt bikes," said one resident.
Six-year-old Corey Adams was injured when he was hit by someone riding a dirt bike on a city playground.
It's time, says State's Attorney Gregg Bernstein, to set an example.
"These things are a menace," he said. "They jeopardize safety and the quiet enjoyment of the citizens of Baltimore."
"They do by taunting the police, you know," said a resident.
Police policy prohibits chasing the offenders but members of the public are free to turn them in.
"When they see these individuals rolling up and down the streets doing wheelies, going the wrong way on a one-way street...they know who these people are and if they call the police, the police will come and they will take action," Bernstein said.
Dirt bikers who think it's cool to flaunt the law by being harder to catch may find it a lot harder and longer to be released once they're caught.
The maximum sentence for each violation is 90 days in jail.
