VIDEO: ATVs Ignore Traffic Light in Providence, City Continues to be Plagued by Illegal Activity

VIDEO: ATVs Ignore Traffic Light in Providence, City Continues to be Plagued by Illegal Activity

GoLocal has obtained video on Wednesday of illegal ATVs and off-road vehicles breaking the law and blowing through a traffic light in Providence. 

The footage, provided by Providence resident Anthony Sionni, was taken on Broad Street heading downtown, just after 6 PM. 

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A rider at the front of the bike gang can be seen flagging riders behind him to drive through a red light; a truck can be seen managing to cross the traffic -- as the light allowed -- before more off-road vehicles follow.

“I see this on a regular basis throughout the city.  My fear is that someone is going to get killed,” said Sionni. “Is it so difficult to catch someone driving an ATV?  You have about 20 of them here driving down Broad Street in pure daylight with no fear of the law. Mayor Elorza is obviously not interested in putting a stop to this.”

Every night in Providence, off-road vehicles can be seen -- and heard -- operating on city roads, putting motorists and pedestrians in danger. 

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In March, Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza and officials held a press conference, after he announced a new strategy on illegal ATVs just weeks after calling for illegal, unregistered ATVs and bikes to be legalized.

On February 25, Elorza said in a statement to GoLocal, “After several meetings with members of the dirt bike and ATV rider community, my public safety leaders and I decided to pursue state legislation that would resolve some of the challenges we are facing. As currently operated, ATVs and other illegal vehicles pose a danger to those who operate them as well as other drivers and residents.”

The renewed attention to ATVs on city streets came after rider Jhamal Gonsalves was seriously injured in the fall of 2020 after he reportedly collided with a stop sign, following an investigation. 

However, the issue has persisted in the city for years — as GoLocal reported in 2017, “Providence East Siders Worried About ATV, Motorbike Incident” and “Police Say They Have Been Ordered Not to Enforce Laws.”

Providence Police did not respond to request for comment at time of publication. 

This story was first published 7/7/21 7:39 PM