US: NYPD Crushes Hundreds Of Illegal Mopeds And Scooters In Staten Island Crackdown.

New York, United States - May 12, 2026 The NYPD and the Sanitation Department crushed 200 illegal mopeds and scooters on Wednesday morning at the Sanitation Yard in Arden Heights as part of a citywide enforcement operation. Officials said the NYPD has seized 5,700 illegal scooters and mopeds across New York City in 2026, nearly 10% more than during the same period last year. Authorities stated the destroyed vehicles were unregistered, uninsured, or equipped with fake or altered license plates. The crushed metal from the operation is being recycled. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch described the vehicles as a major public safety concern, saying they are frequently connected to criminal activity. “These illegal mopeds and scooters have become a persistent public safety issue across the city, and are often used in the commission of a crime,” Tisch said. Investigators said the vehicles’ speed, agility, and anonymity make them appealing to criminals. Officials also referenced a case in which the NYPD Aviation Unit tracked two robbery suspects riding a scooter through the Bronx. Authorities further noted that last month a 7-month-old girl was killed in a shooting involving suspects traveling on a moped. “When we remove the tools that criminals use to escape accountability, we make it harder for them to operate in the first place,” Tisch said. Borough President Vito Fossella warned illegal riders that enforcement efforts will continue, while Staten Island District Attorney Michael McMahon said crimes tied to the vehicles would be prosecuted.