NORFOLK - Police are targeting low-income neighborhoods to enforce a little-known bicycle law that's left dozens of people - even the homeless - without a way to get around.
Bicycle seizures in the city have jumped 300 percent in the past three years, according to a NewsChannel 3 analysis of police records. City law allows police to impound bicycles that do not have a city registration sticker. Officers can take the bikes from where they are parked, or from the bike riders.
Police records show dozens of bike seizures in the past three years from the city's lowest-income neighborhoods, including Park Place, Huntersville, Barraud Park and public housing. Those same records show police steer clear of the city's more affluent areas like Ghent, Larchmont/Edgewater and Lambert's Point. No bikes were seized anywhere around Old Dominion University.
James Davidson was pedaling to his South Norfolk home from Park Place when police pulled him over on Aug. 19, 2007.
"They told me that since I didn't have a license for the bike, they had to take it," Davidson said. "I haven't had a bike since."
Norfolk is one of three Hampton Roads cities that require bicycle registrations. Portsmouth and Suffolk also require bike licenses, but Suffolk's law does not address whether officers can take bicycles from riders. Norfolk's registration is free. Riders can apply for a small city decal at the city's police precincts.
Norfolk netted almost $23,000 from the sale of seized and abandoned bicycles from 2006 through 2008, according to Pamela Marino of the Department of Public Works.
Under a Freedom of Information Act request, Norfolk police supplied records of more than 170 unregistered bicycles seized from 2006 - 2008. More than 40 bikes were seized from riders, like Davidson.
"They probably thought I was a drug dealer or something," he said.
Travis Taylor, also of South Norfolk, said police followed behind him as he rode home from a convenience store on Oct. 30, 2007. He said he had an earlier run-in with the officers, so he didn't stop at his front door when they yelled to him. He says they ran into his house and threw him to the ground.
"They said you are under arrest for resisting arrest, and for having a stolen bike," he said. Officers never charged him with having a stolen bike, and on the impoundment form, did not indicate the bike was stolen. However, it wasn't registered, so officers took it.
"They think we are drug dealers or gang bangers, just up to no good," he said. "But most of us use our bikes to go to work, go to the store."
Police have also swept dozens of unregistered bicycles from Downtown, mainly from around MacArthur Center. Police also seized bicycles from the Union Mission and from riders listed only as "homeless."
NewsChannel 3 presented the findings of its three-month investigation to all Norfolk City Council members. Only two - Barclay Winn and Randy Wright -agreed to talk about our findings. Both councilmen admitted they don't have their bicycles registered. Both also expressed concern at the pattern of enforcement, but said police must have good reasons.
The bike seizures "seem to be concentrated in low-income areas, but why, I don't know," said Winn said. "That's a question for the police chief."
NewsChannel 3 also delivered our findings to Police Chief Bruce Marquis, who declined an interview request.
His spokeswoman released a statement saying, in part: "The neighborhoods cited (in NewsChannel 3's report) are those that have traditionally and historically been of concern to the police department. As a result of this concern and the development of community partnerships, the department has devoted more resources - especially personnel -- to these particular areas."
No one from the city would say why police do not enforce this law in the city's middle- and upper-income neighborhoods.
Police Department Statement:
The neighborhoods cited in this communication (Mather, March 26, 2009) are those that have traditionally and historically been of concern to the police department. As a result of this concern and the development of community partnerships, the department has devoted more resources - especially personnel - to these particular areas. Our officers utilize various methods to prevent crime, problem-solve and partner with the community.
Bicycle seizures in the city have jumped 300 percent in the past three years, according to a NewsChannel 3 analysis of police records. City law allows police to impound bicycles that do not have a city registration sticker. Officers can take the bikes from where they are parked, or from the bike riders.
Police records show dozens of bike seizures in the past three years from the city's lowest-income neighborhoods, including Park Place, Huntersville, Barraud Park and public housing. Those same records show police steer clear of the city's more affluent areas like Ghent, Larchmont/Edgewater and Lambert's Point. No bikes were seized anywhere around Old Dominion University.
James Davidson was pedaling to his South Norfolk home from Park Place when police pulled him over on Aug. 19, 2007.
"They told me that since I didn't have a license for the bike, they had to take it," Davidson said. "I haven't had a bike since."
Norfolk is one of three Hampton Roads cities that require bicycle registrations. Portsmouth and Suffolk also require bike licenses, but Suffolk's law does not address whether officers can take bicycles from riders. Norfolk's registration is free. Riders can apply for a small city decal at the city's police precincts.
Norfolk netted almost $23,000 from the sale of seized and abandoned bicycles from 2006 through 2008, according to Pamela Marino of the Department of Public Works.
Under a Freedom of Information Act request, Norfolk police supplied records of more than 170 unregistered bicycles seized from 2006 - 2008. More than 40 bikes were seized from riders, like Davidson.
"They probably thought I was a drug dealer or something," he said.
Travis Taylor, also of South Norfolk, said police followed behind him as he rode home from a convenience store on Oct. 30, 2007. He said he had an earlier run-in with the officers, so he didn't stop at his front door when they yelled to him. He says they ran into his house and threw him to the ground.
"They said you are under arrest for resisting arrest, and for having a stolen bike," he said. Officers never charged him with having a stolen bike, and on the impoundment form, did not indicate the bike was stolen. However, it wasn't registered, so officers took it.
"They think we are drug dealers or gang bangers, just up to no good," he said. "But most of us use our bikes to go to work, go to the store."
Police have also swept dozens of unregistered bicycles from Downtown, mainly from around MacArthur Center. Police also seized bicycles from the Union Mission and from riders listed only as "homeless."
NewsChannel 3 presented the findings of its three-month investigation to all Norfolk City Council members. Only two - Barclay Winn and Randy Wright -agreed to talk about our findings. Both councilmen admitted they don't have their bicycles registered. Both also expressed concern at the pattern of enforcement, but said police must have good reasons.
The bike seizures "seem to be concentrated in low-income areas, but why, I don't know," said Winn said. "That's a question for the police chief."
NewsChannel 3 also delivered our findings to Police Chief Bruce Marquis, who declined an interview request.
His spokeswoman released a statement saying, in part: "The neighborhoods cited (in NewsChannel 3's report) are those that have traditionally and historically been of concern to the police department. As a result of this concern and the development of community partnerships, the department has devoted more resources - especially personnel -- to these particular areas."
No one from the city would say why police do not enforce this law in the city's middle- and upper-income neighborhoods.
Police Department Statement:
The neighborhoods cited in this communication (Mather, March 26, 2009) are those that have traditionally and historically been of concern to the police department. As a result of this concern and the development of community partnerships, the department has devoted more resources - especially personnel - to these particular areas. Our officers utilize various methods to prevent crime, problem-solve and partner with the community.
