There are new safety concerns over rogue motorcycle riders disrupting traffic on major Cleveland highways in recent weeks.
Former Cleveland police officer David Reuse pointed to video shot by local motorists showing plated street-legal motorcycle riders blocking lanes, performing potentially dangerous stunts and breaking the law.
Reuse said much has been reported on illegal dirt bikes causing safety issues on Cleveland streets, but this is yet another group of riders who may be just as hazardous.
"These guys get out there and do whatever they want, and they torment the law abiding citizens," Reuse said. "At 70, 80 miles per hour, riding wheelies and started crisscrossing all four lanes."
Reuse believes the current Cleveland police no-chase policy may be making these renegade riders even more brazen.
"At one point they were smacking the police cars, kicking them, and tormenting the police to chase them," Reuse explained. "The longer they get away with it, the more they think they have power over the police."
Cleveland Safety Committee Co-Chairman Michael Polensek said more motorists and residents need to get involved in reporting rogue riders.
"We're lucky more people haven't been killed," Polensek said. "Get on the phone and call 9-1-1, and give as best a description as you can of where they are, and the vehicles in question. You need to be proactive. If folks aren't proactive, it's not going to go away."
Polensek said residents should try to take down license plate numbers, and take video and pictures if it can be done safely, and submit them to police.
Polensek said Cleveland police have made some arrests and have confiscated several motorcycles, but he said more must be done to stop hazardous motorcycle riders.
