Illegal Dirt Bikes & ATVs Almost Cause Accident in Poughkeepsie

An ongoing problem in the City of Poughkeepsie almost caused a huge accident over the weekend.

When drivers in the Hudson Valley get behind the wheel they have to be prepared for just about anything. Traffic, road conditions, and animals are all common things that Hudson Valley drivers encounter but have you noticed the rise in seeing illegal dirt bikes, four-wheelers, and mini-bikes flying around city streets?

Not a New Problem

Back in 2021, we spotlighted the problem when numerous drivers complained after they saw them "driving like maniacs" all over Poughkeepsie. The problem wasn't just a Poughkeepsie problem, at the time lawmakers in Albany were attempting to pass a law that would increase the fines to $3,000 for anyone who was caught driving any illegal ATVs or dirt bikes on New York streets.

Two years later the threat of fines hasn't stopped people from driving the illegal vehicles on Poughkeepsie streets and after almost being involved in a major accident over the weekend something needs to change.

Dirt Bike & ATV's Take Over Poughkeepsie Road

Back on Sunday I just filled up my car with gas at the Shell gas station on Innis Ave in Poughkeepsie and after pumping the gas my son and I got back in the car and went to pull out. As we started to turn onto Innis Ave we were almost "t-boned" by 4 or 5 off-road vehicles. I'm usually a pretty cautious driver and as I pulled out I looked to see if anything was coming and it was clear so we pulled out and in a flash, these bikes and ATVs were almost on top of us. Honestly it scared the heck out of both of us, thankfully they missed us but as we got onto Innis Ave. they continued to weave in and out of traffic almost causing two or three accidents in less than two minutes.

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Unfortunately, I wasn't able to grab my phone to capture what happened on video but after I put my heart back in my chest I did snap a few pictures from a distance. Here they are blowing a red light...

It's hard to see but after they made it through the intersection they continued on Innis Ave with the dirt biker driver riding a "wheelie" up and over the hill...

I'm not sure how to stop situations like this from happening but I do hope that it won't take someone getting injured or killed before something is done. Has anyone else witnessed a similar situation like this? Let me know by emailing me at CJ@HUDSONVALLEYCOUNTRY.COM. I might use your story in an upcoming article.