By Steve Klamkin WPRO News

The City of Providence Friday crushed about 33 dirt bikes and all terrain vehicles seized over the past year for illegally operating on city streets, and officials say another 50 are being processed for future destruction.

“Make no mistake about it,” said Mayor Jorge Elorza, “riding these ATVs and dirt bikes, they’re illegal, they’re dangerous and we’re not going to tolerate them.”

A claw from a front-end loader was used to crush the vehicles, pick them up, and drop them into a huge metal dumpster.

The event was choreographed for news coverage, as it has for three years, since the city adopted an ordinance outlawing the vehicles.

“I’m here to praise the Providence Police Department for their hard work,” said Councilwoman Jo-Ann Ryan, a sponsor of the legislation. “We’ve made an impact. This is working. We need help from our community to call the hotline, report the ATVs.”

The hotline, 401-680-8ATV, or 401-680-8288 is answered 24 hours by police, which also employ pursuit policies to ensure the public’s safety.