Fargo, N.D. – Fargo Police Chief David Zibolski is again addressing the constant warm weather issue with motorcycle noise pollution and speeding across the city.
“It’s been a huge problem and we’re doing everything we can to address it,” Zibolski told The Flag on Thursday.
Zibolski says the department’s traffic safety team has taken “an enormous chunk out of that [activity]” and some officers “are doing nothing but writing tickets.”
Zibolski explained how difficult it can be to catch a motorcyclist in the act.
Listen: Fargo Police Chief David Zibolski discusses the crime situation on The Flag’s What’s On Your Mind
“It’s not possible to pursue and apprehend them unless we happen to have a plane in the air,” said Zibolski. “So our officers have been using technology and partnerships with North Dakota Highway Patrol to track these people down and corral them.”
Back on May 28th, police released body-worn camera footage showing an arrest of a motorcyclist for reckless driving at a gas station along 52nd Avenue South.
Zibolski repeated his belief that a new state law will also help.
Starting August 1st, law enforcement will be able to take license plate information from vehicles that speed away from officers to track them down later through the owner’s registration.
On the perception that overall crime is up in Fargo, Zibolski pushed back on that narrative and says the actual data shows crime is trending downward.
At the same time, Zibolski again admitted to an issue with repeat criminal offenders, in particular with property theft.
Zibolski says his department continues to work with prosecutors, and could possibly receive notifications soon from the state as to when these offenders are released from prison “to monitor those folks a little more.”
