WASHINGTON, D.C., USA — DC Police continue to crackdown on the unlicensed mopeds that have been flooding the District, with another operation wrapped up Wednesday. Some offenders are actually ending up behind bars.
Images posted to reddit were taken on 19th street near Dupont Circle. They show three uniformed MPD officers loading up a delivery driver’s moped onto a flatbed truck already filled with several others from the most recent sweep.
MPD told WUSA9 that officers impounded 13 unregistered mopeds on Wednesday alone. Since the department launched what they call “Operation Ride Right” in June to increase Moped compliance, MPD has impounded 499 scooters, handed out 519 infractions and made 129 arrests, mostly because of the operation.
Images provided to WUSA9 by the Department of Public Works show 110 of the 499 impounded mopeds remain in the city’s possession at DPW’s Blue Plains Lot. WUSA9 previously reported on the trend of moped delivery drivers breaking laws and operating dangerously, which is part of what led to the crackdown.
To get their moped back, owners have to pay a tow fee of $100 and $20 for each day the vehicle is impounded. Proof of ownership and registration are required to get it back, and proper registration of these mopeds is part of what the city was trying to achieve with this crackdown.
