A new measure could make bicycle "chop shops" officially illegal in the city of Los Angeles. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)
Joe Buscaino wants to put an end to bicycle “chop shops” in Los Angeles.
The L.A. City Council member — and mayoral hopeful — submitted a motion on Tuesday that would make it illegal to put together, take apart or sell bikes and bike parts on public property, including city streets.
Bicycle theft is an enormous problem on the westside, where local police departments simply do not have the manpower to search for the dozens of two wheelers that go missing every day.
As a result, individuals can be seen almost daily working on large numbers of bikes, often in close proximity to homeless encampments.
“Thieves have little or no fear of repercussions of this activity,” Buscaino said in the motion.
“The proliferation of bicycle chop shops on our streets creates a public safety hazard, and the fact that they currently operate with impunity only encourages the increasing theft of bicycles. This motion will finally provide consequences for this criminal activity which will lead to a decrease in bicycle thefts.”
Read More (Westside Current)
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