The Perth Amboy Police Department has launched an internal review following an incident where officers detained a group of teenagers for riding bicycles without the required state-issued license tags. The stop, which was captured on video and quickly went viral on social media, has sparked a heated public debate over police conduct, local ordinances, and the handling of juvenile matters.
The incident occurred last Friday afternoon in the area of [Insert a fictional street name here, e.g., Smith Street], when a marked police cruiser stopped several youths riding bikes. According to a statement released by Police Chief [Insert a fictional name, e.g., Maria Sanchez], the officers initiated the stop based on an active city ordinance requiring all bicycles operated within Perth Amboy to display a valid registration tag, a requirement many residents were reportedly unaware of.
However, the nature of the stop—which involved officers questioning the minors and, in some accounts, physically restraining one of the bicycles—drew immediate criticism from witnesses and the teens’ families.
A video clip circulating online shows a brief exchange between an officer and one of the teenagers. The officer is heard asking, “Where’s your tag?” before telling the teen to remain stationary. A parent, whose child was part of the group, later expressed outrage, stating that the situation escalated unnecessarily over a minor, non-moving violation.
“My son was stopped for an infraction no one even knows about,” said [Insert a fictional resident name, e.g., Elena Rodriguez], mother of one of the cyclists. “The police acted as if these boys were criminals, all for a $5 license tag. This is over-policing of our youth.”
Mayor [Insert a fictional name, e.g., William Torres] issued a statement acknowledging the public concern and confirming the internal affairs investigation.
“We take all complaints regarding the conduct of our officers very seriously,” the Mayor stated. “The review will examine whether the methods used were appropriate for the alleged offense and whether city policy on the enforcement of the bicycle registration ordinance is clear and equitable.”
While some residents support the police’s enforcement of all city laws, others, including local advocacy groups, are calling for the immediate repeal of the mandatory bike registration ordinance, arguing it is an outdated and discriminatory law disproportionately affecting low-income and minority youth.
The City Council is expected to hold a public session next week where both the police department’s actions and the future of the bicycle registration ordinance are likely to be debated. The police officers involved have been placed on administrative duty pending the outcome of the investigation.