Riders took to the streets of South Florida for the annual "rideout" on Martin Luther King Jr. Day that has, so far, been much more subdued compared to years past.
The annual "Wheels Up, Guns Down" event is meant to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King's legacy and his message of nonviolence but over the years has turned into a celebration of lawlessness as hundreds of riders on dirt bikes and ATVs from across the country descend upon South Florida and swarm the roadways.
Dozens of law enforcement agencies in South Florida said they were on high alert to patrol the streets as they anticipated chaos and traffic nightmares.
In a weekend traffic initiative, Miami-Dade police say they impounded at least six ATVs, four motor and dirt bikes, recovered four guns, and made at least seven felony arrests, four misdemeanor arrests and 21 moving citations between Friday until Monday night.
Over the weekend, Miami Beach police had to shut down the MacArthur Causeway for over an hour to search for a rider who fled from officers and was possibly armed.
“Know that we are there, we have multiple aircraft in the air as well as (the Broward Sheriff's Office)," said Major Robert Chandler of the Florida Highway Patrol told NBC 6 over the weekend. "We know where these groups are, we are going to handle it. Please do not take matters into your own hand. Do not engage with these folks.”
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More than a dozen agencies say they will be on patrol on the ground, in the air and online throughout the rest of the long weekend to scout out the riders' locations.
