NYPD uses bulldozers to crush illegal motorcycles, ATVs

NEW YORK, May 19 (UPI) -- The New York City Police Department used a pair of bulldozers to demolish dozens of illegal motorcycles in an event live-streamed on Facebook.

NYPD Commissioner William Bratton waved a checkered flag Tuesday to signal the bulldozers to destroy dozens of the nearly 700 dirt bikes and ATVs confiscated by the NYPD during the past year.

Bratton and Mayor Bill DeBlasio announced in early April that they were planning to crush the noisy vehicles confiscated from locals described by the commissioner as "nitwits" and "knuckleheads."

"We are going to crush them on TV to make a point," DeBlasio said.

The leaders made good on their threat Tuesday when the event was live-steamed on Facebook by the City of New York government and the NYPD.