HOLYOKE, MA (WGGB / WSHM) – Illegal drag racing and off-road motorcycles are a growing problem in western Massachusetts. Over the weekend, Western Mass News filmed dozens of cars driving through an intersection in Holyoke and at three in the morning.

“Running a red light is dangerous for many different reasons, for many reasons,” said Alphonso Cintron, who works at Holyoke.

At 3:20 a.m. on Sunday, Western Mass News captured a cellphone video of dozens and dozens of drag racing cars and stoplights at the intersection of Whiting Farms Road near the Holyoke Mall. We showed the video to Cintron and he was shocked.

“There are people coming off the highway, it’s a very dangerous intersection,” Cintron added.

Western Mass News wanted to know what was being done at the city level to stop this. We sent the video to Holyoke Mayor Terence Murphy.

“I was lucky enough to see the video and it was about 15 or 20 cars and they definitely seem to be planning a playful activity,” Murphy said.

Currently in Bay State, the punishment for drag racing for those 18 and over is up to two and a half years behind bars, a minimum fine of $ 1,000 and license suspension. .

After seeing the video, Murphy hopes to work with city officials to increase penalties.

“If it were up to me, I would try to find a way to stop them there, we give them tickets, we take their bikes or, in this case, a vehicle. Certainly the fines should be as maximum as they can be. We shouldn’t be nice, there shouldn’t be any warning. It should be you did it and you should pay the fine, ”Murphy explained.

Communities in western Massachusetts are working together to tackle this problem

“I know our police department has worked with Springfield Police and State Police and I’m sure other departments. I am sure Chicopee is involved in this file, ”added Murphy.

Murphy wants residents to know he’s working on a way to stop illegal drag racing and off-road motorcycling, but serious public safety concerns arise.

“We are trying to find the answer. How can we defend the safety of people without jeopardizing their safety in a chase? So that’s the balance, ”Murphy said.