An illegal street spot in Southern California (Photo – Eric Castro)
L.A. County Supervisors address illegal street takeovers by vehicles speeding and showing off with stunts.
By News Desk
On Tuesday, July 9, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion authored by Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, who represents the First District, and co-authored by Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, who represents the Second District, which aims to address illegal street takeovers.
What is a street takeover? Several vehicles arrive in a coordinated manner at a specific location – an intersection, parking lot, or highway. Drivers typically block traffic while they speed and show off dangerous and reckless stunts like drifting and spinning – screeching dangerously close to crowds who are filming for social media. Spectators may think they will not be harmed by merely watching, however, there have been incidents when drivers lose control, and drivers and passengers are injured when their car collides with objects or spectators.
“I urge those who may consider street takeovers a harmless activity to consider the potentially life-threatening consequences to themselves and those around them. This is not a risk worth taking,” said Supervisor Solis.
Vandalism, graffiti, and burglaries are associated with illegal street takeovers. On July 1, 2024, a Los Angeles Metro bus was vandalized with graffiti during a street takeover that involved at least 50 vehicles at Flower Street and Olympic Boulevard. Two days earlier, at the intersection of West 18th and Main streets, near the 10 Freeway, a street takeover involving 50 vehicles brought out a crowd of hundreds. On June 21, 2024, in unincorporated East Los Angeles, the California Highway Patrol shut down a street takeover on Whittier Boulevard after a vehicle was struck by illegal fireworks and caught on fire. After a street takeover on June 10, 2024, 50 people burglarized an Auto Zone located at Century Boulevard and Hoover Street resulting in thousands of dollars in damage and stolen goods.
Last year, the Board of Supervisors supported a motion to address these takeovers and racing.
The July 9 motion requested the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the District Attorney’s office, the California Highway Patrol, the Chief Executive Office, County Counsel, the Public Works Department, the Regional Planning Department, the Office of Violence Prevention, and the Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission to provide the Board of Supervisors with a verbal presentation at the July 30, 2024, Board of Supervisors meeting, specifying the actions the Sheriff’s Department has taken and will take, and how it is working with the Los Angeles Police Department, California Highway Patrol, and other law enforcement agencies.
Because there may be youth who are involved as drivers or spectators, the motion also directed the Los Angeles County Department of Youth Development to provide a verbal presentation at the July 30, 2024, Board of Supervisors meeting with recommendations on how to deter youth and young adults from participating in illegal street takeovers.
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