Street takeovers have become popular in Los Angeles this summer. From KTLA:
Takeovers typically involve “flash mobs” of hundreds of spectators and several cars that arrive in a coordinated manner at specific intersections, or even interstates, and blocking traffic to speed and show off dangerous stunts like drifting.As vehicles turn and screech through intersections, spinning dangerously close to cheering crowds, the stunts are often filmed by onlookers and posted on social media — which police say generates even more interest in the illegal activity.Illegal street racing has always been part of L.A.’s car culture, but police say the practice has changed over the years. KTLA spoke with Los Angeles Police Department traffic group Cmdr. Al Pasos about the issue.
The street takeovers became wilder and crazier as the summer dragged on. Here are a few incidents:
The LAPD, businesses, and homeowners have had enough:
“We really want to stop this from becoming a new trend where they think they can show up and take over a street, freeway or any part of the city,” said LAPD Detective Ryan Moreno during a press conference Thursday.The police department announced new enforcement measures, anyone participating or attending a street takeover will have their vehicle impounded for up to 30 days.Det. Moreno said on a typical weekend the department would impound five to ten cars, but that number is sure to go up in the coming days if takeovers continue to occur.”Cars will start disappearing really soon,” Moreno added.
CBS News LA reporter Laurie Perez witnessed two street takeovers in south LA. One had 500 spectators, with many “standing dangerously close to cars and trucks that were doing donuts and dangerous tricks with their cars.”
The closeness of spectators “intimidated” some of the drivers. But the drivers weren’t worried about the spectators. They were “afraid of any consequences because they had a street takeover at the exact same spot” the following weekend.
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