Authorities say that they impounded over 30 vehicles across various street takeovers in Los Angeles and Compton
8 hours ago
Authorities all across the States are trying to figure out how to stop street takeovers and sideshows. In California, the problem appears to be just as bad as ever before after reports of over a dozen such events over the weekend. Police responded by impounding over 30 cars and arresting at least two dozen people.
Street takeovers aren’t a new problem for the cities of Los Angeles or Compton. Carscoops has documented numerous cases of these events in the area and at least one attempt by the city to passively stop street takeovers. That effort hasn’t done much to prevent people from partaking in the activity and over the weekend police responded to multiple separate takeovers.
One such event that happened at the intersection of Century Boulevard and Western Avenue saw a response from the Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) Street Racing Task Force. There, officers arrested 24 people for Exhibition of Speed, cited 13 for being spectators, and impounded 14 cars for 30 days.
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In a different takeover at Alondra Blvd and Central Ave, police found four people injured by gunfire. All went to the hospital with minor injuries. Police haven’t arrested anyone in connection with the shooting. Another event took place on the Sixth Street Bridge and was large enough to completely stop traffic. Officers say that they managed to impound more than 30 vehicles as a result. According to ABC 7, police also handed out 150 citations at the same event.
Read: LA Street Takeover Attendees Throw Gas And Burn Corvette
The ultimate answer to solve this problem isn’t immediately obvious. Some police departments around the nation are using video from the scene to strategically document participants and then move in with arrests or vehicle impounding after the fact.
LAPD Chief Michel Moore says that the state needs to go further though. “The current scheme of citations and even vehicle impounds is proving to be less than sufficient,” Moore said. “I believe… we need legislation, harsher penalties.”
Harsher penalties might be one way to deter the crime but it could also be of benefit to provide a place to do this type of driving in a safer environment. Police are still investigating the numerous events and ask anyone with information to contact the Street Racing Task Force at (213) 833-3746.