Authorities Intensify Crackdown on Illegal Street Takeovers in Los Angeles
Officials frustrated by reckless street gatherings are seeking to impose stricter penalties on those involved in these dangerous activities.
Los Angeles has increasingly faced issues with unauthorized car meet-ups, often organized through clandestine social media platforms, where participants take over public streets for stunts like donuts and burnouts.
These events are promoted online, with organizers profiting from their connections to aspiring speedsters, as noted by law enforcement.
“These dangerous acts are endangering our neighborhoods, frequently resulting in fatalities and contributing to other crimes such as looting and vandalism,” stated LA District Attorney Nathan Hochman during a press briefing on Monday.
Hochman’s comments followed an incident over the weekend where 40 to 50 vehicles commandeered the area outside Crypto.com Arena, home of the LA Lakers.
Back in April, county authorities decided to increase fines for participating in street takeovers to $1,000, with potential jail time of up to 90 days. Even bystanders could face penalties.
However, Hochman feels the current measures are insufficient.
He appealed to the Board of Supervisors for escalating penalties, proposing $2,500 for a second offense and $5,000 for a third.
Hochman cautioned that vehicles involved in these activities could be confiscated permanently.
“If you want to see your car crushed as we impound it, go ahead and challenge us,” he warned.
In a related case, a judge recently sentenced Dante Chapple-Young to 13 years in prison for a 2022 incident where he drove into a crowd while performing stunts, resulting in the death of 24-year-old Elyzza Guajaca.
“It has been a difficult journey for me and my family,” said Guajaca’s mother, Lorraine, tearfully addressing the media. “We have ensured that the driver faces justice.”
This year, three fatalities have been reported due to street takeovers. The LA Police Department has intervened in 517 such incidents since January, but they respond to only about one in four occurrences, according to LAPD Deputy Chief Donald Graham. He explained that a heavy-handed approach could escalate risks.
“If law enforcement intervenes too aggressively, it could cause a mass exodus of vehicles, creating a more perilous situation,” he noted.
Graham also detailed that the nature of these illegal gatherings has become increasingly aggressive, posing risks not only to civilians but also to responding officers.
“It’s not like during my early days of street racing enforcement, when a few patrol cars could disperse crowds easily,” he explained, stating that even calling for backup can become hazardous as large groups may turn hostile against the police.
To combat this issue, police are monitoring social media channels for information on forthcoming takeovers, with organizers facing possible conspiracy charges. However, organizers frequently use private groups or encrypted messaging to elude detection and alter their plans at the last moment.
“We have our methods of tracking these activities, albeit they are more complex than simply checking standard social media websites,” Graham stated.
Additionally, the LA County Board of Supervisors intends to send formal notifications to social media companies urging them to take action against participants in street takeovers, warning that they could be held responsible for resulting injuries and damages if they fail to act.
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