More than 70 people were arrested over a three-day period last weekend in street takeovers throughout Las Vegas.
According to newspaper and police reports, the events began after midnight near the Motor Speedway and quickly spread to more than 10 separate locations.
In 2024, the Police Executive Research Forum wrote, “Across the country, often on a Friday or Saturday night, cities face a menacing problem: street takeovers in which dozens or hundreds of cars meet up in one location to do donuts, race, and drive recklessly.”
As hundreds of vehicles gather for reckless stunts and racing across the country, these events have triggered intensified law enforcement responses and heightened safety concerns for local residents and businesses.
Details from the Las Vegas street takeover
One such weekend “sideshow” in Las Vegas featured a car doing donuts at the Tropical Parkway and Celebration Way intersection.
Air and ground units followed the vehicle until it crashed and suspects were taken into custody, according to Las Vegas TV station KLAS.
In total, 59 vehicles were towed or impounded, and four firearms were recovered. Of the 77 individuals involved, officials say 19 were from out of state, including 66 adults and 11 juveniles.
“Street takeovers aren’t entertainment — they’re dangerous, illegal, and put lives at risk,” the Las Vegas Metro Police Department wrote on X.
‘A form of social currency’
A street takeover is an unauthorized gathering where drivers occupy public intersections to perform stunts and reckless driving.
They usually occur late at night, tires screeching as loud music blares from vehicles driving at video game speeds. The gatherings are not new, but officials say they are growing in several ways.
In some cases, the pop-up events can lead to violence, like shootings.
That’s exactly what happened two weeks ago in Los Angeles when four people were hospitalized with gunshot wounds, per the Los Angeles Times.
Oftentimes, participants post videos on social media and get thousands of views.
“(It’s) becoming a performative crime. It’s a form of social currency,” Kimberly Przeszlowski, an assistant professor of criminal justice, told The Wall Street Journal.
Law enforcement is frequently outnumbered and can easily become overwhelmed by the large number of drivers and spectators involved.
Street takeover crisis is nationwide
There are reports of incidents in small and large communities. Here are a few examples.
Last fall, Austin, Texas, police issued a warning regarding a planned street takeover. Although the event never materialized, takeovers had become such a pervasive issue that a Violent Crimes Task Force was established to keep these illegal gatherings at bay.
Just a few weeks ago in Portland, Oregon, six people were arrested and two injured in a street takeover, reported by Fox 12 Oregon. Large crowds gathered and there were even fireworks shot off at one point.
Those arrested ranged from 18 to 25 years old.
While still relatively light outside, a dangerous street takeover occurred in Plymouth Township, Pennsylvania, last summer.
One bystander told NBC Philadelphia, “Man this intersection looks crazy. It looks like Tokyo drift.”
All this to say that the sideshow in Las Vegas recently was not an isolated event. These dangerous meetups happen all across the United States.
Are there street takeovers in Utah?
Last May, KUTV reported on motorcycle takeovers happening in South Salt Lake.
The motorcycles are often equipped with loud exhausts and ride through residential neighborhoods, according to the article.
Law enforcement officials are doing their best to put a stop to these takeovers and recognize the danger they present.
“Anytime you’re slowing down traffic, that is absolutely illegal and all of the driving patterns that usually come associated with that are definitely up to the reckless driving threshold,” motorcycle police trooper Christopher Race told KUTV.
Coincidentally, there was one incident reported in Milwaukee the same night as the one in Vegas, although local police say the main organizer of it was not from Milwaukee, per the Milwaukee Courier.
Official response
The unpredictable nature of these events makes them a moving target. Because they’re organized so quickly, law enforcement struggles to intercept them in time.
To combat this, several states have taken action.
Stateline reported at least four states — Connecticut, New York, South Carolina and Virginia — are considering legislation aimed at imposing legal consequences for street takeovers.
In Connecticut, anyone with three or more violations can have their driver’s license suspended for two years.
In Virginia, the penalties are a bit stiffer — up to a year in jail, a $2,500 fine, or in some cases, both.
Experts say coordination between police and government officials at both the local and state level is required in order to get a real hold on these illegal happenings, according to Stateline.