CHICAGO (CBS) — Illegal street takeovers have been a problem across Chicago for years, but it’s not a dangerous issue that’s unique to the city.
Police departments in other major cities are cracking down on the issue, raising the question if the same methods could work in Chicago.
Lower Wacker is a hotspot for illegal street takeovers . It’s why the city installed speed bumps to try to stop them, and additional preventive action could be taken soon.
During the street takeovers, large crowds gather in the street as drivers drift and spin donuts in major intersections or empty parking lots, sometimes setting off fireworks or lighting rings of fire in the street.
“Many cars spinning around like crazy out here in the intersection,” said Ken Jones, who witnessed one such takeover in Feburary.
Often, street takeovers or car stunt meetups turn violent or even deadly; leaving people shot, police officers injured while trying to break them up, and police cruisers sometimes damaged in the process.