While most of Dallas was trying to stay upright on icy roads Sunday, police say a different kind of traffic problem was unfolding: ATV riders taking over intersections, blocking streets, and pulling risky stunts as officers were already stretched thin by hazardous winter weather.
Dallas Police Department’s Street Racing Task Force teamed up with patrol units and spread out across the city after a flurry of calls about all-terrain vehicle activity and street-racing-style takeovers. By the time they wrapped, officers reported towing or impounding more than a dozen ATVs and hauling at least one rider to jail.
Police Say They Hauled Off ATVs Across The City
In a post from the Dallas Police Department, officials said officers first encountered a large group of ATVs illegally parked in the roadway in the 200 block of July Alley, then at other spots around the city. Crews moved in to clear the intersections and start calling for tow trucks.
Dallas Police Respond to Widespread ATV Street Racing, Make Arrest and SeizuresOn January 25, 2026, the Street Racing Task Force (SRTF) and patrol officers responded to multiple calls regarding reckless all-terrain vehicle (ATV) activity and street racing across the city.… pic.twitter.com/gOMe2Ha4ln
— Dallas Police Dept (@DallasPD) January 26, 2026
According to the department, 11 ATVs were taken to the Dallas Police auto pound. Seven were impounded from July Alley, and three more were towed in the 800 block of South Riverfront for being unregistered. The post also points to Axon body-camera footage tied to the responses, with one clip timestamped 2026-01-25 16:13:37 -0600.
One Driver Arrested, And A Sharp Warning From The Chief
Police say one driver, identified as Eber J. Rosario Soto, did not just lose a ride. According to the same Dallas Police Department update, he was transported to the Dallas County Jail and booked on charges that include endangering a child by criminal negligence, unlawful carrying of a weapon and reckless driving…