Fort Worth, Texas – Fort Worth officials continue to battle illegal street racing and street takeover activity that has created growing safety concerns across the city over the last several years. Authorities say the dangerous gatherings, which often involve reckless driving, intersection blockages, and crowds of spectators, remain a challenge despite recent enforcement efforts and new laws aimed at reducing the problem.
According to city officials, these events have been occurring in Fort Worth since at least 2020. Participants frequently gather in large groups to carry out high-speed racing, burnouts, and other dangerous vehicle stunts in public areas. Many of these events are coordinated through social media, allowing drivers and spectators to quickly move between locations before police can intervene.
The issue escalated sharply in 2022 when the city experienced a major increase in activity. Between late 2022 and early 2023, more than 1,000 related calls were reported. Since then, officials say organizers have become harder to track because they increasingly rely on private messaging groups and closed communication channels rather than public online posts.
Hundreds of calls tied to reckless driving concerns
During the first three months of 2026 alone, the Fort Worth Police Department recorded around 795 calls for service under the category of “hot-rodding.” Officials explained that this broad classification includes reckless driving, street racing, and possible takeover activity…