Noisy, dangerous street takeovers that erupt on Southern California intersections late at night continue to pose major safety risks, even as new data shows a sharp decline in the illegal events across Los Angeles County.
High-speed donuts, near collisions, and crowds blocking intersections have become a familiar scene since the pandemic. Videos from recent street takeovers show cars spinning within feet of spectators, fireworks exploding in the roadways and what sound like gunshots.
“They can lose control, hit people, hit businesses,” said David Murray, a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputy who is part of a special operations team targeting street takeovers…