Street takeovers see rise in 2024, LA County officials report

Street takeovers in Los Angeles County saw a dramatic rise in 2024, with the Second District experiencing a 64% increase between October and December, officials announced Friday.

The Second District includes the cities of Carson, Compton, Culver City and El Segundo as well unincorporated areas and parts of the city of Los Angeles. 

A recent report from the Sheriff's Department showed that in the last three months of 2024, L.A. County saw an increase of 88 street takeovers, where large crowds gather as motorists conduct stunts on public streets. Street takeovers can pose a threat to public safety, resulting in injuries, fatalities and property damage.

The report found there were 13 street takeovers in the First District from July to September, 191 street takeovers in the Second District, and 76 in the Fourth District.

From October to December, there were four street takeovers in the First District and 67 street takeovers in the Fourth District. There was a jump of 106 street takeovers in the Second District, reaching 297, according to the report.

In collaboration with law enforcement agencies, county officials developed the Street Takeover Reduction Action Plan. Community organizations such as Streets Are For Everyone, Street Racing Kills, Project Street Legal and the Brotherhood of Street Racers helped create the document, which focused on five key areas:

• Youth education and prevention with the expansion of school-based and community outreach programs to educate young drivers;

• Infrastructure and technology by promoting centerline extensions, barriers and rubber medians at high-risk intersections;

• Enhanced law enforcement by bolstering coordination between law enforcement agencies, increasing penalties for organizers and spectators and issuing citations;

• Strengthening community engagement by partnering with local organizations and boosting public awareness campaigns against street takeovers; and

• Identifying potential designated spaces for legal street racing events.

Damian Kevitt, executive director of Streets Are For Everyone, said in a statement that street takeovers have reached "crisis levels" across the county.

"Enforcement solutions alone will not solve this," Kevitt added.

Kevitt hailed the action plan, describing it as the first time he's seen a broad group of community organizations and governmental agencies coming together to address this issue.

County officials have expanded its regional taskforce on street takeovers to address the problem. They've also drafted proposed ordinances to increase fines, expand penalties and target spectators and organizers, among other measures.