--- title: "LAPD Will Impound Every Car at Street Takeovers—Including Spectators’" description: "The LAPD is going to begin impounding cars involved in illegal street takeovers, including spectators' cars." date: "2022-08-21" modified: "2022-08-21" authors: - name: "Nico DeMattia" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/nico-demattia" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/lapd-will-impound-every-car-at-street-takeovers-including-spectators" categories: - "Culture" - "News" --- # LAPD Will Impound Every Car at Street Takeovers—Including Spectators’ ![]() Street takeovers—where crowds of hundreds of spectators block off streets and intersections, so cars can race or do donuts—are becoming a bigger and bigger problem in California. So much so that the LAPD will begin to impound all cars involved, including spectators' cars, for up to 30 days. “We really want to stop this from becoming a new trend where they think that they show up and take over a street or a freeway or any part of the city, that they’re just going to be able to do whatever they want.” said LAPD detective Ryan Moreno to reporters on Thursday, according to *[Fox LA11]()*. “Cars are going to start disappearing real soon.” According to Moreno, the LAPD currently impounds between five to ten cars per weekend already. However, that number is about to increase drastically when spectators' cars begin to get impounded. It isn't just the [street racing](), though. More violent crime can escalate from such street takeovers. Two takeovers took place earlier in the week, in South L.A., and each one led to more violent crimes. One of which ended in the [fatal shooting of a teenage boy](). The other involved a 7-Eleven getting robbed and the store employee getting assaulted. "Some \[street takeovers\] are crossing over into more of gang-type attitude." Moreno said. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ny1Vbl2Qg48 This LAPD crackdown comes after a bill was[ introduced back in January](), that would not only provide California police with more funding to specifically tackle illegal street racing but also increase penalties for those involved. In 2019, the San Jose city counsel[ unanimously passed a bill ]()that would allow police to arrest anyone standing within 200 feet of a street race. The new decision to impound even spectators' cars come in addition to some of the countermeasures the LAPD has already implemented, such as adding Botts' Dots (the circular raised pavement bumps) to commonly used intersections. The Botts' Dots are supposed to discourage drifting and racing. Additional cars, outside the ones racing, doing donuts, or drifting, can be used to block off streets and highways for these takeovers. Those cars are now at risk of being impounded as well. ## Author Nico is a writer and reviewer from New Jersey who probably thinks he’s a lot funnier than he actually is. His love of cars began when he was just a kid playing Gran Turismo 3, grinding out enough race wins with a Mazda Miata to save up for an in-game RUF 911. That passion for small, lightweight sports cars drove his desire to learn more about the industry, get his hands on as many cars as he could, and bring those experiences to life on the page. He cut his teeth writing about BMWs, Volkswagens, and Audis, mostly, and has owned far too many of each. He’s on his fourth 3 Series sedan, but all of his old, cheap German cars have forced him to learn more about car maintenance than his mechanical capability can handle. Too many late nights have been spent scrambling to get a car running by morning so he could get to work. For some reason, he never seems to learn that old Bimmers probably aren’t the best daily drivers. But he loves more than just old German cars. He’ll gladly drive and discuss anything with four (or even three) wheels. Cars aren’t his only passions, though. Nico is also a big nerd and loves movies, video games, comic books, and cares far too much about the New York Giants. So don’t be surprised if you see football references or dumb, obscure movie quotes in any of his car reviews. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()