Not so fast and furious: They took over streets, CMPD took their fancy cars from them

Two people were arrested and 20 citations were issued on Aug. 31 after the Charlotte-Mecklenburg police department disrupted “street takeovers,” police said Wednesday on X.

CMPD said it worked with the N.C. State Highway Patrol to respond to six locations throughout the night, including one where a person was hit by a vehicle.

The person was transported to the hospital with serious injuries.

In May, CMPD seized a vehicle and issued seven citations during street takeovers in uptown and NoDa.

Police seized five cars and two guns last weekend. One of the cars in south Charlotte had erupted into flames and was left abandoned at Arrowood Road and Interstate 77, police said.

CMPD’s public affairs unit did not respond to questions Wednesday about where the six locations were and what the two arrested people were charged with.

Street takeovers are when drivers close off streets for racing and doing tricks like burnouts in an intersection while onlookers gather to watch and film.

Last year, CMPD held a news conference about street takeovers, and said police towed or seized 12 vehicles in February 2023 alone.

During that press conference, the department said policing street takeovers can be difficult because officers cannot quickly identify drivers, and often, the drivers aren’t the owners of the vehicles and lack proper registration. Plates are often removed or switched with another vehicle.

Drivers rarely stop for police, and CMPD’s pursuit policy does not allow officers to chase unless someone committed a crime dangerous to life, police said. Reckless and aggressive driving doesn’t meet the threshold.

But a law went into effect in December to introduce new penalties for these events.

Drivers can be charged with a misdemeanor and a fine of more than $1,000. And if a person is caught participating again within a two-year period, they could face stricter penalties.