Portland Police Struggle to Stop Illegal Street Racers Taking Over Streets

PORTLAND, Ore. — Despite new laws targeting participants in illegal drag racing that better equip police, the Portland Police Bureau indicated that they remain overwhelmed by illegal street takeovers.

The street racing trend surged across America when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and lockdowns began. Portland police have seen a dramatic increase in street takeovers.

Increase In Street Takeovers In Portland

Lt. Chadd Stensgaard, who oversees Portland Police Bureau missions against the events, indicated that the late-night events “pop up almost every weekend.” State data projects far more street-takeover and street-racing violations in 2024 than last year. 139 street takeovers have been documented by the bureau this year so far.

Stensgaard said that social media is the main driver of street takeovers. He indicated that the street takeover culture is, at least partly,  driven by a desire to defy authority, and then brag about it on social media. Bolder infringements of the law get more ‘likes’ when the participant avoids being arrested. People see it as a business.

Portland Deaths In Street Racing Events

All events are dangerous, regardless of the size. Stensgaard said that participants are getting bolder,  doing burnouts and cookies in an intersection, drifting off into the crowd, and sometimes hitting people.

Yet people continue to watch, despite it being dangerous. At one event, with around 1,000 spectators, a driver drove into the crowd, causing what police say could be life-threatening injuries to one person. The bureaus said “After striking at least three people, the suspect driver left the scene, but returned later to continue sliding,”

Spectators have been hit by cars doing donuts in the middle of an intersection in recent months, and crowds of onlookers have impeded emergency vehicles by blocking roads. Stensgaard said many participants and spectators carry guns, and a 20-year-old Vancouver man was shot to death in 2022  in Northeast Portland during a street takeover.

Other Portland crime stories: East Portland Gangster In ‘Hood Check’ Killing Gets Life With Parole Possible In 35 Years

Portland Police Arrest Drag Racers

Although the goal is to end the takeover and arrest participants, staffing levels make it difficult for the bureau to tackle large events effectively. Because drivers take off their license plates, tracking participants down is difficult and people corralled by police usually refuse to share any information about other participants.

In April, a multi-day Police Bureau mission targeted street takeovers across the city, netting a dozen arrests. 33 cars were towed. 19 people have been charged in Multnomah County so far this year.

The charges are misdemeanors under a Portland ordinance banning unlawful street takeovers- over double the 9 people charged last year. 62 traffic tickets have been issued under a state law banning street racing this year, compared to 2023’s total of 71.

Signed last year by Gov. Tina Kotek, a law came into effect in September, enabling police to confiscate cars of street-takeover participants. Street racing is now punishable by up to 364 days in jail.

Although spectating street takeover events isn’t strictly illegal, spectators who interfere with police work can be arrested. Similarly, drivers who use their cars to obstruct a road while participants do their tricks can also be arrested.

One of the challenges police face is that they usually don’t know about a street takeover until it happens. As soon as police find out, several sergeants accompany Stensgaard on a street takeover mission.