Portland Police Use Drones to Bust Drifters, Seize Cars Under Oregon’s New Reckless Driving Law

Portland Police arrested two men for allegedly drifting in a North Portland parking lot on Friday night. After watching the pair through drone cameras, police stepped in and made the arrests. The cars used in the incident may be confiscated under Oregon’s recently passed reckless driving laws.

North Portland Drifters Arrested

Responding to calls that a street takeover was in progress, Portland police used thermal imaging from a police drone to capture and document the heat trails from where two cars’ tires were skidding on a pavement in North Portland.

Police pulled the vehicles over and arrested Sergio Jimenez, 30, of Springfield, and Miguel A. Olmos-Gonzales, 33, of Portland, who were allegedly drifting in a parking lot in the 15900 block of North Columbia Boulevard at around 9:30 p.m.

Drifting, also known as street sliding, happens when drivers oversteer their vehicles while driving into a turn, causing the car to slide sideways. The two vehicles were also seized, and under Oregon’s Reckless Driving Law, the owners could criminally forfeit the vehicles.

The Portland Police Bureau said Jimenez was arrested on allegations of unlawful street takeover, possession of a loaded gun in a public place, and unlawful possession of a firearm, while Olmos-Gonzales was arrested on a single allegation of unlawful street takeover.

Oregon law allows police to confiscate vehicles used in street racing incidents. Because Jimenez had a loaded gun in his car when he was arrested, police also seized the weapon as evidence.