LAPD Shuts Down Two Takeovers Before They Start

Street takeovers are a problem across the USA, and police departments use all sorts of tactics to deal with them. Deputies in California say their latest operation did better than most. It actually got ahead of the event and stopped two planned gatherings before the crews could get going. The LA County Sheriff's Department credits its dedicated Street Takeover Task Force for the success. The team stopped unlawful events in Cudahy and Carson recently. 

Most of the success appears to be thanks to organizers of these events posting about them on social media. Police say each one was intending to attract illegally modified cars and street takeover crews. Notably, police didn't reveal specifics about how they stopped the takeover, but plenty of stops and arrests might have played a role. The effort was part of a broader weekend crackdown. Deputies conducted enforcement patrols in Crescenta Valley, Carson, Compton, and unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County, and their results went well beyond disrupted weekend plans.

Across the entire operation, police arrested 22 people for offenses including DUI, driving with a suspended license, illegal weapons possession, narcotics possession, reckless driving, exhibition of speed, DUI causing injury, and felony evading. In other words, the net caught quite a variety of illegal activity and we haven't even talked about the citations. Of the 104 issued by police, at least 55 cars were cited for emissions or exhaust violations, though this pales in comparison to the ticket-writing skills of a police department in small-town Arkansas. 

These violations force those owners to correct the issues and get an inspection by California's state referee before they can go back on the road legally. That said, there's no word on if police impounded the cars or simply let them drive away. Captain Robert Dean praised the task force's proactive approach and focus on public safety, adding that he was proud of its work over the weekend. Of course, owners caught up in the operation will face consequences that linger far beyond the weekend.

It might not sound like a giant deal, but having to get a car inspected by the California state referee can be pricey. Violations that end up with a referee appointment carry initial costs that vary by the violation, court fees, and even the county in question. A modified exhaust ticket costs nearly $200, and the state requires that the owner repair the vehicle before getting it inspected. Obviously, that can add quite a bit to the bottom line, as opposed to when California eased smog rules for classic cars. 

From there, the referee gets to inspect the entire vehicle including the computer programming. If they find something out of sorts, they can fail the vehicle and force the owner to make additional repairs. If the owner fails to make them within the deadline, that adds an additional fine to the ticket. Keep driving anyway and police can add additional charges the next time they pull the car over.