Montgomery County leaders target growing problem of street takeovers
Montgomery County bill would crack down on car rallies
Montgomery County leaders are pushing for tougher punishments for car rallies and street takeovers.
ROCKVILLE, Md. - The growing problem of illegal street takeovers was back in the spotlight in Montgomery County, as leaders heard from residents Tuesday on a proposal that would expand police powers to curb the events.
What we know:
FOX 5’s Maureen Umeh says street takeovers have become an all‑too‑familiar sight across the Washington, D.C. region.
County leaders heard public testimony on whether Montgomery County should adopt tougher local penalties, joining Prince George’s County in trying to get ahead of the problem.
The proposal before the County Council would make it illegal to organize, promote or participate in street takeovers and unlawful racing on county roads. It would also give Montgomery County Police additional civil enforcement tools aimed at breaking up these gatherings before they escalate.
RELATED: Prince George's County cracks down on street takeovers
The legislation comes just weeks after Prince George’s County approved its own street takeover law, which includes fines and possible jail time for offenders. Supporters of Montgomery’s bill, including Police Chief Marc Yamada and State’s Attorney John McCarthy, say stronger enforcement is needed to protect drivers, spectators and surrounding neighborhoods.
Tuesday’s hearing marked the public’s first opportunity to weigh in before councilmembers vote on whether to move the legislation forward.
The bill will be back in front of the council in October.
What they're saying:
Several advocates of the bill spoke up during the hearing, with many calling for harsher penalties for offenders.
"They had a similar problem, and they put teeth in their legislation in Annapolis, and basically, you took the car away, had points on your license, all that kinda thing, and that's the teeth we need to have," said John Becker with the Maryland Coalition for Roadway Safety.
Currently, the proposed bill only covers public roads. Some supporters argued the measure should cover private roads, parking lots and garages as well.
"These activities, as we know, are not just random things that happen all of a sudden," said Councilmember Andrew Friedson. "They are pre-planned, they are organized. People are involved in the organization that aren't necessarily the ones who are conducting the illegal activities with a car, and we want to crack down on all of it because they're all involved in making our community less safe."
The Source: Information in this article comes from Montgomery County and previous FOX 5 reporting.