CMPD reports steep drop in street takeovers

• One person was hospitalized for injuries from an August 2024 event. At another gathering that same day, at Arrowood and I-77, a car caught fire and was abandoned.

By the numbers: Pop-up takeovers were down 88% in 2024 compared to 2023 (134 to 16), and pre-arranged events declined 71% (95 to 28), per CMPD.

• Street takeover vehicle seizures increased by 29%.

CMPD attributes the dropoff to new laws and increased enforcement by the transportation division.

• In 2023, stricter penalties went into effect to charge violators with a misdemeanor and a minimum fine of $1,000, WBTV reported. If caught participating again within two years, that misdemeanor is bumped to a felony and the minimum fine is double the car's value.