Crime & Courts

CMPD issues 7 citations, tows vehicle following ‘street takeovers’ in Uptown Charlotte, NoDa

Charlotte police said Tuesday that they seized a vehicle and wrote seven citations stemming from this weekend’s “street takeovers,” in which drivers in uptown and NoDa drove dangerously for an audience.

Bystander video showed at least one person get hit by a car doing donuts at the intersection of North Davidson and 36th streets. Police said there were several incidents in the city.

Around midnight, a large group of vehicles and people met at Brooklyn Village Avenue and Brevard Street in uptown, and some drove dangerously and set off fireworks.

Police said in a news release Tuesday that they “cleared out” participants “as quickly and safely as possible.”

Police made two traffic stops, seized a vehicle and gave out seven citations for violations including reckless driving and participating in a street takeover.

A new law on street takeovers — occasions where drivers close off streets, race and do tricks like burnouts — went into effect in December and introduced new penalties, Observer news partner WSOC-TV reported.

Drivers can be charged with a misdemeanor and a fine of more than $1,000. And if they do it again in a two-year period, they can get stricter penalties.

Charlotte police held a news conference last year about street takeovers. Police towed or seized 12 vehicles in February 2023 alone.

This story was originally published May 28, 2024 at 5:41 PM.

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Ryan Oehrli
The Charlotte Observer
Ryan Oehrli writes about criminal justice for The Charlotte Observer. His reporting has delved into police misconduct, jail and prison deaths, the state’s pardon system and more. He was also part of a team of Pulitzer finalists who covered Hurricane Helene. A North Carolina native, he grew up in Beaufort County.
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