CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - Video posted on social media over the weekend shows drifting cars, unruly crowds and a chaotic confrontation with Chicago police.
Superintendent David Brown said officers enforced the city’s new drag racing ordinance, resulting in nine arrests and seven vehicles getting impounded.
Another 20 cars have been identified to be towed later.
“Just because we didn't arrest you or tow your car when the incident happened, there's video of you, there's video of your car and your behavior,” said Brown during a media briefing Monday morning.
In an effort to prevent future street takeovers, the city plans to dispatch salt trucks, mobile pod trucks and trailers to known racing sites.
Brown said they’ve also created a caravan task force which will help identify and impound vehicles that weren’t immediately towed away.
“We're going to use every resource possible to identify the people and the cars involved and hold them accountable at some later date, because when we don't have consequences, they are going to continue,” Brown
Although drag racing isn’t new to Chicago, Brown said it’s become increasingly more dangerous for police officers who intervene.
“[People are] throwing bottles at cops, throwing bricks at cops, there was an incident several weeks ago where fireworks were being shot at cops,” he said. “People think this is fun behavior and what we need to do is just make this a very serious criminal offense,” Brown said.
Currently those who are caught participating in drag racing and drifting could have their vehicles impounded and face a fine of up to $10,000.
Superintendent Brown said he’s not opposed to raising that amount to $20,000 if the issue continues.
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