Montgomery County Councilmember Andrew Friedson introduced legislation Tuesday to expand enforcement tools available to the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) to better prevent, deter and disengage “street takeover” events on county roads.
The bill is co-sponsored by Council Vice President Marilyn Balcombe, Public Safety Committee Chair Sidney Katz, and Councilmember Dawn Luedtke.
The legislation would give MCPD enhanced civil enforcement authority and define the prohibited conduct associated with a street takeover, per a council release. The bill would also allow additional penalties for violations and allow law enforcement to take action.
“Residents deserve to feel safe on our roads and in their neighborhoods,” said Friedson. “This bill gives law enforcement the clarity and authority needed to intervene earlier, disrupt these coordinated events, and keep people out of harm’s way. Street takeovers endanger everyone involved, drivers, spectators, and our officers, and we must ensure MCPD has strong, modern tools to address this growing threat.”
Street takeovers are large, unauthorized gatherings where people block public roads to drag race and do reckless driving stunts. They have increased across the region, creating safety risks. Under the bill, prohibited activities would include coordinating or promoting a takeover, blocking a road to do stunts, participating in high-risk driving maneuvers, or knowingly aiding in staging a takeover. The legislation also creates a framework that complements existing state traffic and criminal laws to ensure consistent enforcement in the county.
“Street takeovers are both dangerous and illegal. These events put lives at risk and disrupt our communities. We appreciate efforts to address this growing public safety concern and remain committed to working with our partners to keep Montgomery County residents and visitors safe,” said County Police Chief Marc Yamada.
“I support the pending legislation regarding dangerous street takeovers and unlawful racing,” said County State’s Attorney John McCarthy. “The organized street takeover events place the lives and property of everyone in Montgomery County at risk. We are grateful to Councilmember Andrew Friedson for championing this effort. We are working with his office, along with Montgomery County Police and the County Executive’s Office, to ensure we have a meaningful mechanism in place to appropriately charge and prosecute anyone involved in this criminal activity.”
The bill was introduced Tuesday. A public hearing is scheduled for July 14 at 1:30 p.m.
