Cracking Down on Street Takeovers

April 26, 2024


The House of Representatives took bipartisan and unanimous action in a 148-0 vote to pass House Bill 5413, which helps cities and towns control street takeovers, which have proven to be a concern for many of our residents.

Street takeovers have become a local issue since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 100 people gathered recklessly for one of these events in the Stop & Shop parking lot in Milford in December 2023. Police said some drivers were performing dangerous motor vehicle stunts while others attacked officers on the scene. Police arrested one man about a month later.
Courtesy: Milford Police Department

This cannot become the new normal. These takeovers by the illegal use of all-terrain and other type of vehicles pose a significant threat to public safety, endangering participants, innocent bystanders, and law enforcement officials.

HB 5413 seeks to provide more tools to municipalities to combat street takeovers, including:

  • Allowing cities and towns to destroy ATVs, dirt bikes, and motorcycles seized and forfeited for violating a municipal ordinance
  • Authorizing municipalities to adopt ordinances that penalize street takeovers and impose fines as well as the seizure of vehicles
  • Changing and tightening penalties for violating state law on street takeovers, including permanent driver's license revocation for a third violation of the statute
I am glad my bipartisan vote provides additional tools and increased penalties to cities and towns to help deter street takeovers, which create public safety hazards for drivers, pedestrians, and others.

The bill now moves to the Senate.