Illegal Street Takeovers Are Rising Across Los Angeles County
Assembly Bill 1588 Could Help Curb Them
This past weekend, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) launched a surge of enforcement efforts to curb a recent spike in street takeovers. Dubbed “Operation Street Sweeper” and conducted by the LAPD’s Street Racing Task Force, the operation deployed more than 150 LAPD officers, with Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and California Highway Patrol officers also responding to a street takeover involving more than 700 participants. Officers made nearly 70 arrests and issued 570 citations to participants and spectators, many of whom were minors, the youngest just 11 years old. LAPD also impounded more than 200 vehicles, many of which were stolen, rented, or borrowed from family and friends.
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell stated at a press conference announcing the operation, “This is not harmless fun… Parents—know where your kids are. Watch out for them and have serious talks with them about what they are dealing with here... one single reckless decision can ruin or take their life."
These efforts come amid a long history of street takeover activity in California that has put lives at risk. In a 2021 California Highway Patrol (CHP) report, nearly 123,000 participants were recorded at more than 7,300 sideshows across California. Illegal sideshows have devastating consequences. According to the CHP, data from a five-year reporting period, 2015-2020, found that out of 264 crashes observed, 30 were fatal, and 124 others resulted in serious injuries. These figures do not detail cases of non-participants who were killed by drivers fleeing from sideshows.
The recent surge in enforcement also comes as Los Angeles County officials have reported a renewed increase in street takeovers. In a quarterly report presented to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on August 24, 2026, the Chief Executive Office found a significant recent increase in street takeovers despite earlier declines after implementing the Street Takeover Reduction Action Plan.
The Action Plan aims to significantly reduce illegal street takeovers and/or racing events in LA County unincorporated communities through a multi-faceted, collaborative approach that includes prevention, infrastructure, enforcement, legal alternatives, and communication strategies.
After implementing the Action Plan in 2025, street takeovers declined by 33 percent, from 1,182 in 2024 to 787 in 2025. This decline continued into the first quarter of 2026, when street takeovers fell 53 percent from 289 in Q1 2024 to 135 in Q1 2026. However, recent Sheriff’s data show a sharp increase in illegal street takeovers between April and June 2026.
Table from the Quarterly Report Back on the Verbal Report to the Board of Supervisors on Policy Recommendations to Curtail Street Racing
As shown in the table above, Supervisorial District (SD) 1 saw a slight increase in illegal street takeovers, while SD 3 and SD 5 remained at zero. SD 2 and SD 4 saw the largest increases. In SD 2, illegal street takeovers more than tripled between April and June 2026, increasing from 96 in the last quarter to 323. SD 4 also experienced a significant increase, with 49 additional street takeovers reported during the quarter, more than doubling from 36 to 85.
As shown in the tables above, countywide, street takeovers increased by 274 events, representing a 203% increase from the previous quarter. According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) 2nd Quarter Report (Attachment II), there were 409 street takeovers, 22 arrests, 30 tows, and 132 cities affected across contract cities and unincorporated areas. This marks a significant increase in street takeover activity compared with the 1st Quarter Report, which recorded 135 street takeovers, 20 arrests, 58 tows, and 146 cities affected.
Table depicting the top 10 unincorporated LA County or cities that contract with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department with the most street takeovers from the 2nd Quarter Report
As shown in the table above, the 10 unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County and cities that contract with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) with the highest number of street takeovers are identified below. More than six of the 10 areas experienced 45 or more street takeovers in just three months.
The workgroup identified several potential factors contributing to the significant increase in street takeover activity. These include increased activity and promotion surrounding the 2026 FIFA World Cup and other major sporting events, media promotion of attractions that appeal to racing enthusiasts, the emerging “video game driving” trend, which promotes reckless driving and may be influenced by the release of Grand Theft Auto VI later this year, and the recent decentralization of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Street Takeover Task Force.
Illegal street racing and takeovers also impose high financial costs on local communities. During the last quarter alone, the County spent approximately $410,000 installing and repairing intersection deterrents designed to prevent street takeovers. This does not account for the broader impacts and costs to transportation infrastructure.
Despite ongoing efforts and action plans to curb illegal street takeovers, this behavior remains a significant public safety issue across Los Angeles County. However, recently proposed legislation, Assembly Bill (AB) 1588, may provide a stronger deterrent by increasing accountability to those who participate in illegal street takeovers.
What is Assembly Bill 1588?
AB 1588, authored by Assemblymember Catherine Stefani, seeks to strengthen accountability for participation in sideshows and expand the definition of a sideshow to include vehicles beyond cars. By broadening the definition, the bill would ensure a wide range of dangerous and illegal activities that threaten community safety are subject to strict penalties.
Under current California law, sideshows are punishable only by up to 90 days in county jail and a $500 fine. However, the law imposes no additional penalties for bodily injury resulting from participation in a sideshow or for repeat offenses, which makes it ineffective at deterring such behavior. These limitations weaken the law’s deterrent effect and fail to hold repeat offenders accountable. As a result, victims and their families are left with irreparable damage and no additional sanctions for those responsible. Without meaningful penalties, individuals have little reason to refrain from participating in street takeovers, as evidenced by the recent report presented to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.
AB 1588 would address these gaps by aligning penalties for sideshows with other similar conduct, like street racing, using the same penalty structure to hold repeat offenders accountable. When the state sets different penalties for two similar crimes, it signals that one is less serious than the other. AB 1588 would help create greater consistency in how California law treats sideshows and street racing.
AB 1588 also addresses economic strains caused by sideshows. Sideshows impose high financial costs, reaching as much as $100,000 in infrastructure damage per sideshow. AB 1588’s sanctions will hold repeat offenders accountable, improve public safety, and reduce financial burdens placed on communities and small businesses.
AB 1588 is an important piece of legislation that can address the rise of illegal street takeovers in Los Angeles County by establishing a more consistent and effective framework to deter sideshows and hold participants and repeat offenders accountable. It also sends a clear message that illegal sideshows will not be tolerated in Los Angeles or across California, and those who participate and endanger others will be held accountable.
AB 1588 has currently advanced to the Governor’s Desk and is awaiting signature.