Police departments on opposite sides of the country ran large-scale enforcement operations against illegal street takeovers during the weekend of September 5-7, 2026, with the Los Angeles Police Department reporting nearly 70 arrests and 200 vehicles impounded in the Harbor Gateway neighborhood, and the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office in South Carolina reporting more than 80 arrests and 38 vehicles impounded near Fairview and Locust Hill roads. Combined, the two operations account for roughly 150 arrests and nearly 240 towed vehicles in a single weekend, underscoring how aggressively agencies are now responding to organized takeovers involving Dodge Chargers, Honda Civics, and other commonly modified street cars.

What Happened in Los Angeles

LAPD officers moved in early Saturday morning at the intersection of South Figueroa Street and West Alondra Boulevard, where a crowd had gathered for burnouts and donuts. According to ABC7 Los Angeles, 66 people were arrested for participating in or aiding a street race or takeover, with three additional arrests for assaulting an officer, battery, and obstruction. LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said in a statement carried by the station, “This is not harmless fun. This is criminal behavior… one single reckless decision can ruin or take their life.”

The department also issued 570 citations, including 442 to spectators watching the speed contest and 128 to juveniles violating the city’s 10 p.m. curfew, according to the same report. CBS News Los Angeles separately confirmed the near-70 arrest count from its own reporting on the scene. Officers recovered seven firearms and nitrous oxide canisters, and one impounded vehicle caught fire during towing.

What Happened in Greenville County

Roughly 2,300 miles away, Greenville County deputies broke up a takeover late Friday night at the intersection of Locust Hill Road and Fairview Road. Fox Carolina and Live 5 News both reported that 80 adults, plus multiple juveniles, were arrested and charged with aiding and abetting a street takeover under South Carolina’s Roadway Safety and Protection Act. Deputies impounded 38 vehicles and seized 10 firearms. The sheriff’s office said investigators documented burnouts and roadway closures, and that the investigation remains open with additional charges possible.

Key Points

• LAPD’s Harbor Gateway operation: 69 arrests, roughly 200 vehicles impounded, 570 citations issued.
• Greenville County, SC operation: 80-plus adult arrests, 38 vehicles impounded, 10 firearms seized.
• Combined weekend total across the two documented operations: approximately 149 arrests and 238 vehicles towed.
• Both incidents involved organized crowds gathering specifically to block roads for burnouts and donuts.

What’s Affected

Anyone who drives to, participates in, or spectates at a street takeover in either jurisdiction now faces a materially higher chance of arrest, citation, or vehicle impoundment. LAPD’s use of buses and a dedicated tow-truck fleet, reported by ABC7, signals a shift toward mass-processing large crowds rather than making isolated arrests. In South Carolina, the charge of aiding and abetting a takeover means spectators, not just drivers doing burnouts, can be prosecuted.

What Owners Should Do

Owners of performance cars who frequent car meets should assume that any gathering blocking a public roadway, regardless of city, can now trigger a coordinated multi-agency response with tow trucks staged in advance. An impounded vehicle in either jurisdiction can mean thousands of dollars in towing and storage fees even without a resulting conviction, and a takeover-related charge can affect insurance rates and licensing. Drivers should confirm with their local police department or sheriff’s office where legal track nights and car-meet alternatives exist, since both LAPD and Greenville County have signaled these crackdowns will continue.