UPDATE: Significant Street Racing Events Occur, Police make Arrests, Tows, Citations

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On Saturday, August 23, 2025, PPB was alerted to advertised street racing and/or takeover events planned for early in the afternoon. Supervisors assembled a small crew of officers aimed at preventing this activity through high visibility patrols and enforcement where appropriate. 

Officers spread out to try to locate street racers, do patrols, and conduct traffic stops when probable cause of violations existed. At about 5p, some vehicles associated with this kind of activity gathered and parked near Southeast Belmont Street and Southeast 3^rd Avenue. Officers conducted proactive patrols in and around the area, and issued warnings to participants about the potential for enforcement should there be any street takeover and/or racing activity. After a couple of hours, the participants drove away. 

For several hours, officers patrolled areas that are frequent locations for street racing activity. The mission led to 29 traffic stops. Six vehicles were towed for suspended driver licenses, driving without insurance, or hazards. Two people were arrested, one for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants and another for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle. Also, four citations were issued. 

The proactive policework led to limited street racing activity and officers could no longer find anyone participating in such activity. The mission, which had already run for 10 hours, was concluded at midnight. 

Within an hour, North Precinct officers were notified of street racing activity involving up to 100 cars in the 6800 block of North Fessenden Street, a densely populated neighborhood in St. Johns. At the time, every officer in the precinct was tied up on a tactical incident involving a man firing gunshots. A supervisor called people who were reporting the illegal activity to explain the delay in response. 

By 1:54 a.m., the racers had moved to the Lloyd District Neighborhood, with well over 100 vehicles in the area. Some were doing donuts, speeding, running red lights, and zig-zagging through lanes of traffic. The only available police unit was a sergeant, who attempted to persuade the racers to leave via high-visibility patrols. However, at least one driver tried to bait the sergeant into a vehicle pursuit by preemptively speeding away from him. It was clear that the effort was not effective and was actually making things worse, so he disengaged. 

By 3:26 a.m., calls started coming in about street racing activity in the area of Northeast Lombard Street and Northeast Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, and then up to Northeast Columbia Boulevard. While North Precinct officers were busy with emergency calls, some officers and a supervisor from East Precinct were available. So they moved into North Precinct to help. However, most of the street racers had sped away by then. The few that were still there left when they saw the police. 

At 4:17 a.m., a sergeant responding to another call spotted a single driver doing donuts in the intersection of Northeast Killingsworth Street and Northeast 47^th Avenue. The officer was able to stop the driver. The driver was cited for Speed Racing, Driving While Suspended, and Driving Without Insurance. His vehicle was towed and a stolen firearm was seized as evidence. 

Portland Police will continue efforts to prevent speed racing and take enforcement action when it occurs. 

###PPB###

***Original Message Below***

Street Takeover Mission Planned For the Weekend 

The Portland Police Bureau will be conducting a street takeover mission this weekend in an effort to discourage dangerous stunting activities and make arrests and seizures of vehicles when appropriate. 

PPB is aware of social media posts circulating calling for people to attend a car gathering in inner southeast Portland, then engage in street takeover activities. Due to significant public safety concerns this activity raises, Portland Police officers will be dedicated to prevention and intervention. 

Previous such efforts have resulted in arrests, forfeiture of vehicles, tows, and citations. You can watch a video here of a past mission.

PPB has worked with our partners at the Multnomah County District Attorney’s office to pursue criminal forfeiture of cars involved in certain circumstances, meaning the owners could lose their cars permanently. Under the new Reckless Driving law (811.140), a vehicle used in a street racing-like activity is subject to criminal forfeiture. The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office is coordinating with PPB to use criminal forfeiture to, where appropriate, prevent

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 these drivers from retrieving their vehicles. 

It's not just the drivers that can face consequences. ORS 811.127 addresses individuals who are facilitating or aiding another to engage in speed racing on a highway or reckless driving and individuals who obstruct or place a barricade on a highway or assist with placing an obstruction or barricade on a highway. The first offense is a misdemeanor while the second offense is a felony if committed within five years of the first offense.

 In addition to that state statute and others, Portland City Code addresses this dangerous activity.
 

1. Unlawful street takeover event means an activity that is:
a. Unpermitted;
b. Preplanned or contemporaneously coordinated by two or more persons; and
c. Involves one or more persons demonstrating, exhibiting, or comparing the maneuverability or power of one or more motor vehicles in a curved direction, in a circular direction, or around corners, including but not limited to by breaking traction in a curved or circular direction or around corners.
 

2. A person commits the offense of an Unlawful Street Takeover if, in a public place or upon a highway, the person knowingly operates a motor vehicle while engaged in an unlawful street takeover event.

 3.1. Highway means the entire width of a public right-of-way when any portion thereof is intended for motor vehicle movement or motor vehicle access to abutting property.

 3.2. Public place means an area, whether publicly or privately owned, generally open to the public and includes, without limitation, the grounds surrounding buildings or dwellings, streets, sidewalks, bridges, tunnels, alleys, plazas, parks, driveways, and parking lots.
 

The Portland Police Bureau has updated its vehicle towing policy and now authorizes towing vehicles of drivers operating without valid driving privileges and lack of insurance, and to address street takeovers.

 The Bureau recently substantially revised Directive 0630.60, Vehicle Dispositions. Most significantly, the revised directive has the following changes:

1) The directive authorizes towing for certain offenses, such as unlicensed drivers, suspended drivers, and lack of insurance.
2) The directive authorizes towing for violating new Portland City Code, 14A.30.080, Unlawful Street Takeover and Unlawful Staging of a Street Takeover Event.
3) The directive provides new guidance on responding to stolen vehicles reported at tow lots, temporary holds for VIN inspections, and abandoned vehicle towing.

1. The most noteworthy change to revised Directive 0630.60 is the authorized towing for certain offenses such as driving uninsured, suspended, without a license, or in a street takeover pursuant to a new Portland City Code provision, 14A.30.080. This change brings the Bureau in line with both neighboring law enforcement agency common practice and state law authorization for towing. Additionally, the change was supported in public comments and among internal subject matter experts and stakeholders within the Bureau, and will serve as an additional tool for the Bureau to increase traffic safety.
2. While the policy allows for tows in circumstances where they were not permitted before, the policy does not require them in most cases. The policy specifically encourages Police Bureau members to exercise discretion in impounding vehicles under circumstances that may create undue hardship or risk to the occupants. Such circumstances may include, but are not limited to: the presence of young children, elderly, or disabled persons; vehicles equipped for use by such persons; and vehicles used as homes.
    

Members of the public are encouraged, before driving on public roads, to verify that their driver's license is current and valid and that they have current proof of insurance.
 

PPB has previously released a video about this ordinance. See it here.  

###PPB###