Fairfax County Police Take Action Against Illegal Street Takeovers

Police in Fairfax County, Virginia, are cracking down on street occupations as part of a summer crime prevention initiative aimed at being proactive and keeping the community safe.

The first wave of the program, which began earlier this month, focuses on street takeovers and bars and restaurants with long opening hours. The campaign will run until August, with a different focus each month.

Part of the plan is aimed at street takeovers, which Captain James Curry said could turn violent and result in property damage. In April, Police Chief Kevin Davis released a video of one such street takeover in Springfield. Davis described the scene as “utter chaos and disarray.”

A group of officers, assembled from eight district guards and led by a lieutenant, Curry said, will respond to, investigate and attempt to prevent the takeovers whenever possible.

“While they don’t happen every day and maybe not every week, I can definitely say in Fairfax County there is a lot of consistent work going on behind the scenes to make sure nothing happens to us,” Curry said.

Street takeovers involve revving loud engines and doing doughnuts, Curry said. Sometimes they involve actions that are considered criminal offenses, such as damaging private property, such as an industrial parking lot.

The street takeovers are different from more traditional car meets, Curry said. These meets, which usually take place on weekends outside cafes or other restaurants, usually involve people gathering and looking at fancy, vintage or classic cars.

“With this nicer weather, it is obvious that there will be more of these meetings and gatherings late into the evening,” Curry said.

In addition to cracking down on arrests, police will also increase their presence around bars and restaurants that stay open late at night.

Sometimes, Curry said, they stay open longer than intended. In these cases, police work with the Department of Building Inspection and the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority to figure out “how we can reduce the nuisance to nearby residents who are kept awake late into the night by loud music or the resulting chaos.”

The first month of the Summer Crime Initiative will also focus on strengthening relationships with businesses and other community groups, Curry said.

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