INDIANAPOLIS — Police call it a phenomenon that’s sprung up in the past few years, in no small part, they say due to social media.
Here in Indianapolis, IMPD has seen an increase in “street takeovers,” where vehicles block traffic and drive at high speeds doing doughnuts or “spinning.”
Now, a proposed law is trying to stop it from happening.
Local law enforcement came to the Statehouse Tuesday to show support for Senate Bill 240, which would increase the penalties for organizing or taking part in street takeovers and the spinning that happens with them.
“It’s reckless and, frankly, it’s stupid ... and it has to stop,” IMPD Acting Chief Christopher Bailey said.
Bailey thinks Senate Bill 240 is a good start.
“The message needs to get those who are participating that are now organizing these events. We now have new tools, new laws that we can take your car from you and hold you more accountable for your actions,” said Bailey, explaining that IMPD responded to several street takeovers last summer after the events were advertised on social media.
Under Senate Bill 240, if someone is injured during a street takeover, the people taking part in it would automatically be looking at prison time. If you’re caught a second time taking part in a street takeover, say goodbye to your vehicle.
Police say street takeovers aren’t just dangerous for the people doing them.
“When we have to deal with people doing things voluntarily and putting themselves and others in danger, that takes our officers from our communities where they need to be,” Bailey said. “We have videos of incidents from this past summer where people have been injured. We’ve had incidents where people were jumping on top of police cars as we were trying to disperse these areas. We have officers trapped in locations where they’re the only cop there, trying to break up these things. Shots fired, shootings, whether at that scene or when people leave."
Also, under Senate Bill 240, if you’re involved in a street takeover — and try to run from police using your vehicle — prison time is automatic.
“It needs to be a higher penalty, so people understand if they flee, they’re going to go to prison,” Johnson County Sheriff Duane Burgess said.
According to Burgess, his deputies have seen more people coming into Johnson County who are running away from police.
Burgess thinks Senate Bill 240 could help deter that.
“Don’t come our way because we’re going to work with the prosecutor, and we’re going to try and send you to prison,” Burgess warned.
Senate Bill 240 passed out of committee Tuesday. That means it now heads to the full Senate for a second look, where changes can still be made.