A new initiative aims to combat street racing and dangerous street takeovers. Lauren Coronado reports for the NBC4 News at 5 a.m. on April 4, 2025.
As Los Angeles continues to be plagued by dangerous, sometimes deadly, street takeovers, some San Fernando Valley neighborhoods will have safety measures installed to prevent large gatherings and risky car stunts.
As part of a pilot program launched by LA City Councilmember Monica Rodriguez, some of the problem spots in Sylmar now have bollards and raised paint at intersections,including the corner of Polk Street and Glenoak Boulevard where a car slammed into a restaurant during a street takeover in 2021.
Authorities tried to respond to the hazardous illegal events, but they may not have the resources to crack down on every single one, Rodriguez said.
“We can’t approach these incidents with enforcement tactics alone,” the councilmember who represents the San Fernando Valley area said, adding additional safety measures need to be in place. “We also have to change the behavior on our streets.”
Get top local stories in Southern California delivered to you every morning. Sign up for NBC LA's News Headlines newsletter.
NBC Los Angeles has been tracking street takeovers and racing occurrences as those numbers fluctuated, and locations changed over the years.
While the number of street takeovers dipped during the pandemic, it picked up again last year with authorities struggling to find an effective solution to prtevent them.
The Los Angeles Police Department located some common spots used by street takeover organizers as former Chief Michel Moore directed four traffic divisions in the city to be extra alert.
Here are the “problematic” intersections identified by the LAPD last year.
Downtown LA, central LA region
- 12th Street & Figueroa Street
- 6th Street & Mateo Street
- Kearney Street & Myers Street
- 4th Street & Lower Grand Avenue
- 2nd Street & Upper Grand Avenue
- 2nd Street & Beaudry Avenue
- Glendale Boulevard & Temple Street
- Santa Fe Avenue & Violet Street
- Washington Boulevard & Santa Fe Avenue
- 54th Street & Avalon Boulevard
- 8th Street & Main Street
- Pico Boulevard & Flower Street
- Venice Boulevard & Figueroa Street
South LA region
- Manchester Avenue & San Pedro Street
- Century Boulevard & Hoover Street
- Florence Avenue & Crenshaw Boulevard
- 63rd Street & Crenshaw Boulevard
- Western Avenue & Century Boulevard
- Jefferson Boulevard & La Brea Avenue
- Manchester Avenue & Denker Avenue
- Alondra Boulevard & Figueroa Street
- Manchester Avenue & Central Avenue
- 54th Street & Western Avenue
- Normandie Avenue & Gage Avenue
- Imperial Highway & Compton Avenue
- Manchester Avenue & Van Ness Avenue
West Los Angeles
- Lincoln Boulevard & Manchester Avenue
- La Cienega Boulevard & Jefferson Boulevard
- La Tijera Boulevard & Centinela Avenue
- Venice Boulevard & Lincoln Boulevard
- National Boulevard & Overland Avenue
- Sunset Boulevard & Pacific Coast Highway
- Hollywood Boulevard & Highland Avenue
- Washington Boulevard & Western Avenue
- Olympic Boulevard & Western Avenue
- Mulholland Drive & Benedict Canyon Drive
- Sawtelle Boulevard & National Boulevard
- Hollywood Boulevard & Bronson Avenue
San Fernando Valley
- Laurel Canyon Boulevard & Paxton Street
- Bledsoe Street & Bradley Avenue
- Arleta Avenue & Devonshire Street
- Woodman Avenue & Devonshire Street
- Eldrige Avenue & Sayre Street
- Balboa Boulevard & Foothill Boulevard
- Whitsett Avenue & Saticoy Street
- Balboa Boulevard & San Fernando Mission Boulevard
- Winnetka Avenue & Prairie Street
- Chatsworth Street & Zelzah Avenue
- Fallbrook Avenue & Roscoe Boulevard
- Haskell Avenue & Saticoy Street
