The city of Inglewood approved an $8 million contract with the California Highway Patrol (CHP) during the August 17 regular city council meeting. The contract with CHP is to supplement law enforcement services, for special events at SoFi Stadium, and possibly to address “street takeovers” that create nuisances in the City.
Inglewood Mayor James Butts gave a stern warning to the community regarding street takeovers during the August 5 regular city council meeting.
“I want to talk about [street] takeovers,” said Mayor Butts. “They takeover an intersection and burn rubber, and it’s not gonna continue. We have plans for you, and if you keep coming to Inglewood you will find out what they are.”
The CHP Street Racing Task Force conducted an operation in Inglewood, August 8, which yielded multiple arrests, and towing of vehicles, which Inglewood residents praised as “about time”.
“I knew they would be doing this,” said Jackie Burgess. “It’s very expensive to get the car out of the impound after thirty days, I’m so glad.”
Takeovers have become a popular, and at times, a deadlyevent, which occurs when spectators use social media to descend upon intersections, throughout LA County, to spin their vehicles amongst large crowds.
During the August 17 meeting, the City will also approve additional measures to establish ordinances related to the takeovers to ensure public health and safety are maintained.
One ordinance will establish the forfeiture of nuisance vehicles described as individuals violating California Vehicle Code Sections 23109(a) or those participating in speed contests or exhibition of speed.
“Inglewood is great at impounding cars for vehicle code violations,” said Carl McGill.
The ordinance will allow the immediate seizure and impounding of the vehicle, and an investigation into the owner(s) of the vehicle will be conducted with the assistance of the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Those identified as interested parties in the vehicle will then be afforded the opportunity to participate in a “post seizure” hearing with an independent officer and file a claim to prevent the forfeiture.
If City Attorney Ken Campos determines the factual circumstances warrants a forfeiture, claimants will be notified within 30 days.
Another ordinance will specifically address spectators of takeovers. Spectators who assemble on either a public street, highway, and/or private property open to the general public, will be charged with a misdemeanor. This would apply to those present and within 500 feet of the location being prepared for the event.
If both measures are approved by the council, the Inglewood Municipal Code Chapter 3 will be amended for enforcement.
The CHP contract will be funded out of the city’s reserves, which puts the FY 2020-2021 deficit at $28 million, due to the recent approval of outside law enforcement services being provided by Hawthorne Police Department ($1 million), Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department ($5 million) and CHP.
The CHP contract term will end July 30, 2023 but has the ability to be extended should Inglewood Police Department deems it necessary.
3 Comments
Of course Butts tried to cover up the truth that tax payers are paying the bill for security at the new stadium but it gets worse. While tax payers might be upset about being lied to I think most do want the street racers stopped from taking over intersections in Inglewood. Breaking news…now we know how the city is using the new spectator law passed in this story. Instead of going after dangerous drivers or the spectators Inglewood Police officers targeted journalists who published information about Inglewood police officers distributing cocaine in the neighborhood. They stole three cameras, a scanner, telephones and more from a journalist and left him sitting in jail over the holiday weekend that just passed initially refusing to offer him an OR release or bail. It wasn’t until we lit up the phone lines that they finally released him. But the paperwork he was released with makes things perfectly clear. The city of Inglewood is run by idiots who are more interested in attacking the messenger than safety. The idea that they are concerned with safety while flooding the streets with cocaine and arresting anybody who speaks up is self defeating isn’t it? [email protected]
“Supplement law enforcement for special events at Sofi Stadium”….another 8 million……for the “no public money” save our universe sports billionaire……….
…..throwing in the “street take overs” seems more like just the sugar sprinkles added to make us believe this is for resident benefit while in reality it is us paying for the traffic drama the Stadium Events will bring right onto our neighborhood streets.
It is about time that someone FINALLY did something about these fools.