CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A video surfaced after a Saturday night street takeover in NoDa at 36th Street and North Davidson Street.
The people were "engaging in dangerous driving maneuvers and setting off fireworks," according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. Police said they issued seven citations for various things, including reckless driving, participating in a street takeover, spectating a street takeover and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Residents and community members are growing concerned with the street takeovers. Heidi Thorne is a property manager in Charlotte.
“There's a lot of new communities going up and I'm sure they're not going to be thrilled about the noise that's going on and the damage to the roads," Thorne told WCNC Charlotte.
Her fear is something bad could happen to someone. “What is the city doing to stop this? What are the police doing to crack down on this? It's is it going to take somebody actually getting killed or you know, seriously injured for the police to respond," she said.
This comes months after CMPD said “street takeovers” have been a long-standing issue for officials and NC lawmakers created a new law to try to crack down on this that went into effect last December.
“It's kind of like it's hard to really catch it because people just do it spontaneously,” NoDa local Jaleak Gerlitzki told WCNC Charlotte. “It’s summertime. Everyone likes to show off their car. I believe the intention was just to have fun and have a good time."
People who violate the law can face a $1,000 fine and be charged with a misdemeanor. Their cars could also be taken.
Repeat offenders caught within 24 months could also be charged with a felony and they say spectators could be charged as well.
Some people in the area say they don’t think a crackdown is necessary.
“I think they should worry about other things that are going on in the city," NoDa business owner Auston Mixson said. "Like four officers just got killed, they need to worry about gun control and drugs rather than people having fun."
On Tuesday, CMPD said they will "continue to target street takeover and street racing groups and conduct enforcement operations until the behavior stops."
If you witness a street takeover, you're asked to avoid the area and call 911 instead. Anyone with information about the incident this weekend and is in possession of videos or photos is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.
Contact Anna King at aking2@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X, and Instagram.