I lived in Los Angeles for about a decade. And in that time, I saw a lot of what makes Los Angeles Los Angeles. I split lanes, I was at the center of not one, but like five police chases, I met celebrities on the street, and ate all the avocado toast. I even went to the beach...once.
One thing I didn't witness, however, was a street takeover despite living in the heart of downtown LA, the epicenter of street takeovers.
Now, I saw the aftermath of these events. I saw the tire marks, the police caution tape, and the random bits of cars and bikes these circuses tend to leave on the side of the road. But never the things themselves. Though, that's probably for the best, given in recent months takeovers have garnered national attention and California's local and state cops have begun really cracking down.
One recent takeover saw a group of bikes get shut down by California Highway Patrol that resulted in a whopping 30 motorcyclists losing their motorcycles. Damn, son.
According to NBC 7 News out of San Diego, a group of motorcyclists took over a section of the 5 near Lincoln Park and Solana Beach. There, they essentially shutdown traffic and did a motorcycle stunt show for themselves and themselves alone. Speaking to the outlet, CHP public-affairs Officer Hunter Gerber stated, "The riders started performing stunts and driving recklessly, slowing traffic for approximately 24 miles."
And if you've been to California, or know anything about Southern California's traffic, making the freeways worse in terms of traffic is essentially the easiest way of getting your ass beat by regular folks just trying to get home. It's probably riskier than the stunts the riders were doing, speaking as someone who used to commute over two hours each way.
The report goes on to state, the police were able to corral the group after exiting "Interstate 5 at Via De La Valle in Solana Beach, where CHP personnel moved in and directed them into a nearby parking lot. There, officers detained and issued misdemeanor citations to a total of 30 riders and impounded their motorcycles."
But that's a boatload of motorcycles that were impounded. And, honestly, given Southern California's propensity for police chases, I'm surprised it didn't end up all OJ. That said, why do this? I mean, you all know how much California traffic sucks. Why screw with people's commutes? Despite what you may have heard, even Blue states like California have folks armed to the teeth. You very well could push someone over the edge.
Also, don't make folks sit in their cars anymore than they already have to, you goons.
