Texas Gov. Abbott launches task force to crack down on illegal street takeovers

Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced on Thursday a statewide task force to crack down on the illegal street takeovers that are taking place throughout the state. 

The recent street takeovers are becoming more frequent and increasingly violent, in some cases resulting in injuries to law enforcement officials, the governor said in a statement.

"Despite the foolish attempts by some local officials to defund and demoralize our brave law enforcement officers, Texas is and remains a law-and-order state," said Governor Abbott. 

"We must send a clear message that these reckless, coordinated criminal events will not be tolerated in Texas. This statewide task force will work closely with local officials and law enforcement to investigate, prosecute, and prevent these dangerous street takeovers. Working together, we can ensure Texans in communities large and small remain safe," he added. 

The new task force will be led by the Texas Department of Public Safety’s (DPS) Criminal Investigation Division, Texas Highway Patrol, Aviation Operations Division, and Intelligence and Counterterrorism Division, in conjunction with local law enforcement.

The task force will focus on leading investigations that target the organized crime aspects of the takeovers, hoping to make arrests of those involved and seize assets.

The measure comes after several streets were taken over by hundreds of people in Austin last weekend for a street racing event, resulting in one officer injured and several vehicles damaged. Similar street takeovers have been seen in Dallas and Fort Worth. 

“These street takeovers put the lives of Texans and Texas law enforcement officers at risk,” said DPS Director Steven McCraw.

“We are seeing fireworks fired at officers in crowds, lasers pointed at aircraft, drivers driving upwards of 130 miles per hour with no lights on in the dark of night—all of it is reckless, and it needs to be stopped."