Aurora officials back ordinance to curb street takeovers, sideshows; sets fines, allows impoundment

Aurora police and aldermen on May 20 discussed a proposed ordinance aimed at cracking down on street takeovers, sideshows and unlawful vehicle rallies, with the council placing the item on the consent agenda after clarifying definitions, enforcement tools and penalties.

Lieutenant Andy Walcott, Special Services, told the Committee of the Whole the proposed ordinance would make it unlawful “for any person to permit a vehicle to be used to perform motor vehicle stunts or participate in street racing, a street sideshow, or an unlawful vehicle rally or an unlawful vehicle caravan,” and would allow the city to cite the registered owner of a vehicle even if the driver is unidentified at the scene.

Walcott described a rise in large, organized meetups — often coordinated on social media — that draw dozens to hundreds of vehicles. “We have seen vehicle meetups, vehicle caravans, street takeovers, and sideshows,” he said, and cited incidents of injuries and property damage in 2023 and 2024. He said participants sometimes wear masks, use stolen vehicles and post videos to attract larger followings.

The draft ordinance (Exhibit A) defines an unlawful vehicle rally as a gathering of 10 or more people or four or more vehicles between 9 p.m. and 4 a.m. that provokes a breach of the peace. Penalties in the draft include a $1,000 fine for a first violation and a minimum $2,500 fine for repeat violations. Officers would use squad and body cameras, license‑plate readers, traffic and parking‑lot cameras to identify vehicles; citations can be issued on scene or mailed to the registered owner, and vehicles could be impounded under existing city impound authority.

Council members asked how the ordinance would affect ordinary gatherings and permitted parades. Corporation counsel and staff indicated that permitted special events would be treated differently and that the ordinance targets gatherings that provoke a breach of the peace or involve stunts. Alderman Larson asked whether a permitted demonstration or parade would be covered; staff answered that special‑event permits and existing classifications would provide exceptions if appropriate permits were obtained.

Aldermen also discussed enforcement when participants come from other jurisdictions; staff said mailed citations would be served on vehicle owners and that impoundment would be pursued when vehicles are in the city’s custody. Several aldermen asked for a public‑education push and community policing outreach before heavy enforcement begins.

The Committee of the Whole placed the proposed ordinance on the consent agenda for future council action and asked staff to continue public‑education efforts and coordinate enforcement details with corporation counsel and the community policing unit.