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Police chiefs ask lawmakers to allow seizure of cars used in 'street takeovers' after violent incidents
Summary
Connecticut Police Chiefs Association and local chiefs supported legislation to allow municipalities to seize vehicles used in street takeovers, citing shootings, arson and cross-jurisdictional enforcement challenges; chiefs said seizure authority and task forces have reduced illegal events.
The Connecticut Police Chiefs Association urged the Public Safety and Security Committee to pass a bill that would let municipalities seize vehicles used in street takeovers, a tactic chiefs say helps deter and limit dangerous events involving hundreds of cars.
Chief Carl Jacobson, representing the association, told the committee that takeovers “can happen in any town, any time of the day or night” and are often violent and chaotic: attendees set fires, throw fireworks at officers, jump on police cars and resist disbanding. He said local police have recovered guns and identified four shootings in New Haven connected to takeovers.
Chief Jacobson and other witnesses described enforcement challenges: participants come from multiple states, cars are altered for racing or carry multiple license plates, and events can outnumber available officers. He said municipal seizure authority for ATVs and dirt bikes in past sessions has proved effective and that adding parallel authority for motor vehicles would give law enforcement an important deterrent.
Representatives from municipal government organizations supported the bill while asking for technical adjustments; lawmakers suggested aligning any municipal seizure process with due‑process protections and a hearing mechanism so owners can seek return of property if they were not involved in criminal activity.
Chief Jacobson said task forces that pool municipal, state police and federal resources have had success identifying organizers and reducing events. He urged the committee to provide “some teeth” to municipal enforcement tools.
No formal action was taken. Committee members signaled willingness to pursue the tool if language preserves due‑process safeguards and administrative hearing procedures.
