Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council hears continued concerns over large street-racing gatherings; police cite regional task force work
Summary
Ruston police described recent street-racing incidents with gatherings up to 500 vehicles and said the department uses temporary road closures and regional coordination (including aerial support) to respond. Councilmembers discussed preventive measures such as physical barriers and traffic-calming changes.
Chief Bautista told the council that street racing intensifies in warmer months and that recent incidents involved large gatherings — "up to 500 vehicles" — in nearby areas. The department participates in a regional task force and uses temporary road closures and coordinated enforcement, including aerial surveillance from the State Patrol, to prevent and disperse large gatherings.
Councilmembers asked about cross-jurisdictional coordination and possible preventative measures. Councilmember Jensen suggested policy changes to make gathering locations less attractive, such as speed bumps and parking barriers; Councilmember Wilson raised questions about regional coordination. Chief Bautista emphasized there is no single solution and described a mix of reactive and preventative tactics the department uses.
Next steps: Ongoing interagency coordination and consideration of infrastructure changes were discussed; no formal policy action was taken at the meeting.
