Los Angeles police effectively intervened on Sunday afternoon to disrupt a planned gathering of minibike and pocket bike riders on the city's prominent Sixth Street Bridge. The operation resulted in nearly 80 individuals being cited and their vehicles impounded, preventing what authorities described as a scheduled takeover event.
The intervention unfolded around 2 p.m. Sunday, specifically near Sixth Street and Boyle Avenue, after the Los Angeles Police Department received intelligence indicating a large assembly of minibike riders was slated to occur on the bridge. Sgt. Robert Leary, who is part of the LAPD's Street Racing Task Force, explained the police response. Officers had assembled a dedicated team to address the anticipated gathering.
According to Leary, the strategy involved blocking in the riders, which allowed officers to safely remove them from their bikes and take them into custody. This process occurred “without incident,” ensuring no immediate confrontations or injuries were reported during the operation. Police estimated between 75 to 80 participants were involved in the planned event.
The consequences for those involved were immediate. Sgt. Leary stated that police consider the citations issued during such operations to be equivalent to an arrest. In this instance, there were as many as 78 misdemeanor arrests made for the illegal operation of these types of bikes on public city streets. Correspondingly, 78 vehicles were impounded, and these bikes are expected to be held by authorities for a minimum of 48 hours.
The enforcement extended to logistical support as well. Some of the individuals cited were juveniles, prompting police to notify their parents, who were then summoned to take custody of their children. Additionally, two trucks were impounded for a longer period of 30 days. These vehicles were allegedly involved in “aiding and abetting the takeover,” specifically by being used to help conceal items for minors participating in the gathering, according to Leary.
This operation on the Sixth Street Bridge is part of a broader ongoing effort by law enforcement agencies across Southern California to address street takeovers, which have become a persistent public safety concern. Just the previous weekend, authorities conducted a significant crackdown on a separate street takeover event in the Harbor Gateway area, where a much larger number of 570 citations were issued. The issue has also reached city hall. Earlier this week, the Los Angeles City Council formally called for a report. This report is intended to review available enforcement tools and identify additional measures necessary for cracking down on these street takeover events, highlighting the continued attention and resources being directed towards the problem.
