By Lindsay Walker
Mail | Twitter: @AzNewsmedia

Tempe police are revving up their efforts to stop dangerous street racing in the city. 

On April 2 at around 8 p.m., Tempe Police officers spotted a crowd of 300 to 400 cars on the top floor of a parking garage on E. Cameron Way near Tempe Marketplace while patrolling the area. It was an unsanctioned event without the proper permits to gather or sell food, according to Tempe PD spokesperson Sgt. Hector Encinas. 

“We were able to speak to one of the members there who helped organize that whole thing,” he said. “He spoke very honestly with us and he actually did receive a criminal charge regarding that, that he was basically putting together, organizing a cause for reckless driving. This is one thing that has a high propensity to just get out of control. You're talking that many folks, I mean, we're talking probably about 1,000 people with all those vehicles, with that type of mindset, where they're just either going to race or do some things. You really don’t know.”

The  event followed just days after a similar report of a group of street racers gathered to do donuts and other stunts in the empty parking lot of a Lowe’s in south Tempe. The noise prompted residents to call in several complaints. 

Encinas said the department is keeping an eye on the issue but said it does not seem to be taking over in Tempe the way it has in other parts of the Valley just yet. 

“Not yet, and I use the word ‘yet’ cautiously and optimistically because we have not had some serious incidents,” he said. “We have not seen it here in Tempe, but that's not to say that it's either not coming over here or may not make its way towards the East Valley.”

Encinas added that Tempe PD is working closely with local car clubs, often responsible for these gatherings, to ensure cooperation and reiterate their public safety concerns. 

In Phoenix, a growing street racing problem prompted the Phoenix Police Department to form a Street Racing Task Force. 

Phoenix PD spokesperson Sgt. Andy Williams said the task force often works with neighboring departments to share tips and tricks about mitigating the issue and following best practices. 

Williams said the head of the task force said “they have a good working relationship with neighboring police agencies, specifically Tempe PD. He cited training they have put on for Tempe to ensure we are sharing the latest information and following best practices with regards to street racers. If a street racing investigation starts in Phoenix and continues into Tempe, or vice versa, there will be investigative collaboration and cooperation.”

Encinas confirmed that no talks are underway to form a similar task force in Tempe. 

A 2021 state law made any effort to test the capabilities of a car on the street a form of illegal street racing. That could mean arrests, fines or the impounding of the car. 

Encinas encouraged anyone who sees the activity or knows someone participating in it to say something. 

“Call 911,” he said. “I would say that’s 911 more than non-emergency. You've seen how quickly that can get out of hand and how reckless that behavior can be. You never know what's going to happen with these vehicles. They're machines.”