Fort Worth police catch 55 people, tow 30 cars in street-racing bust

Fifty-five people were busted and 30 cars towed in a large street-racing operation late Friday on Fort Worth’s north side, police said.

Officer Jimmy Pollozani, a Fort Worth police spokesman, said the operation was carried out about 10 p.m. near the 5600 block of Sandshell Drive, just northeast of interstates 35W and 820.

About 40 officers were involved, Pollozani said. The detail was set up after an investigation determined street racing was planned at the location.

Charges included street racing, reckless driving and evading arrest, as well as counts for being a spectator, he said.

Some of the 55 people busted were juveniles who, because of their age, weren’t booked into jail, Pollozani said.

The Fort Worth City Council in April approved an ordinance that outlaws watching street racing and car stunts on public roads, highways and parking lots, KXAS-TV (NBC5) reported. Dallas City Council members approved a similar ordinance in May 2020.

Pollozani said Fort Worth police in recent months have seen an increase in street racing, as well as “takeovers,” in which cars block an intersection or parking lot to spin in circles and burn rubber. During the pandemic, the activities have also become more frequent in Dallas and other cities, including Austin and Houston.

Fort Worth police will continue to monitor for street racing around town, Pollozani said.

“A lot of this stuff was coordinated through social media and word of mouth,” he said. “I can tell you this: We’re not going to tolerate street racing here in Fort Worth.”