Since launching a task force to address street racing, Phoenix police have issued more than 2,000 citations. 

Every Sunday night, about 30 officers hit the streets looking for crowds cheering high speed car maneuvers like burnouts and doughnuts. 

Lt. Jesse Abernathy told a City Council subcommittee Wednesday that businesses in west Phoenix are hardest hit as racers tear up their parking lots. But he also described different activities in south Phoenix. 

“In some of the larger warehouses, they would break locks, enter the bay doors, drive their cars up the ramps and then continue to do doughnuts inside these warehouses causing different types of damage to the warehouses,” he said.

Abernathy said there are usually 10 to 15 large racing locations every Sunday night and police get five to 10 calls from concerned residents.

Police identified hot spots as: Desert Sky Mall; Costco at 33rd Avenue and Indian School Road; the corner of 67th and Southern avenues; the corner of Central Avenue and Camelback Road; and the corner of 35th Avenue and Thomas Road.

After receiving complaints from residents and businesses, Phoenix launched a street racing task force in November 2019. In 2020, the city received a $250,000 grant from the Governor’s Officer of Highway Safety to support the group.

Phoenix Police Enforcement Numbers:

• 4,951 Total Contacts
• 2,069 Citations Issued
• 5,134 Total Charges (350 for racing/reckless driving, 153 people booked into jail)