Royal Oak Police Cracking Down on Cruisers Along Woodward

ROYAL OAK, MI — Royal Oak Police are cracking down on cruisers along Woodward Avenue and said they will be taking a zero-tolerance approach to illegal activity this summer season.

"It falls on the police every year, once the weather turns warms, to depress any unlawful behavior along the city’s nearly six miles of curbs on Woodward Avenue," the Royal Oak Police Department said in an announcement. "Speeding, loud music, and littering are just some of the complaints the police department fields. The summer-long activity is incredibly disruptive to the otherwise quiet, tree-lined neighborhoods adjacent to Woodward."

Woodward Avenue is one of only 31 byways to be designated an All-American Road by the Federal Highway Administration and it's the popular host to the Woodward Dream Cruise. Royal Oak is widely considered the epicenter of the one-day event in August, city officials said, which is regarded as the world’s biggest cruise, attracting classic cars and fans from across the nation.

But the department promises to keep illegal activity an nuisances out.

“We are proud of Woodward’s strong heritage and the role we play in keeping the Dream Cruise a safe event for its fans,” said Chief Corrigan O’Donohue. “But the neighbors and businesses along Woodard have had enough with the summer-long activity."

O'donahue said police have tried just asking motorists to move along and only enforcing the more serious infractions, but that "it has become like herding cats and it is pulling a tremendous amount of police resources" to do so.

"There is no question that our residents and business owners would like us to take a more aggressive approach to resolve this issue," O'donahue added.

The Royal Oak Police Department also reminds motorists that it is illegal to park on private property without the owner’s permission during the event.