State Legislation Inspired By Long Island 'Street Takeovers' To Allow Vehicle Seizures

MILLER PLACE, NY — Proposed legislation unveiled Wednesday in Miller Place allows for the seizure and forfeiture of vehicles used in connection with reckless driving or aggravated reckless driving — prompted by street takeovers including some over the weekend that delayed the response of emergency vehicles, lawmakers say.

The legislation expands current penal law, bumping up aggravated obstructing emergency medical services from a misdemeanor to a felony.

Sen. Anthony Palumbo was joined by local officials, calling for increased penalties for reckless driving after a street takeover on Route 25A at Miller Place Road early Sunday morning that police said had to be dispersed by officers.

Palumbo, a Republican former prosecutor who is seeking a second term of office next month, said residents' "safety and quality-of-life continues to be eroded by soft on crime policies emanating from Albany."

"So called street takeovers are a growing and dangerous phenomenon that are now happening right here in our communities,” said Palumbo, who was flanked by emergency responders outside the Miller Place Fire District.“The state Legislature needs to take swift and decisive action to increase penalties for those who drive recklessly in our communities and hinder the response of our emergency services—police, fire, and EMS.”

The legislation will send "a strong message" that the incidents will not be tolerated and provide law enforcement with "the tools they need to crack down on reckless drivers and keep these individuals off our streets," he said.

His Democratic opponent, Sarah Anker, a former Suffolk legislator whose district included Miller Place, told News 12 that the incident over the weekend "with cars doing donuts in one of the most dangerous intersections as an ambulance was trying to drive by it creates attention and we need to make sure the government is hearing us.”

Neighbors are now calling for action to be taken by the state's Department of Transportation, and for a traffic light to be installed, the outlet reported.

At a "car meet" incident at Gateway Plaza in Patchogue, a Nassau County man was charged with reckless driving, and a 19-year-old woman was injured, and shortly after officers were called to disperse vehicles blocking traffic in Shirley and Sound Beach, police said.

An upstate man was charged with reckless driving after he was caught doing donuts at the intersection of Montauk Highway and William Floyd Parkway in Shirley, according to police.

The vehicle, a 2023 Dodge Charger, stalled and he left it before running away at around 1:40 a.m., police said, adding that after an investigation, Crime Section officers learned it was a rental.

It was impounded, according to police.

Officers arrested the 26-year-old Mahopac man at the 7th Precinct in Shirley at around 5:30 p.m., and he was given a Desk Appearance Ticket returnable for arraignment at First District Court in Central Islip on a later date, police said.

Police said his arrest is related to the dispersal in Shirley.

Investigators are still reviewing videos and gathering additional evidence to hold motorists accountable for reckless driving and are looking to identify spectators engaged in unlawful assembly, police said.

County Executive Ed Romaine said he supports the legislation because street takeovers "continue to create public safety hazards in our communities."

Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico said there is "outrage" over the ambulance being stopped and it was "brought on by a night of coordinated criminal chaos."

Town Councilwoman Jane Bonner said the legislation will help "protect our communities and ensure that our streets remain safe for everyone.”

County Legislator Chad Lennon encouraged residents to call 911 if they see meet ups.

"If anyone is concerned with calling the police, you can call my office, and I will make
that call for you," he said. "Together we will keep our communities safe and free of these reckless
criminals.”