State Legislation Planned To Combat Street Takeovers On Long Island

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — A New York lawmaker is set to unveil legislation Wednesday in response to a recent spate of street takeovers in eastern Suffolk County.

Sen. Anthony Palumbo, who is seeking another term in office next month, will be joined by County Executive Ed Romaine, a representative from the District Attorney's office, Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico, as well as emergency service personnel and other officials at the Miller Place Fire District's headquarters to announce the details.

The legislation was prompted by a culmination of incidents, including those early Sunday morning in Patchogue, Mastic-Shirley, and Sound Beach, a spokesman for Palumbo said Tuesday.

In a Facebook post on Sunday, Panico said there were "planned illegal and dangerous drifting events that blocked intersections for prolonged periods" and on 25A, near Miller Place Road, an ambulance was held back from getting to where it had to go because of this incredibly reckless activity.

He said that he has spoken with Romaine, the police department, and Legis. Jim Mazzarella to discuss the incidents, and noted that "fortunately" there are cameras at virtually every single intersection."

In another post, he called for the cars to be seized, fines increased, registrations voided, "and the general sense of coddling wrongdoers must cease in [New York]."

He went on to say Palumbo's legislation will "come down hard on those who engage in this behavior and block intersections."

"The people demand law and order and should have it," he said.

At a "car meet" incident at Gateway Plaza in Patchogue, a Nassau County man was charged with unlawfully fleeing a police officer, 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.

Police are asking anyone with information on this incident to contact Crime Section officers at 631-852-8726 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS, a confidential police hotline.

Street takeovers are not new in Suffolk.

Three people were charged with illegally operating ATVs back in November 2021 after a mob of 50 to 100 bikers and ATV riders crowded Sound Avenue in Wading River and two crashes followed in Ridge and Rocky Point, police said.

In February 2022, the passenger of a car was punched in a fight with an ATV rider who was part of a pack blocking traffic in Medford, according to police.

The pack of riders blocked traffic at Woodside Avenue, near Route 112, just before 4 p.m. on Feb. 12, said police, adding that a male passenger in a 2020 Jeep left the vehicle and got into a fight with one of the riders and the rider punched him.

The following month, in March, then Suffolk Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison announced a five-point plan to crack down on ATVs, as well as plans to enact a Crime Stoppers Fast Cash Reward for information leading to the impounding of an ATV or dirt bike.

In a Facebook post, Mazzarella referred to the weekends incidents as "coordinated chaos."

He agreed with Panico in that there should be harsher penalties.

"Regretfully, Albany controls our New York State Vehicle and Traffic Laws, and we have little to no cooperation when it comes to stricter enforcement of the law against criminal activity in general," he said.

"In order to address the rise in criminal recklessness on our roadways, I will be advocating this week for the creation of a special task team that not only steps up enforcement, but utilizes technology to penalize those who think they are above the law."

"We need to protect our families and ensure that Albany hears the voices of the suburbs," he added.