(COLORADO SPRINGS) — Sideshow events, or street takeovers, have become a frequent problem in Colorado Springs. What was once a gathering place for car enthusiasts has escalated into a public safety crisis, drawing concern from law enforcement, businesses, and the community. These illegal gatherings, where participants engage in dangerous driving stunts like drag racing, drifting, and doing donuts, are attracting larger and more dangerous crowds.

These events don’t just disrupt traffic; they put innocent lives at risk. In 2023, 19-year-old Marisol Wentling rolled her vehicle while performing donuts in reverse with four passengers hanging out the windows. All four passengers sustained life-threatening injuries. Wentling, who was charged with reckless driving and vehicular assault, ultimately received a four-year deferred sentence and 150 hours of community service after spending five days in jail.

Community impact

Local business owners, like Chris Hatton, owner of 3D’s Cigars with locations in Colorado Springs and Pueblo, said these illegal events have more than just a safety impact, they are hurting the city’s reputation.

“It’s the shooting off the fireworks or shooting guns like if you eliminated that, we wouldn’t have all these problems,” Hatton explains. “You guys wouldn’t get in trouble with the cops, and we would have a lot better look at this neighborhood and more people would come and they’d reopen these businesses and revitalize the area. It’s things like this that keep us from doing those things.”

Hatton, a longtime car enthusiast, admits that he used to enjoy meeting up with fellow car lovers to admire vehicles and share the culture.

“In high school, we’d meet up with a bunch of friends, and somebody would have a nice car so we would hang around and check it out, but the doing donuts and flying through the parking lot and all those things are what makes it dangerous,” Hatton said.

Police response

The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) has been actively combating this growing problem with strategic deployments and joint efforts with partner agencies. Through a combination of patrolling known hotspots, monitoring social media, and gathering intelligence, CSPD is zeroing in on the vehicles and drivers that repeatedly engage in dangerous activities.

“This is a nationwide issue or event, as you would look at it,” Sergeant Eric Anderson with CSPD’s Major Crash Team explained. “I would say that the Colorado Springs Police Department is definitely worried about it. It’s something that in my eyes, with what I do, there’s a number of injuries that are definitely preventable. There’s also a lot of damage to people’s property, roadways, parking lots, all of that stuff that could very easily be damaged if we weren’t partaking in this activity.”

CSPD officers, working with the City Attorney’s Office, have already taken decisive steps to remove repeat offenders from the streets. Under the Vehicle Public Nuisance Ordinance (VPNO), CSPD can impound vehicles and pursue criminal charges against drivers engaging in reckless or illegal behavior. Since the implementation of the revised ordinance in 2023, six drivers have been arrested, and four vehicles impounded. CSPD tells FOX21 they have several more in the works.

“I think we’re doing an okay job, going out and trying to make our presence known and making our feelings known about this activity,” Sgt. Anderson said. “In a perfect world, would I say we need to put as many officers on this as we can? Absolutely. It’s just not realistic fashion when you start talking about budgets and staffing and other needs that are within the department.”

Potential repercussions

One notable success came when CSPD, after months of investigation, used the VPNO to seize three vehicles involved in dangerous driving behavior. By working with social media platforms, CSPD was able to track the activities of these offenders and prove that they were not only putting their lives at risk but also endangering the entire community.

“You could be charged with reckless driving. Those drivers who have hit and struck pedestrians could be looking at vehicular assault charges,” Sgt. Anderson explained. “You could be looking at careless driving. Although, because of the definition difference, it’s more reckless than it is careless because it’s more of an intentional act. If you’re involved in one that ultimately winds up in a fatality, it could be a vehicular homicide case.”

What makes the VPNO particularly effective is its dual approach—civil and criminal. While criminal charges target individual drivers, the civil aspect focuses on the vehicles themselves. If a vehicle is frequently involved in dangerous driving, the city can take action to impound it and keep it off the streets for up to a year. This is a powerful tool in preventing repeat activity among offenders who believe they can escape the law by evading police.

For those who argue that they aren’t responsible for their vehicles being used in illegal activities—such as parents whose children take the car without permission—the ordinance includes safeguards. In these cases, the vehicle owner can petition to have the car returned, provided they agree to take responsibility for the actions that led to its impounding. Financial institutions holding loans on vehicles are also involved, ensuring that the vehicles will not be returned to the original drivers if they pose a danger to public safety.

In the coming months, CSPD will continue to implement its strategy and work to hold offenders accountable. Officers encourage the public to continue to report this type of activity and reports can also be made through Report Colorado Street Racing. But the message is clear: the streets of Colorado Springs are not a free-for-all, and the consequences for illegal sideshow activity can be severe.

“People can look at these cars and enjoy these cars, you don’t have to get involved in the spinning of donuts and the peel-outs and all the rest of it where the dangerous activity starts occurring,” Sgt. Anderson said. “Enjoy what you have, cherish what you have, but realize it can all be gone in a second.”

Watch the special report on FOX21 News after the Super Bowl.