Supercar enthusiasts in Southern California found themselves in a bind after a planned photo shoot unexpectedly became a police operation that led to the seizure of their vehicles.
The Los Angeles Police Department’s Street Racing Task Force reported that on Sunday, they impounded a total of 72 cars. The crackdown occurred after a group convened in the Los Angeles River Channel near Cypress Park, resulting in numerous drivers receiving citations for trespassing.
Authorities arrested two individuals on felony charges for possessing a concealed firearm in a vehicle, while 83 drivers were cited for loitering misdemeanors, according to police reports.
Social media videos captured the extensive assembly of high-performance vehicles lined up along the river channel, showcasing the event’s scale.
Other footage depicted LAPD officers at the scene, engaging with drivers and issuing citations.
Helicopter shots further revealed the process of towing away the modified cars, highlighting the extensive police operation.
It comes after a flyer surfaced on social media promoting a meetup photo shoot at the 400 block of North San Fernando Road.
Some of the drivers said they had no idea it was illegal to be inside the river channel.
“Some people are getting their cars held for 30 days. That’s around $3,000 to get them out,” Alexander Pimienta told FOX 11 after his motorcycle was impounded.
“And we’re all getting cited with trespassing.”
“We weren’t doing anything illegal, we weren’t doing anything stupid. … They towed my motorcycle, they’re towing trucks, they’re towing over 50 cars.” Pimenta told CBS.
He admitted that there were some drivers doing burnouts but said they were long gone by the time cops showed up.
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
Another person, Angel Rodriguez, admitted some of the drivers “started going crazy for some reason,” but insisted he was there for the photo shoot.
“It was just supposed to be pictures,” Rodriguez, the owner of a Mustang that was impounded, added.
“Yeah. So that’s what I was here for, just for pictures.”
It is illegal to drive a car into the LA River channel because it is a designated flood control facility.
“The [LA River Recreation] Zone does not include the remaining banks or the existing bike path or the maintenance road on the banks above the river channel,” the LA River Recreation Zone page read.
Exactly how long the vehicles will be impounded is unclear.
The California Post reached out to the LAPD for more information.
