New street takeover video shows people in masks, lighting fires and setting off fireworks on I77 near Uptown

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – New video is sparking fresh concerns about street takeovers in Charlotte. The newest video shows a group of people stopping traffic around 9:30 Sunday night in the southbound lanes of I-77, just north of Uptown. The video shows some of the people wearing masks, lighting fires in the road, and setting off fireworks.

We asked the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department if their Street Takeover Task Force responded. They say State Highway Patrol is the lead agency on this. The Highway Patrol tells us by the time troopers arrived on the scene, the crowd had dispersed.

CMPD started its Street Takeover Task Force in 2023, to help crack down on these dangerous stunts. The task force made seven arrests in connection to 25 events through July of last year. They also seized 23 vehicles.

Street takeovers are illegal in North Carolina. The first arrest is a misdemeanor with a fine of at least $1,000. The second violation escalates to a felony.