Portland City Council approves $200K ODOT funding to stop street takeovers

PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) - Northeast 102nd and Glisan Street in Northeast Portland was bustling with drivers on Wednesday. A far cry from when a street takeover like this one happened in 2023. But City Council is hoping to help PPB combat the issue.

On Wednesday, the councilors approved more than $200,000 in ODOT grant funding to help crack down on street takeovers.

The grant requires the city to match some of the funds.

Councilors approved the use of just over $10,000 from its general fund. The Portland Police Bureau will provide another $50,000.

PPB said street takeovers are a consistent issue in the city.

Most recently, police data shows that over Labor Day weekend, officers made 87 traffic stops, recovered a stolen vehicle, towed four cars, and conducted four arrests.

The funds will cover PPB overtime missions and purchase deployable cameras to help identify and prosecute organizers.

Officials said the street takeovers can make the roadways difficult for drivers.

“When these street takeovers occur, the public right away is taken over by a group of people that make it impossible for your average Portlander to get from A to B,” said Councilor Dan Ryan.

They’re also dangerous. In 2024, PPB said a teenage boy was killed in a rollover crash in North Portland, and they had reason to believe it was a result of a street takeover.

Juan Raul Medina Dominguez, 18, of Gresham was arrested for negligent homicide and reckless driving.

Portland City Council also approved over $103,000 of ODOT state funding to purchase new equipment that will modernize traffic patrolling and assist with crash investigations.