Four young drivers face street racing charges after a Labor Day car gathering moved across the city, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
On Monday, officers learned of a car rendezvous off Blanding Boulevard. The group grew to around 30 vehicles before heading across town to Friendship Fountain on the Southbank.
Patrol officers, the K9 unit, aviation, unmanned aerial drone teams, the Community Problem Response team, and specialist traffic enforcement units all worked together to bring the drivers to justice.
Four people were detained on street racing charges: Rafe Rich (18), Harlie Pye (18), Joseph Ezzo (20), and Juan Solivan (18). Solivan was also accused with driving under the influence and arrested on an active warrant.
In addition to the arrests, officers issued fifteen traffic penalties and four written warnings. Two automobiles were held for 30 days, while two others were confiscated for asset forfeiture.
“How many times do we need to warn people? “Street racers have no business in Duval,” the agency stated. “And we won’t stop until they’re held accountable for making our streets unsafe.”
While vehicle meets are not unlawful in and of itself, the Sheriff’s Office stated that law enforcement will interfere if the gatherings escalate into reckless driving or street takeovers. According to agency figures, there have been 122 traffic-related deaths on Jacksonville roadways this year.
Officials also cautioned the public that enforcement extends beyond the driver, stating that anyone riding inside automobiles participating in street racing or stunt driving may face traffic citations.
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