A Kentucky mayor had a $100,000 Dodge Hellcat Durango demolished as a shock tactic to warn against illegal street racing in the city.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg, with the help of the city’s police department, pulverized a dark green 2021 model of the SUV on Wednesday around 11am.
The vehicle was confiscated last year and had several stolen parts, according to the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD).
Instead of auctioning the pricey truck or harvesting its parts for LMPD vehicles, Greenburg decided the city should use it to prove a point.
‘I think the seriousness with which LMPD in our city has taken illegal street racing, this community has reduced the amount,’ Greenburg said the day before it was crushed.
‘But you have to always be vigilant. We need to stay on top of it with both intelligence gathering and then quick response if and when it does occur again.’
Under Louisville’s street racing ordinance, police are allowed to impound street racing vehicles for up to six months.
In February, state representatives filed to make this ordinance a state law.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg, with the help of the city’s police department, pulverized a dark green 2021 model of the SUV on Wednesday around 11am
Humphrey (left) and Greenburg (right) addressed the crowd that gathered to watch the Durango get destroyed on Wednesday, explaining the event’s significance
Police Chief Paul Humphrey and Greenburg addressed the crowd that gathered to watch the Durango get destroyed on Wednesday, explaining the event’s significance.
‘This was a huge issue just a year ago,’ Humphrey said of street racing.
‘The number of street takeovers and the number of complaints that we got about this type of behavior.’
He went on to explain that the Durango was ‘pieced together by several different stolen cars.’
‘For that reason, this car is not street legal and cannot be put back out on the street,’ he said.
‘We want this to be symbolic to people who are out here doing the street racing, understanding that we will take your car.’
Louisville police have seized 52 cars for illegal racing so far this year. In 2023 and 2024, they confiscated 62 and 70, respectively.
According to Greenburg, more cars have been seized over the past year than during any other period in the city’s history.
The $100,000 Dodge Hellcat Durango was made of stolen parts
Humphrey said that while there are still sporadic instances of racing, there has been a significant improvement, ultimately keeping communities safer and more peaceful.
Towing cars is also financially beneficial to the city, Humphrey explained. After the six-month period cars can be impounded for, owners face fines.
Excluding victims’ vehicles, owners have 45 days to claim them before the city takes possession of those cars.
Humphrey said those unclaimed cars can then be auctioned off – with the money being put into funding the police department and the city – or scrapped for recycling.
‘Homicides, shootings, carjackings and more are all down. Still, we need to do more,’ Greenburg said. ‘And that’s why we’re here today.’
‘Our streets should be safe for everyone…That’s why when we hear about illegal street racing, when we hear about street takeovers, in any part of our city, LMPD shows up and shuts it down.
He said that some street racers have driven at speeds exceeding 120 miles per hour, resulting in fatal consequences.
He referenced the October 2024 death of Myrtle Wacker, 77. The elderly woman was struck by speeding illegal racers.
Instead of auctioning the pricey truck or harvesting its parts for LMPD vehicles, Greenburg decided the city should use it to prove a point
Greenburg then pressed a button, which set off the baling press behind him and Humphrey
‘Street racing is reckless, it’s dangerous and it’s completely unacceptable in Louisville, Kentucky.’
Greenburg then pressed a button, which set off the baling press behind him and Humphrey.
The illegal vehicle was smashed down until its top was completely flat.
‘Let this serve as a warning to those who think they can turn our streets into speedways. We’re watching. We’re acting. And we’re not backing down,’ the LMPD wrote after the hellcat was wrecked.
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .