‘Street Takeover’ Teen Trend Sweeps Over Illinois Towns

An old trend has resurfaced in a different way in Illinois.

If you haven't heard of street takeovers, you've likely seen them. Dub Magazine says street takeovers go back to the 1980's and originated in the Oakland, California area.

It's basically when a group of cars or motorcycles drive around in a chaotic sense, not the same as an organized street race. As street takeovers have developed, some have leaned harder into rebellion, making it more dangerous than originally intended, like cars doing donuts with automatic rifles out of the sunroof.

Luckily, that doesn't seem to be the new version of the trend. Now, it's a group of teens riding around on anything motorized, making for a nightmare of a time driving for other people.

And yes, it's a TikTok trend.

Lombard officials posted a picture of the latest incident: about 30-40 teenagers got together to ride in the village,

The street takeovers stall and block traffic and it can make for some dangerous situations for that many teens to ride recklessly on these things.

Parents of the teenagers who participate can also face troubles.

The teen or the parent may get a ticket and there could be delays in the teen's ability to get a driver's license until they turn 21. Plus paying for damages, fines, and court costs.

Street takeovers, at least in their TikTok trend form, have been circulating since late last year. They began in larger cities and now sprawling out to the suburbs and other towns near the suburbs.