PORTLAND, Ore. – Residents in a Northeast Portland neighborhood say they are exhausted and increasingly worried as illegal street takeovers continue to disrupt their streets, leaving behind tire marks, noise, and fears for safety.
Neighbors near Northeast 44th Avenue and Stanton Street report that groups of drivers have been using the intersection for donuts nearly every week. The problem, they say, has been ongoing for at least two years.
Longstanding Problem
“This has been going on a long time,” said Angela Greer, who lives near the intersection. “We’ve lived here three years, and I know other neighbors report this. I’m just surprised that it hasn’t been looked at before, and I hope they’re not waiting for somebody to get hurt before they do something about it.”
Also Read
The takeover activity has scarred the pavement with black tire marks, visible reminders of the late-night gatherings. Residents say the noise and dust make it difficult to even see or report the vehicles.
“Sometimes we can’t even see the car, especially if it’s at night,” Angela said.
Her husband, Scott Greer, added that some of the vehicles are so distinctive that he believes they should be easy to recognize. One has been described as a black-and-white pickup truck, another as an old black-and-white unmarked police vehicle.
“They’re very distinctive looking vehicles,” Scott said. “The only thing is, we weren’t able to get the license plates. But I would think somebody would recognize it right off the bat.”
Reporting With Few Results
Angela said she has repeatedly reached out to the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) about the problem but has yet to see meaningful action.
“It’s a long time, but I get it,” she said. “They [PPB] have a lot of things to do, so we’ll just keep reporting and doing our part and wait for them.”
She also filed a complaint with the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT). In response, she was told that investigations into traffic safety changes could take eight to twelve months or longer because of staffing shortages and high demand.
“We know if the police can’t come out, at least they could look at the traffic pattern and make it hard for them to do those kinds of donuts here,” Angela said. “To me, that would be the best solution.”
Police Response
The concerns in Northeast Portland come as the city continues to grapple with a broader rise in illegal street racing and takeovers. In recent years, several high-profile incidents have involved injuries and deaths, pushing police to devote more resources to targeted enforcement.
PPB spokesperson Sgt. Kevin Allen confirmed that the bureau has received a few calls in the past six months about donuts in the area of Stanton and 44th.
“As you know, we’ve put a huge amount of resources into trying to address this dangerous citywide problem and will continue to do missions as we can. It’s a significant priority for us,” Allen said.
However, he acknowledged that no special missions were planned for the upcoming weekend. Updates on previous enforcement efforts remain available on the PPB website.
A Community Willing to Partner
The Greers say they want to work with authorities to find solutions before tragedy strikes. They believe the combination of limited enforcement and slow infrastructure changes leaves their neighborhood vulnerable.
“If they want to partner with us in any way, we’re willing to support the police,” Angela said.
Scott added: “I’d hate to wait for something tragic to happen and then they’ll pull the lever and do something about it. But, like Angela said, they’re busy. They’re underfunded. It’s a big city.”
Despite the frustrations, the couple emphasized their pride in their community. “We love our neighborhood,” Angela said. “We do what we can to keep it a nice place.”
Who Handles What?
When asked about the situation, PBOT clarified that enforcement of street takeovers is a police issue. While the bureau can evaluate traffic-calming designs, any immediate response to illegal driving falls to law enforcement.
For now, that leaves residents caught between waiting for police missions and hoping for long-term changes in road design.
As the tire marks on Stanton Street darken with each new takeover, neighbors say their patience is wearing thin. The community’s message is clear: they want action before the black circles on their streets become symbols of an unchecked danger.
