CLEVELAND — It's something we've seen time and time again in Cleveland: Cars performing illegal acts like doughnuts and burnouts in the middle of busy intersections.
In video obtained by 3News, cars can be seen performing movie-like stunts in an empty parking lot of a city business. The video, shot earlier this year, is part of a long list of hooning incidents seen across the city. "Hooning" is described by Oxford as "the action or practice of behaving loutishly or irresponsibly" with a vehicle.
"It's obviously something that's dangerous," Cleveland Division of Police Sergeant Wilfredo Diaz said. "We don’t want it here in the city of Cleveland. We're trying to discourage it as much as we can.
"It's something that's not responsible. We are aware that most of this occurs, unfortunately, through social media communications, and we also believe that folks out there are aware of this stuff," said Diaz.
This type of driving is leaving a lasting impact on Ohio families.
"Personally, I know of the impact that this driving has," Mary McDonald, from the Dayton suburb of Trotwood, recounted last spring. "My sister was a victim of a hooning incident."
McDonald was speaking at an Ohio House Criminal Justice Committee hearing where residents voiced their concerns about dangerous driving. This summer, the Ohio General Assembly passed House Bill 56, aiming to increase penalties for street takeovers, reckless driving, and fleeing law enforcement.
Cleveland police say it will take a community effort to put the brakes on this movement.
"These folks have people they look up to, right? People they respect," Diaz told us. "So we need those folks to step up, the older generation to say, 'Hey, this is not right. Let's work together to stop it.'"
Per HB 56, those who knowingly participate in a street takeover by standing in roadways will now face the same penalties as those inside vehicles during hooning disruptions.