Oakland Police Seize Over 70 Quads After Bridge Takeover
Oakland police are fed up with street takeovers, and a massive weekend raid shows law enforcement is significantly tightening control.
According to authorities, a group of quad and dirt bike riders blocked parts of the Bay Bridge, causing a traffic collapse and forcing lane closures. Video from the scene shows dozens of riders weaving through traffic, quads popping wheelies alongside law-abiding citizens’ vehicles, and ultimately bringing eastbound traffic to a halt.
Officials said there were initially about 50-60 participants, but the number later grew to roughly 70. The group rode from Oakland to San Francisco, lingered for nearly an hour, and then returned across the bridge, where the situation spiraled completely out of control.
Arrests and Vehicle Seizures
When police moved in, riders reportedly abandoned their motorcycles and fled on foot. However, this escape attempt did not fully succeed. By Monday, Oakland police confirmed that nine individuals were in custody, and dozens of motorcycles had been seized, requiring multiple trucks to haul them away.
“Today, the Oakland Police Department seized over 70 quads and off-road motorcycles, as well as vehicles, in connection with incidents related to unauthorized shows and made numerous arrests. We thank CHP and SFPD for their assistance in seizing these vehicles on the Bay Bridge,” the department wrote on Facebook.
Confiscation Warning
This message was later accompanied by a clear warning about further actions. “Illegal street shows will not be tolerated,” Oakland police insist. “Anyone participating in street takeovers or dangerous driving will be fined or arrested. Vehicles used during the shows will be confiscated for 30 days.”
Oakland has been grappling with such events for years. Side shows, or street takeovers, have become a regular problem, often involving large crowds, blocked intersections, and dangerous stunts behind the wheel.
Why Motorcycles Are Harder to Catch
We are used to seeing videos of cars drifting on illegally blocked intersections in the U.S., but the emergence of groups on quads and motorcycles has added a new dimension, making law enforcement even more challenging. These riders can move quickly, overwhelm roads, and often vanish before police arrive. This is not as easily done in a Dodge Challenger.
Nevertheless, the latest raid shows that police are trying to change this dynamic. Whether it will actually deter future takeovers is another question, and the ability to participate in similar shows in the upcoming GTA6 video game may even fuel the trend. But for now, Oakland is making it clear that blocking vital infrastructure like the Bay Bridge will not go unpunished.
Photo: Oakland Police
This incident underscores the growing problem of street takeovers, which are becoming increasingly brazen. While police are ramping up measures, the long-term effectiveness of such raids remains questionable, especially given the popularity of such entertainment on social media and in video games, which may create a false sense of impunity among participants.