Portland Street Racers face Police Crackdown

Portland Police cracked down on street racers Sunday night, issuing 24 citations and 8 written warnings. Police targeted the length of NE Airport Way and North Marine Drive. The long straight roads near to the Colombia River are sparsely populated, and hugely popular in street racing circles. 

According to the Portland Police Bureau, "Officers also arrested 25-year-old Jamee L. Bird upon locating a warrant for her arrest. Bird was lodged at the Multnomah County Jail on charges of Possession of Heroin Felony, Delivery of Heroin, Possession of Methamphetamine, Delivery of Methamphetamine, and a warrant for a probation violation."

In August street racers brazenly shut down the Fremont Bridge to perform drifting stunts. Stunned onlookers snapped video, making its way to multiple news and media outlets. A video shot from the same evening, at another location, showed an onlooker swept off his feet by a car performing drifting stunts. Just a week later, 58-year-old pedestrian Njuguna Githere was killed in a street racing accident at Northeast Sandy Boulevard and Northeast 20th Avenue. No arrests have been made. 

Portland Police have indicated that the street racing crackdown will intensify in the coming weeks.