A woman accused of driving while intoxicated was arrested for street racing and then leading deputy constables on a high-speed chase near the Gulf Freeway Sunday, the Harris County Precinct 8 Constable’s Office said.

As of September 1, two new Texas laws are in effect, designed to make it easier for law enforcement agencies to impound and seize vehicles involved in street racing and parking lot takeovers.

As of September 1, police in Texas have a new weapon against street racers and reckless drivers, taking the cars involved, in some cases, permanently.

Parking lot/street takeovers are a familiar sight for most residents in the Houston area. Drivers and event attendees typically pick a vacant area to show off different vehicles or perform certain tricks from behind the wheel.Just one problem, it’s illegal.

A Houston property owner said he’s fed up with the impromptu car shows and reckless drivers taking over the parking lot of his strip center off the Gulf Freeway. The KPRC 2 Investigates team is looking into what is being done.

Four top law-enforcement officials in the Harris County region warned Thursday of severe consequences for those plotting illegal “street takeovers” to promote street racing or reckless driving like recent events in Austin and Houston.

This vehicle was awarded to the department following a felony investigation that was initiated after the driver of the Dodge engaged in dangerous street racing and fled from law enforcement at approximately 160 mph, Texas Department of Public Safety officials said.

Video shows cars doing doughnuts and blocking an intersection during a “street takeover” this past weekend in Chicago.

Cracking down on drag racing and drifting is about more than arrests and impounding vehicles. Technology is playing a larger role, and meaningful change starts with drivers.

Street racing led to a rollover crash in north Harris County, Harris County authorities said Friday.

A driver is dead after deputies say two vehicles were street racing in the Katy area.

Two people have been charged in connection with a deadly street racing crash in south Houston.

The Harris County Vehicular Crime Division announced its traffic crime unit made several arrests Thursday night.

Atascocita, TX – An Atascocita man is facing charges of street racing and child endangerment after investigators say he was racing with his two children in the back seat of his car. According to Harris County Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman, Kevin Quinteros admitted that he was racing last Saturday in the 20000 block of West Lake Parkway. He had a female companion, a 7-month-old baby, and then a 3-year-old child,” said Herman. “Most of these individuals that are out on our streets racing underestimate the danger of what speed can do and every year we see it - hundreds and hundreds of people die from street racing,” Herman told KPRC 2. AdQuinteros is facing one count of street racing in addition to two child endangerment charges.

HOUSTON – More than 200 arrests have been made during a county-wide street racing crackdown over the weekend, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced Thursday. The crackdown was a joint initiative with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, the District Attorney’s Office, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Houston Police Department and other law-enforcement agencies. READ: HCSO: Over 100 arrested in crackdown on illegal street racingOfficials said there were 222 arrests and 12 vehicles seized during the crackdown. Street racing is being prosecuted. READ: HCSO cracking down on illegal street racing, urging racers to practice on legal race tracks“Hundreds of peace officers, prosecutors and support staff spent all of spring break protecting our community from dangerous street racers,” said Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – The Harris County Sheriff’s Office announced Sunday that over 100 people have been arrested for offenses related to illegal street racing during a multi agency crackdown. Over 100 arrests made during this multi-agency task force focused on illegal street racing. @HCSO_PSSB @HCSOTexas @HCSO_D2Patrol pic.twitter.com/97UJCW67p9 — HCSO Vehicular Crimes Division (@HCSO_VCD) March 21, 2021The Traffic Crimes Unit and a multiagency task force are combatting illegal street racing. @HCSO_PSSB @HCSOTexas pic.twitter.com/R66fRJ3H4R — HCSO Vehicular Crimes Division (@HCSO_VCD) March 20, 2021The crackdown came as race enthusiasts converge in Baytown this week for TX2K21 Roll & Drag Race Nationals. County officials and authorities in Harris County have seen an increase in street racing and last year created a traffic crimes unit to combat complaints over reckless driving.

HOUSTON – One person is dead, and another is seriously injured following a crash caused by a street race, Harris County Sheriff’s Office says. Witness report a street race turned deadly when a Truck lost control and struck another car killing one and seriously injuring another. The driver of the truck fled the scene on foot. The driver of the GMC fled the scene, failing to stop and render aid, according to police. The driver of the truck fled the scene on foot, according to deputies.

These 8 are among the 43 arrested overnight in crackdown on illegal street racing, according to HCSO. HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – The Harris County Sheriff’s Office announced Friday that it arrested 43 people for offenses related to illegal street racing. ➡️Report street racing activities:- #713-221-6000- TrafficCrimesTips@sheriff.hctx.net pic.twitter.com/4zuhyVMAO5 — Chief Mike Lee (@HCSO_LECommand) March 19, 2021The crackdown came as race enthusiasts converge in Baytown this week for TX2K21 Roll & Drag Race Nationals. County officials and authorities in Harris County have seen an increase in street racing and last year created a traffic crimes unit to combat complaints over reckless driving. HCSO: 43 arrested overnight in crackdown on illegal street racing (HCSO)“Just last month, our sheriff’s office deputies investigated a dangerous street incident that resulted in a crash that killed two young brothers, ages 14 and 16,” said Sheriff Ed Gonzalez during a news briefing earlier this week “...The problem of illegal street racing and street takeovers has gotten so bad that last year our sheriff’s office created a special traffic crimes unit that is tasked with shutting down these drivers.”AdHarris County residents who witness illegal street racing in the area are urged to report it at 713-221-6000 or TrafficCrimesTips@sheriff.hctx.net.

BAYTOWN, Texas – Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez and other law enforcement leaders held a news conference to call for an end to illegal street racing. Gonzalez talked about the dangers of illegal street racing and urged racers to practice their hobby on legal race tracks and not on public roads. The news conference comes as race aficionados converge in Baytown for the annual TX2K21 Roll & Drag Race Nationals at Houston Raceway Park. According to Gonzalez, the event is a great way for racers and fans to enjoy street racing in a controlled environment. “...The problem of illegal street racing and street takeovers has gotten so bad that last year our sheriff’s office created a special traffic crimes unit that is tasked with shutting down these drivers.”Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said the county is actively seizing vehicles that are being used in illegal street racing.

BROOKSHIRE, Texas – One mother is grieving after an illegal street race killed her two sons and another pedestrian. It’s so senseless,” said Sherkeitha Kennedy, the boys’ mother. Kennedy lost her two sons, 16-year-old DeCarerick Kennedy and 14-year-old Faybian Hoisington. Harris County deputies said it all started Sunday after a car meet-up by K1 Speed Car where HCSO deputies were working. “We need to help this family,” Jones said.

Yakemah "Kemah" Siverand is seen in this mug shot released by Houston police on Feb. 22, 2021. HOUSTON – A Las Vegas Raiders football player was arrested over the weekend after a street-racing incident in Houston. The incident was reported about 12:05 a.m. Saturday on the North Loop East near Lockwood Drive. According to Houston police, officers saw five vehicles racing on the North Loop and a chase ensued. Those three people were later identified by police as 24-year-old Yakemah Siverand, 19-year-old Rolando Macias and 19-year-old Illsen Urruita.

At right, the car investigators say Mock was driving during a street race is seen after a crash in Houston on Feb. 21, 2021. HOUSTON – A third person has died because of a street-racing crash in Houston over the weekend, and the man accused of driving the car is now facing three manslaughter charges. Harris County deputies said 22-year-old Andrew Mock has been charged in connection with the crash that happened about 9:30 p.m. Sunday on the Northwest Freeway near West Little York Road. Deputies said two teen boys were also injured in the crash and flown to Memorial Hermann Hospital Downtown. The family said they were brothers; DeCarerick died Sunday night and Faybian died Monday evening, according to the family.

HOUSTON – Street racing and street take-overs have become epidemic in Harris County, drawing crowds that can number in the hundreds to deserted parking lots and lonely highways to race and show off. They live near a street racing hot spot in the 14000 block of JFK Boulevard near Bush Airport. You hear the cars just racing up and down the road,” Hector said. Even as our crew talked with the Herreras, a driver careened recklessly down their residential street in broad daylight. AdFor the last year, police have had to deal with a lack of jail space due to COVID-19 concerns, preventing them from really cracking down on street racers.

HOUSTON – Arrest warrants have been issued for four men, accused of taking part in an illegal racing event in the parking lot of an Ikea in the Spring Branch area, court documents confirmed Monday. Video of the racing event was shared on social media and posted to YouTube, court documents said. A manager of the Ikea, located in the 7800 block of Katy Freeway, told police the event left behind a lot of damage to the parking lot. “The [manager] informed [the officer] that the damage to the parking lot is estimated to be $46,000 to repair,” according to court documents. Both Smith and Fontenette, according to court documents, were driving a Dodge Charger seen in the video.

KPRC 2 Investigates went undercover to see inside the culture, cars and controversy of illegal street racing in Houston. WATCH: Man gets 12 years in prison for street racing crash that killed pastor and wifeAnd it keeps happening. Recent Street Racing CrashesHere’s a look at some alleged street racing crashes in the Houston-area over the last six months. October 2020Motorcyclist killed after falling from interchange, reportedly racing vehicle on freewayMontgomery CountyMontgomery County doesn’t experience as much street racing as Harris County. NHRA Member TracksNHRA Member Track Directory MEMBER TRACKS Division 1 Division 2 Division 3 Division 4 Division 5 Division 6 Division 7Houston Motorsports ParkFriday, Nov. 27.

HOUSTON – On Halloween night, a large group gathered for a “donut party” in a Cypress supermarket parking lot. The store was closed at the time, but left-over skid marks can be found in the parking lot. More than one hundred people were seen racing around the parking lot and setting fires and fireworks. In lockstep with the pandemic, incidents of parking lot parties and street racing have soared this year. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office formed a brand new Traffic Crimes Unit to focus on this crime and other related crimes.

It’s all part of Houston’s dangerous phenomena of street racing. Harris CountyThere’s been at least three deaths connected to street racing in Harris County in the last three months. Here’s a look at some alleged street racing crashes in the Houston-area over the last six months. October 2020Motorcyclist killed after falling from interchange, reportedly racing vehicle on freewayMontgomery CountyMontgomery County doesn’t experience as much street racing as Harris County. Monday, November 23, 2020 at 10pm on KPRC 2WATCH: KPRC 2 Investigates goes undercover to look into the dangers of street racing and street takeovers.

The family of an innocent man, Fidel Juarez, 36, killed after being caught in the middle of an illegal street race is remembering their loved one. Juarez was a father to three children, an 8-year-old, 11-year-old and 14-year old. Fidel’s son, Gustavo Juarez, 11, said his father was a loving and good-hearted man, who always worked hard for his family. He always took me to the ranch.”Gustavo said his father worked two jobs and was on his way to work early Thursday when the crash happened in northwest Harris County. “Now I have to be the man of the house...take care of our family,” Gustavo said.