Eleven charged, two vehicles impounded after group of drivers allegedly drove recklessly throughout Richmond

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Eleven people are facing charges and two vehicles were impounded after police said a group of drivers gathered their vehicles at multiple locations throughout Richmond over the weekend, where they reportedly drove recklessly and endangered the public.

Eleven people have been charged and two vehicles have been impounded after the Richmond Police Department coordinated with multiple law enforcement agencies to investigate an incident that occurred on Saturday, March 21.

In the evening on Saturday, Richmond Police said groups of drivers gathered their vehicles at multiple locations throughout Richmond, engaging in reckless driving that endangered the public.

Richmond Police officers reportedly pulled over 11 vehicles, including cars and motorcycles, and charged the following violations:

• 12 traffic violations
• 10 misdemeanor charges, including hit-and-run, reckless driving charges, driving on a suspended license and obstruction of justice
• One felony charge: Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
• Exhibition driving violation result in the impoundment of one vehicle.

Under Virginia law, exhibition driving occurs when a driver intentionally drives a vehicle to show off, including burnouts, donuts, rapid acceleration or other attention-seeking maneuvers on public roads or in parking areas.

Virginia law authorizes the impoundment of vehicles used in exhibition driving for up to 20 days, according to police. Drivers are reportedly responsible for all towing and storage costs associated with vehicle recovery, in addition to any court-imposed penalties.

“This law provides officers with a proactive tool to address dangerous driving behavior before it results in crashes, injuries, or large-scale disruptions, and RPD will continue to use it to combat reckless driving,” said Richmond Police Chief Rick Edwards in a press release. “This should serve as a warning: if you gather to drive recklessly and create unsafe conditions for motorists, pedestrians, and businesses, your vehicle can be impounded.”

Richmond Police said the department was assisted by the Chesterfield County Police Department, the Henrico County Police Division, VCU Police, the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office and Virginia State Police in the enforcement effort.