More than 80 people were taken into custody after a street takeover shut down a Taylors-area intersection in Greenville County Saturday night, with deputies seizing 38 vehicles and 10 firearms in one of the largest enforcement actions yet under South Carolina's new anti-takeover law. Investigators say the crowd gathered around 11:30 p.m. at the intersection of Locust Hill Road and Fairview Road, where drivers performed burnouts and blocked the roadway.
According to the Greenville County Sheriff's Office, 80 adults and multiple juveniles were arrested, and all of the adults were charged with aiding and abetting a street takeover under South Carolina's Roadway Protection and Safety Act. Investigators reported that the illegal activity included burnouts and deliberate roadway closures, and the sheriff's office says the investigation remains ongoing, with additional charges possible as detectives continue reviewing the case.
The law that made Saturday's mass arrest possible is barely four months old. Governor Henry McMaster signed House Bill 4292 into law as Act 148 on May 15, 2026, establishing South Carolina Code Section 56-5-3910 and creating, for the first time, a standalone state offense for street takeovers, according to the South Carolina Legislature. Before the law took effect, local officers had to rely on a patchwork of minor traffic citations rather than a unified statute to address the gatherings.
What the New Law Actually Bans
Section 56-5-3910 explicitly defines illegal stunts to include burnouts, drifting, doughnuts, wheelies, or any unauthorized deliberate obstruction of a public street, intersection, or private lot without the owner's consent, per the South Carolina Legislature. That definition appears to match what investigators described happening at Locust Hill and Fairview roads before deputies moved in.
The penalties, however, vary sharply depending on a person's role in the takeover. A first-offense conviction for aiding and abetting — the charge filed against all 80 adults arrested Saturday — is classified as a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $100, up to 30 days imprisonment, or both, according to the South Carolina Legislature. Direct participants or primary organizers face misdemeanor charges for a first offense, carrying up to one year in prison and a $500 fine, per records reviewed by LegiScan.
The statute also includes an enhanced penalty if a street takeover leads to someone's death, adding up to 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine on top of underlying charges, the South Carolina Legislature notes. Lawmakers built in that homicide enhancement specifically to deter dangerous stunt maneuvers performed near dense crowds of spectators.
Impounded Cars Face a 30-Day Clock
Beyond the arrests, the 38 vehicles were impounded in the operation. The statute allows a seized vehicle to be returned at the agency's discretion and provides for forfeiture if the owner or lienholder fails to claim it and pay fees within 30 days.
Part of a Broader Crackdown Across the Upstate
Saturday's bust did not happen in a legislative vacuum. State lawmakers introduced the Roadway Protection and Safety Act in 2025, according to Citizen Portal. Upstate leaders had warned that without tougher legislation, takeover crowds would keep spreading south from North Carolina into South Carolina communities.
The Locust Hill and Fairview roads intersection sits near Taylors and Greer. Deliberately obstructing traffic flow there raises the stakes for emergency response and everyday drivers alike.
The crackdown also arrives amid ongoing traffic-safety concerns. Saturday's operation involved more than 80 arrests, 38 impounded vehicles, and 10 firearms seized.
It remains unclear how many of those arrested were active organizers or drivers versus spectators caught up in the sweep, and whether the seized firearms will lead to additional weapons charges. The Greenville County Sheriff's Office says the investigation is ongoing and that further charges may still be filed.
