(The Center Square) — The discussion surrounding cruising in public parks and an increase in drag racing is spurring the Shreveport City Council to action as complaints become more frequent the closer to summer.
Councilwoman Tabatha Taylor added the item to the agenda to specifically address Ford Park. Taylor has previously addressed the issue in different council meetings for years.
According to Taylor, the cruising is beginning earlier, with drag racing taking place on the Lakeshore strip and recently at the end of David Raines Road, Audrey Lane, Greenwood Road, Lakeshore Drive, Curtis Lane and Legardy Street. There are also more all-terrain vehicles spotted on Gordon Street.
The racing happens during the weekends around 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. Taylor noted this is when vehicles are making the most noise. Apart from drag racing, noise is becoming quite an issue according to Taylor.
The music can be heard throughout the park, which she said can vibrate homes. The current noise ordinance does apply to music coming from cars as well as homes.
The police department initiated a cruising operation on March 21 that will continue throughout the summer. While Deputy Chief Antwoine White would not share times to keep a bit of discretion, he did confirm that patrols are happening.
The drag racing is not a new issue in the city or council. Reports came out Oct. 2024 about drag racing in the Ford Park area on the weekends. Some of the racing was starting as early as 4 p.m.
In Nov. 2023, the Shreveport Police arrested four individuals accused of drag racing.
Reports from 2021 show an ordinance introduced in council calling for a first offense to be a $500 penalty, a second offense at $1,000 and anything further offenses resulting in $1,000 in fines and up to 30 days imprisonment.
Some cases lead back to 2016 when 20 reported tickets for the previous year were issued for street racing. The fine in 2015 was roughly $500 for the ticket.
