Compton, California, has implemented a novel strategy to combat violent street takeovers by installing rubber medians at key intersections. While the measure has drawn ridicule online, city officials report a significant decrease in the disruptive events. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department data indicates a 45% reduction in street takeovers during the first two quarters of 2026 compared to the previous year, following the deployment of these barriers.
"We are on an elimination campaign," said city spokesperson Marcus Harris. "We want to stop all the street takeovers in the city of Compton."
The problem of sideshows has affected Compton and the wider Los Angeles County region since the pandemic began. In 2022 alone, the sheriff's department responded to nearly 500 street takeovers within Compton.
Previous attempts to deter drivers, such as the installation of "Botts' Dots," proved ineffective. The new rubber medians are designed to physically impede vehicles from performing donuts and other erratic maneuvers in intersections without risking damage to their cars.
At Alondra Boulevard and Central Avenue, where the medians were installed in February, city staff have not observed any new tire marks indicative of donutting, according to reports. The city has installed these barriers at three specific intersections: Alondra Boulevard and Central Avenue, Long Beach Boulevard and Compton Boulevard, and Wilmington Avenue and Stockwell Street.
Compton plans to expand this initiative, with plans to install an additional 30 intersections with similar deterrents. "We’re looking forward to installing another 30 intersections to deter them from doing any type of erratic driving," Harris stated.
Longtime Compton resident Willie Breaux expressed relief, telling CBS, "It’s about time they’ve done something about it because it’s out of control. I haven’t seen one take over. It’s been real mild, which helps the city with the police department, the fire department to get through to help somebody in need."
City engineer Jack Gong noted that the rubber medians are expected to last at least 10 years, presenting a cost-effective solution to the ongoing issue.
Compton is a city with a diverse population, with Hispanic or Latino residents making up 72.9% and Black or African American residents comprising 24.1%, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures. The city's median household income is $78,465.
Online commentary has ranged from appreciation for the efforts in affected neighborhoods to skepticism about the medians' effectiveness. However, the reported drop in street takeovers suggests a tangible impact, even as the strategy faces public scrutiny.