Resident urges crackdown on downtown ‘death racing’; staff says thousands of citations issued

A downtown resident warned the Boca Raton Community Redevelopment Agency on Monday that persistent ‘‘death racing’’ and extreme speeding through the city’s core has intensified and called for targeted late-night enforcement.

Glenn Groman, who identified himself as a downtown resident with a military and military-police background, told the CRA that a recurring core group of roughly "50 or 75 people" drives high-powered vehicles through downtown late on weekend nights and funnels north from Broward County via the Camino and Federal corridor. "It's absolutely crazy," Groman said, and he warned: "They're gonna fly off the road and kill 12 people."

The resident described the group’s vehicles as Dodge Chargers and Challengers, Ford Mustangs, Chevrolet Camaros and Corvettes, souped-up pickups and imports, and said the activity typically occurs between about 9 p.m. and 1 a.m. Thursday through Saturday and on holiday Sundays.

Chair Mayotte and staff acknowledged the complaint and asked for targeted enforcement at the intersections Groman named. Director O'Neil told the agency that enforcement has been stepped up in downtown Boca Raton: "We've issued 2,462 citations since January in the downtown," he said, adding that "over 600" of those citations were issued in May alone. O'Neil said staff will provide more detailed late-night data for the 11 p.m.–2 a.m. timeframe at the intersections identified.

Commissioner Singer, speaking after public comment, said the police services department coordinates with other law enforcement agencies and "takes this matter seriously," pushing back on any suggestion the city was not addressing the issue.

The CRA did not take formal action on the resident's request during the meeting. Chair Mayotte closed public comment after the exchange and the agency moved on to brief commissioner reports and announcements. Commissioner O'Rourke used her report to promote available parking in the Mark Building and encouraged the CRA to publicize the ParkMobile app for downtown parking. Vice Chair Thompson thanked IT and video staff for supporting the agency's virtual operations during the pandemic period.

The CRA had a short procedural item early in the meeting: Commissioner Singer moved to adopt the minutes from the May 24 meeting; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. Chair Mayotte then highlighted a new community space in Meisner Park and an art exhibit at the downtown library before adjourning the meeting at 1:43 p.m.