FARGO, ND — Fargo police say a drone captured multiple vehicles engaging in exhibition driving during an unauthorized gathering of more than 100 cars on private commercial property on Oct. 10. Officers were called to the scene around 10:45 p.m., but the vehicles had already dispersed by the time they arrived.
Police said the department’s drone and Real-Time Crime Center documented the activity after officers responded to the call for service. The footage reportedly showed driving behavior consistent with exhibition driving, along with tire marks and rubber residue spread across the parking lot.
The gathering took place on private commercial property, and police said the property owner had not approved it.
Drone footage showed tire marks and rubber residue across the lot
According to Fargo police, the drone captured not only the driving but also the aftermath left behind in the parking area. Officers observed tire marks and rubber residue that suggested the vehicles had been spinning out or otherwise driving in a way that damaged the surface.
The department said the footage was monitored through its Real-Time Crime Center, which allowed officers to watch what was happening even after the cars had left. Police did not identify the location in the post.
No arrests or citations were announced in the department’s public update.
North Dakota law and city ordinance ban exhibition driving in parking lots
Police said exhibition driving is illegal in both public and private parking lots under North Dakota law and Fargo city ordinance. That means the activity is prohibited even when the gathering happens on private property if it involves this kind of reckless display driving.
The department also said property owners can bar people involved in unauthorized gatherings from coming back. If someone returns after being barred, police said that person could face criminal trespassing charges.
That warning was part of the department’s broader effort to deter repeat activity at business properties that are not set up for vehicle stunts or large unsanctioned meetups.
Police say unauthorized car meetups can leave costly damage behind
Fargo police said gatherings like this can create problems for businesses and property owners beyond the immediate disruption. The department pointed to damage in the lot and the expense of cleaning up rubber residue and related mess left behind after the vehicles leave.
While police did not describe the exact condition of the property beyond the visible tire marks and residue, they framed the incident as a misuse of private commercial space. The department said such events can leave owners with repair and cleanup costs even when the cars are gone before officers arrive.
That damage, police said, is one reason the department treats the gatherings as more than a traffic issue.
Police say the goal is enforcement, not stopping car culture
In its public message, the department tried to draw a line between illegal exhibition driving and lawful car enthusiasm. Police said they are not trying to prevent people from enjoying cars, but want those activities to happen legally and responsibly.
“The goal isn’t to stop people from enjoying their passion for cars,” the department wrote. “It’s to make sure they do so legally and responsibly.”
That statement underscores how police are framing the issue: not as a ban on car gatherings, but as a response to unsafe driving and unauthorized use of private property.
Department urges enthusiasts to use legal places to gather
Fargo police encouraged car enthusiasts to find appropriate places to meet instead of organizing unsanctioned events in commercial lots. The department said legal and responsible gatherings are the right way for people to share their interest in vehicles without creating damage or risking enforcement action.
Police did not say whether additional investigation was underway or whether any enforcement action would follow from the drone footage. They also did not identify the owner of the property or say whether the business had experienced prior problems with similar gatherings.
For now, the department’s message is aimed at preventing future incidents by making clear that unauthorized meetups can lead to criminal consequences and costly cleanup for property owners.