KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) — After nearly a three-decades-old problem, the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety may have just found the solution to these so-called mobile nuisance parties commonly referred to as the “X-train.”
Chief David Boysen told News 8 that this is a long-term problem for the city of Kalamazoo, but in the past decade, the parties have evolved into hundreds of cars blocking streets on the north side of town.
“It’s a problem. Number one (because of) noise, disturbing the neighborhoods and the quality of life that it impacts,” he said. “But it’s also really a safety concern for us. Because these cars will be three to four deep or wide across the street and the street is completely gridlocked and blocked.”
The city of Kalamazoo passed a mobile nuisance ordinance in 2019 to combat the growing problem. Boysen said they saw little to no compliance, but a new initiative that started this June looks to have made an impact on these parties.
“We are going back and getting seizure orders for those cars to impound them after the incident occurs,” Boyson said.
Cars that are seen returning to parties are considered repeat offenders. In some cases, police have handed out warning letters to those in the nearby area that say, “You are in violation of our nuisance ordinance and if you continue to participate in this we will tow your car.”
The first weekend of June, KDPS saw more than 200 cars participating in these parties. The following weekend the department saw 138 cars with 12 repeat offenders, according to the chief. As of this past weekend, only 43 cars were participating in the “X-train.”
“The other significant difference that we’ve seen these past two weekends is that it’s not in the neighborhoods. It would be at a gas station downtown or a convenience store,” he said.
The department towed about a dozen vehicles involved in the June parties. Even if you are not the one driving the vehicle at the time of the party, Boysen said it’s your responsibility to pay to get your car out of the impound lot.
“It doesn’t matter who is driving the car. A lot of folks are telling us it’s my car, and I wasn’t driving it. I loaned it to a friend or a relative. It doesn’t matter, we’re still towing your car because as a registered owner you are responsible for the vehicle,” he said. “I don’t care if it’s a rental car or not, it’s getting towed.”
