Monterey Car Week 2025: Police Prepare for Exotic Car Chaos
Monterey Car Week safety takes center stage as law enforcement readies a high-visibility crackdown on reckless exotic car antics.
Why this story matters now
Monterey Car Week is a global magnet for high-end automotive celebration but with the roar of V12s comes the need for order. Local police departments are scaling up safety measures, targeting reckless behavior amid an influx of supercars and social media spectacle.
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Why does this matter right now?
Well, it’s not the cars themselves, but what they bring. Car Week in Monterey and Carmel is as much about pageantry as it is performance. The problem? What starts as a concours often ends in chaos. For 2025, local law enforcement isn’t waiting for the wheels to screech they’re laying down tire spikes of policy before the first Bugatti hits Ocean Avenue.
Carmel Interim Police Chief Todd Trayer, freshly sworn in on August 5, isn’t easing into his role. His solution? Speed bumps, directional bollards, and a small armada of patrol vehicles flanking key streets. “All hands on deck,” he says. “With high visibility.”
This year’s tweaks build upon 2024’s well-reviewed interventions. Ocean Avenue will again feature physical barriers to protect pedestrians and dissuade impromptu drag races. New for 2025: tow trucks stationed at the ready. Exotic car or not, if it misbehaves it’s getting hooked.
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How does it compare to rivals?
In this case, it’s not about horsepower but enforcement power. Compared to Carmel’s calm crackdown, Monterey PD is deploying a “massive presence” from August 13 to 17, aiming to match last year’s 251 traffic stops and 165 citations. Notably, they plan to match their eight increased arrests from 2024. The tunnel on Lighthouse Avenue famed for 100 mph supercar sprints will be lit up with flashing red and blue.
MPD’s focus: speeding, reckless driving, illegal exhausts, unlawful lighting, and smog system tampering. In short, if you’ve brought a modified McLaren or a lowered Lamborghini, you might want to double-check your compliance. As MPD Lt. Ethan Andrews says, “It’s not a good time to come to Monterey if your vehicle has any illegal modifications.”
While other automotive events may tolerate a little rubber-burning for the crowd, Car Week is going the other direction toward order. That’s the Monterey difference.
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Who is this for, and who should skip it?
This year’s plan is a clear message to two very different crowds. For classic car lovers, families, and collectors strolling through Pebble Beach Car Week remains a dream. For those who think the tunnel is a racetrack or want their 15 seconds of TikTok fame with a burnout on Cannery Row consider this your warning.
Residents have voiced concerns for years. In a city survey last fall, locals praised Ocean Avenue’s barriers but requested more enforcement. “They were somewhat effective at calming reckless driving,” one resident wrote. Another compared the nightlife to “a college town Halloween party.”
Rio Road, a straight-shot launchpad toward Highway 1, has also drawn attention. This year, it’ll have eyes on it. The takeaway? If you’re planning to turn your Ferrari into a firework display, you may leave with a citation and fewer followers than you hoped.
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What’s the long-term significance?
Car Week is a crown jewel of automotive culture, but it’s teetering on a tightrope. Social media has elevated the spectacle, but it’s also fueled behavior that could jeopardize future events. The increased law enforcement response isn’t about crushing enthusiasm it’s about preserving the experience for the long haul.
By showing that rules and revelry can coexist, Monterey and Carmel are setting a precedent for other major automotive gatherings worldwide. This could be a turning point where communities lean in, not out, when thousands of luxury machines roll into town.
If it works, expect other high-profile car events Goodwood, SEMA, The Quail to take notes. If it doesn’t, well, we might all be watching Pebble Beach on livestream someday, with no tunnel theatrics in sight.
Like what you’ve read? Stay in the driver’s seat with more insider automotive insights. Follow @NikJMiles and @TestMiles for stories that go beyond the press release.
