Portland police will be partnering with other law enforcement agencies to try to crack down on illegal street racing and stunting in the wake of Sunday’s free-wheeling antics on the Fremont Bridge.

A team of about 25 officers from the Police Bureau, the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Police and city park rangers will join forces this weekend to try to curtail illegal street racing, Capt. Tony Passadore said Thursday. They’ll get a hand from officers filming overhead from a police plane and prosecutors from the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office.

“It’s extremely dangerous when these cars are moving at such great speeds, at such power so close to people with people hanging out of the cars and filming,’’ Passadore said.

About 25 officers between Portland police, Multnomah County Sheriff's Office and the Oregon State Police will be on the lookout for illegal street racers, starting this weekend. (Screenshot from video taken Sun., April 12, 2020 on Fremont Bridge)

Street racers are taking advantage of both reduced traffic due to the stay-home order amid the coronavirus pandemic and the warmer weather, Passadore said.

On Sunday, police were called to the upper level of the Fremont Bridge around 8:15 p.m. on reports of dozens of street racers blocking southbound traffic and spinning cars in donuts across the span. By the time two officers arrived, the cars had left. No arrests were made.

Yet police are continuing to investigate and view video evidence of the illegal activity and may bring charges in the future.

Participants driving cars can face speed racing citations with a $435 fine. They also can face charges of reckless driving or recklessly endangering another, both misdemeanors punishable by up to a year in jail, five years of probation and/or a fine up to $6,250.

Anyone blocking streets or standing in the road and filming can face disorderly conduct charges, Passadore said.

Last year, police made over 290 stops of drivers in street racing investigations, charged more than 25 people and towed nearly two dozen cars, according to police.

“Our goal is to educate people and get them to stop on their own,’’ the captain said.

-- Maxine Bernstein

Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212

Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.

Subscribe to Facebook page

Coronavirus in Oregon: Latest news | Live map tracker |Text alerts | Newsletter