Kalamazoo Police Prepare for Seasonal Surge of Mobile Nuisance Parties with Aggressive Enforcement
*As warmer weekend nights return to West Michigan, Kalamazoo police are making it clear: participation in mobile nuisance parties means your vehicle will be towed.*
The Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety (KDPS) issued a stark warning on Friday that people involved in mobile nuisance parties — often called "X-train" parties — should expect their vehicles to be impounded.
"If you're out and about in the MNP, your vehicle is going to be towed," KDPS Sgt. Andy Werkema stated in the video announcement.
The warning comes as spring weather makes the northside of Kalamazoo a prime location for these gatherings, which typically draw dozens, sometimes hundreds of vehicles.
What Are Mobile Nuisance Parties?
Mobile nuisance parties (MNP) are large gatherings of vehicles that congregate in specific areas of Kalamazoo, often meeting on the city's northside. These events are characterized by:
- Loud music that can carry for blocks
- Street racing
- Vehicle blockage of streets
- Large crowds gathering around the parked cars
"MNP, which are often referred to as X-train parties, are large gatherings of dozens, sometimes hundreds of cars that often meet up on the city's northside, and according to police are a safety concern," according to KDPS.
The Legal Framework
Participation in these gatherings was made illegal through city ordinance in Kalamazoo in 2019, but police say they continue to deal with them each year.
The situation escalated in Spring of 2025, when city officials approved a new ordinance giving police significantly expanded authority:
- Police can impound cars at the scene without always needing a court order
- Police can obtain seizure orders against repeat offenders more easily
- If an officer cannot impound a vehicle on scene, they must issue a warning letter to the registered vehicle owner
- However, if the same vehicle is found to be involved in future incidents, the ordinance allows impoundment even if it is not registered to the person who participated in the MNP
"However, if the same vehicle is found to be involved in future incidents, though, the ordinance allows impoundment, even if it is not registered to the person who participated in the MNP," according to city officials.
From Warnings to Tows
KDPS began taking stronger action several years ago, including:
- Towing involved vehicles
- Using drones to identify participating vehicles
Police have said warning letters lead to a notable decline in repeat offenses. The new ordinance has given them even more teeth to enforce the law.
"In recent years, KDPS began taking stronger action, including towing involved vehicles and using drones to identify participating vehicles," according to KDPS.
The Enforcement Strategy
The enforcement approach has evolved over time:
- 1.Initial response: Warning letters to registered vehicle owners
- 2.Escalation: If the same vehicle appears in future incidents, impoundment is authorized even if a different person is driving
- 3.Current stance: Vehicle towing is now the standard response for those caught participating in MNPs
Community Safety Concerns
The gatherings pose multiple safety risks:
- Street blockage that can trap other vehicles
- Street racing that endangers pedestrians and bystanders
- Loud music that disturbs neighborhoods
- Large crowds that can lead to other safety issues
What's Next
KDPS Sgt. Andy Werkema and other enforcement officers are monitoring the situation closely as spring weather improves. The department is making it clear that the enforcement has become significantly stricter.
Residents and commuters in the affected areas have reported these parties as a growing nuisance, particularly on weekends when the gatherings tend to be largest.
"As warmer weekend nights make a return to West Michigan, Kalamazoo police say they are preparing for the seasonal resurgence of mobile nuisance parties (MNP)," according to KDPS.
The department's message is straightforward: if you participate, your vehicle will be towed.