Illegal Street Racing

[Slick]

Copied below is an article from the Internet about a new law regarding street racing in San Diego County (which is larger than the state of Connecticut).

Crack Down Targets Drag Racing Spectators
06-11-2003 11:31:AM
(San Diego, CA) -- County Supervisors are targeting spectators at illegal street races in an effort to help reduce fatal accidents in unincorporated areas of the county. Under an ordinance tentatively approved with a unanimous vote by the board yesterday, drag race spectators would face up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine. The ordinance goes into effect after a second reading next week. Legalracing.com reports 16 deaths and 31 serious injuries directly related to illegal street racing last year in San Diego.

 

[GN138]

My little brother was recently given a 12 point ticket for this exact reason...spectating. The theory behind this is that, if no one is there to watch a race, no one will race. Bull crap!

I always race by myself, no groups and only 1-3 cars total anyway.

My brother got off because the cop said some things to him that he should have. The judge was surprised when he and my dad decided to fight the ticket. My dad's lawyer got him off really easy because the cops verbally harrassed my brother....and he even wasn't racing. BTW...my little brother is a decent looking kid, drives a 2000 Camaro SS, so he's not the typical Import punk.

 

[gndreamn]

SO where's the kill?

 

[blackshoebox]

This thread needs to be moved to the lounge..

..as for the topic at hand. The politicians who write these rediculous laws about street racing are only worried about one thing, and that is lining the states pocket full of money(and their individual pockets indirectly). Someone who is spectating should not face jail time, and face up to a 1000$ fine. What they don't realize is that law will promote spectators to run like racers would normally, which could lead to a lot more problems. Instead of uping the fines and punishment, build more tracks to conteract the problem.

 

[hot6-231]

Re: This thread needs to be moved to the lounge..

Originally posted by blackshoebox
..as for the topic at hand. The politicians who write these rediculous laws about street racing are only worried about one thing, and that is lining the states pocket full of money(and their individual pockets indirectly). Someone who is spectating should not face jail time, and face up to a 1000$ fine. What they don't realize is that law will promote spectators to run like racers would normally, which could lead to a lot more problems. Instead of uping the fines and punishment, build more tracks to conteract the problem.

Well said!! Spectators know damn well the risk(or they should) when attending a street race as should the racers themselves. I've seen cars over the years almost loose it and this will only get worse as most of these clowns don't know how to drive a fast car. Ever been to an "import race" at your local track?? It's downright friggin scary in the pits when a ricer is flying down an isle on smoking em up and almost loseing it in the PITS!! And this is at a LEGAL place to race(track, not the pits). Your right blackshoebox, it's all about the almighty buck. This will NOT stop or even slow down street racing. The solution is more tracks but this won't happen either as EVERY TIME there is a track proposed ANYWHERE, some idiot gets the locals scared and they all sign a petion to stop it. Seen it happen many times. So the solution to the problem is?????.

 

[Rollin]

Did someone say Lounge???

Can do.

 

[TurboTer]

I'm not even gonna comment, because I guarantee there's some big-government idiot on here who agrees with the law.

 

[turboscott]

I do agree that there is always to push to prevent new tracks from being opened. They don't want tracks, they don't want street racing. Where do they expect people to enjoy their hobby?

 

[Vector]

Also, how do they define spectator? If I see two cars lined up, I will pull safely out of the way, let them blow past me, then continue on my way. Could I be busted for THAT?
Very picky, I agree, but possible.

 

[Boost]

youth+fast car=bad combo

http://web1.wsvn.com/news/articles/local/C21839/

Miami is not a small city by any means, if our local politicians would consider a dragstrip in our area where this sport can be taken to in a safe manner, it would prevent a lot of these incidents. It sure is not going to STOP.

 

[denn454]

I think its a 12 point ticket in colorado to watch a race too. normally I can see a reason behind a law wether i like it or not, but watching racing really isn't illeagle is it? not only that but it isn't fair. hypothetical situttion here, and tell me if i'm right nor not. lets say i'm out on a 6 lane highway driving along, and 2 guys go racing past me and i look at them, I was just watching a drag race and i deserve a ticket. I'm not saying that thats going to happen and i know it is extreme, but it is technally aginst the law. i'm not telling everyone to go out and watch street racing, i don't and i don't know anyone who does, not because its illegle, but whats to see? but if you want to where is the harm? i do agree street racing deserves a high point ticket, a lot of times its not safe so i can understand that, but watching???

and as for building more tracks or even promoting this idea, they don't care, and in my oppinion they would rather see everyone sell their nice cars and drive fuel effecient imports or something like that. I think it was california that baned peopel from having cars on their porperty that don't run (parts cars). and I think they also baned junk yards from having cars over 10 years old. I'm not sure where it was, but they did do that somewhere, or were at least talking about doing that. so if they don't even respect the fact that poeple have old cars for the fact that they enjoy them, not that we're poor trash that drives a beat up 55 chevy. they don't see the difference between a fully restored car from a pile of rust. (sorry i'm getting off track) but anyways if they don't respect that what makes you think that they would be willing to support the idea of new tracks, much less offer to pay for them?

 

[gn85]

I have a hard time seeing how this can be made constitutional. We have the right to peaceful gathering. Watching a street race involves nothing unpeaceful, usually. So long as public safety is not at risk, then I don't see how this can be a law.

A couple of stories:

Many years ago, I was watching a street race. Two trailer cars just came from the track. Racing for big money. They went down to a deserted end of an Interstate in Maryland (I-70, near Security Blvd.) There were cars lined on BOTH sides of the interstates and stupid fools parked IN THE LANES OF TRAFFIC!! This is a four lane section around 4 in the morning. Sure enough, a state trooper comes along. EVERYBODY takes off. The trooper told the people who had the trailers and the cars that "He didn't care what they did on the street, but he couldn't have people parking in the lanes of traffic." He told everyone to leave, and come back when he wasn't there. So long as they were safely parked along the side he didn't have a prob. Cool cop. Took a bit of a risk saying that. Race happened a half hour later.

Another story: Watching a race on the side of Rt. 10. I was parked on the side of the road, and so were many spectators. That was OK. But then, several of the spectators actually pulled into the lanes of traffic and BLOCKED traffic so these cars could race. It was amazing. Then sure enough.. when the flag was dropped and both cars took off, we saw lights.. there was a cop sitting in a ditch, hiding and watching it ALL!! Anyways, to make a long story longer.. the cop ended up pulling ME over and tried to accuse me of being in the race (an old Grand Prix and a Mustang were racing). He was just trying to get me to say who WAS racing, but that was stupid.

ANYWAYS... STUPID law.. I have a hard time beleiving that's constitutional. If I got a ticket like that, I'd fight it tooth and nail.

Just my .02

 

[TurboTer]

Wow, no one supports that law. Surprising. Let's here from the cops. Do you guys support it? If no, would you enforce it?

 

[equalizer442]

http://web1.wsvn.com/news/articles/local/C21839/

where in the hell did a 17 year old get a corvette, lucky bastard.

 

[malibuick231]

Here in Birmingham AL the city has gotten with one of the local tracks.They are making improvments to the track so they will stay open late so the street racers will go there instead of racing down town.Its a good idea I think for the track and the racers.

 

[UNGN]

Originally posted by equalizer442
where in the hell did a 17 year old get a corvette, lucky bastard.

I guess his luck ran out.

hhmmmm... His Dad's a cop and his uncle says he's never done anything like this before.

He must be the victim of a movie. Somebody get this guy a lawyer!!!!

 

[gn85]

Originally posted by TurboTer
Wow, no one supports that law. Surprising. Let's here from the cops. Do you guys support it? If no, would you enforce it?

Expecting a different answer?? Does this mean I get my neo-con decoder ring?

 

[bryguy]

REPLY

They (Bureaucrats) get any law regarding driving passed because it's the old adage "Driving is a privilage not a right" so the constitution takes a back seat to anything related to an automobile or whatever you drive. Here in New Hampshire where the license plate reads "Live Free or Die" we have no seatbelt law for adults and no helmet law for motorcycles. Anyway if 2 cars speed by and I'm walking I should look the other way or get arrested. What's next people getting arrested for looking at an accident on the side of the road??? It might stop traffic jams but it's getting rediculous. Another law that I've heard of is if your in a car with an open container (not driving) everybody gets points on their license. You can't even ride a bike while over the limmit on alcohol which keeps getting lower. AAAARRRRGGGGHHH!!!!

 

[denn454]

Re: REPLY

Originally posted by bryguy
... You can't even ride a bike while over the limmit on alcohol which keeps getting lower. AAAARRRRGGGGHHH!!!!

you think thats bad, in Bolder co. (35 sq. miles surrounded by reality) AKA land of the fruits and nuts also known as hippiville, yuppy town, and a year round circus, its illegle to WALK down the street if you have a blood alochol level of .03 i think it is, or whatever the legal driving limit is. I'm nt saying its a good idea to go out get drunk off your @$$ and go walking home through a populated part of town but when you've have a little to drink and your smart enough not to drive your car, why is it wrong to walk?

 

[Ryan87GN]

Wow, now it's a crime to witness a crime.


Just think, in 20 years it might be illegal to even posess gasoline with an octane rating higher than 93.