Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station would like to raise awareness of the perils of street racing and encourage residents of the Santa Clarita Valley to report such activity by calling 911 before a tragedy occurs.
Each year as spring and summer time approaches, deputies assigned to the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station see an increase of sideshow or street racing activities. In fact, these type of activities can be found in communities across Southern California. Street racing events continually draw in participants who create a public safety hazard through their unsafe driving and obstruction of public roadways. As a result of their aggressive behavior, other crimes such as assault with a deadly weapon, DUI, and general disturbances of peace frequently occur.
Illegal sideshows and street racing events are reckless, unsafe and unlawful. They pose an extreme danger to those participating in the activity, other motorists and bystanders. People involved in these activities within the Santa Clarita Valley should expect deputies to take decisive action against them, including citations with enhanced fines, vehicle impounds and jail time for felony and misdemeanor charges.
Not only is street racing illegal to participate in, but spectating is also illegal. Spectators can receive a citation for watching the street race. Deputies assigned to the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station will continue to monitor illegal street racing and take appropriate action when they come into our patrol area. Street racing cannot be tolerated in any form.
Street racing is a misdemeanor crime under Section 23109 (a) of the California Vehicle Code. Persons caught participating in a speed contest can have their vehicles impounded for 30 days at their own expense per Section 23109.2 (a)(1) of the California Vehicle Code. A driver arrested for street racing can expect to pay some very heavy fines, as well as having their driver’s license suspended by the Department of Motor Vehicles, resulting in higher insurance premiums. The financial cost is insignificant when someone greatly injures themselves or claims the life of an innocent bystander.
If any member of the public is aware of street racing activity in progress or about to occur, call 911 and provide license plate numbers, descriptions of vehicles and subjects involved.
If you witness any incidents relating to street racing, or if you have any further information or concerns, please contact the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff Station at 661-255-1121.
You can also remain anonymous by calling “LA Crime Stoppers” at 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the website at LAcrimstoppers.org (reference #01113).
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2 Comments
As accurate as this article is, it is not telling the truth, because the car culture is as normal in the history of California as the entertainment industry, or growing your own food. All of which the government would like to control. In recent weeks, The city government of Irwindale approved the removal of Irwindale Speedway and drag strip and putting the racers on the street. It was a few years ago on the expansion of Highway 138 where the County Board of Supervisors, the controlling agency of the authors of this article, who promised when they finished they would find a new home for LACR (Los Angeles County Raceway). To this day, the County or sheriffs have yet to locate a new venue to keep people from street racing. Ignorance is not an excuse in a courtroom, and creates liability for the Sheriffs. These are the people killing others by not providing a safe place to race. They say its speed that causes the problems, well then why is cruising illegal? Why are car shows becoming illegal? The fact is just like growing your own food, entertainment and other recreation, the government is not interested in allowing citizens freedoms to participate in any of them. They create ordinances and regulation without regard to public input and don’t follow up on promises. This is where the great divide occurs. Government workers have jobs and a lifestyle because of us, not in spite of us. Change the attitude and save lives.
To be part of the solution instead of the problem I offer the following:
Locate an area like the back parking lot at Magic Mountain and establish an eighth mile venue to charge both spectators and participants on a regular schedule to conduct racing. Sound level meters would be used to keep noise down. Volunteers can run the organization, and fees would be used for insurance, park security reimbursement and port-a-potty services. Food trucks could pay for the trash services. There are plenty of unused K rails around to keep everyone safe. If they work for NHRA and 8000 HP Nitro cars, they will be fine for the tuners too. It just takes effort and approvals to complete. Lets see if our government is willing to be part of the solution like they were with skateboarders, graffiti artists, and bicyclists.