Police in Orange County Break Up Street Racers

Street racing has been responsible for numerous car accidents in Orange County that have resulted in serious personal injuries or death. Orange County Sheriff's Department officials issued at least 25 citations the night of February 25, 2010 in Laguna Hills for aiding and abetting a street race. Officials broke up a meeting near the intersection of Cabot Road and Oso Parkway between dozens of drivers who were apparently waiting to race, The Orange County Register reports. In addition to the 25 drivers, an additional eight were cited for illegal modifications to their exhaust. There were about 50 vehicles gathered in a nearby parking lot.

I commend these police officials who were able to gather information about this "street-racing event" and actually getting there in time to break it up and prevent what could have been a deadly incident. In effect, they saved several if not more drivers and/or spectators from suffering catastrophic injuries or death.

Law against Street Racing
Racing on a public roadway is against California law. California Vehicle Code section 23109 (a) states: "A person shall not engage in a motor vehicle speed contest on a highway. As used in this section, a motor vehicle speed contest includes a motor vehicle race against another vehicle, a clock, or other timing device. For purposes of this section, an event in which the time to cover a prescribed route of more than 20 miles is measured, but where the vehicle does not exceed the speed limits, is not a speed contest."
Street Racing Statistics
California law enforcement agencies have only now started to crack down on street racers. In 2001, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that police listed street racing as a factor in 135 fatal crashes. The total was up from 72 street-racing-related fatalities reported in 2000. According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, more than 800 citations for illegal street racing were issued in 2001.

It's about time law enforcement agencies start taking a proactive approach to curbing this serious problem, which has the potential to cause serious personal injuries and significant damage. What the Orange County Sheriff's Department did here is the kind of approach we need other agencies to start taking. We need strong enforcement. Law enforcement officials need to send out a strong message that street racing will not be tolerated in our communities.

We are not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free confidential consultation to "not a fault" persons named in this article and their family members.