Cops now crushing cars involved with Street Racing in Cali Options

[BlackCelicaGT94]

Cars crushed in street racing crackdown
By GREG RISLING
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/111...d_Hot_Rods.html




Sergio Zavala, 18, looks over his yellow 1993 Honda after his car was crushed at Ecology Auto Parts in Rialto, Calif., Wednesday, June 20, 2007. Six vehicles were destroyed in front of their owners Wednesday at an auto graveyard as local law enforcement ramps up enforcement this summer after illegal street racing is suspected or responsible for 13 deaths in Southern California since March. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
RIALTO, Calif. -- Charles Hoang winced when the whoosh went out of the tires. Daniel Maldonado took pictures with a digital camera as glass exploded and rained down to the ground.

The cars the teens had so meticulously souped up and tricked out were crushed Wednesday as part of a crackdown on illegal street racing in Southern California.

"That's my heart, my dream," said Hoang, 18, of Chino, who was surrounded by friends as his 1998 Acura Integra was put into a compactor. "That's my girlfriend, the love of my life. The cops can crush my car, but they can't crush my memories."

Authorities destroyed six vehicles Wednesday at an auto graveyard, hoping would-be racers think again after looking at the mashed machines. Illegal street racing is responsible for or suspected in 13 deaths in Southern California since March.

The thrill-seeking, adrenaline-pumping activity is rampant in Riverside and San Bernardino counties east of Los Angeles where rows of tract homes line wide streets that attract racers. Nearly 1,000 people - drivers and spectators - have been arrested for investigation of street racing activities over the past two years in San Bernardino County alone.

Police said they have managed to reduce illegal racing and related fatal collisions, but know the underground hobby still thrives.

"We are making a dent," said Ontario police Cpl. Jeff Higbee. "But it's summertime and ... we expect to see more activity."

Hoang said he was caught late last year racing his prized car, on which he spent at least $10,000 to get into top shape. The 350-horsepower engine topped out at 160 mph, Hoang said, swearing it could beat a Corvette or even a Ferrari.

When police popped open the hood, Hoang said, they found a stolen transmission. Hoang flashed a receipt for the transmission he bought from his father who runs an auto shop and doubted the item was hot.

"Everything on that car was practically brand new," Hoang said as he watched his car get moved to auto death row. "They should take out the stuff that matters, auction it off, and give the money to charity."

Because racers put heavy stress on their vehicles, they often burn out or blow up parts. Higbee said the need for the expensive parts has created a "theft mill" where additional cars - usually Hondas or Acuras - are stolen and stripped of the necessary replacements.

Most of the cars police examine are illegally modified. Sergio Zavala, 18, was pulled over in his 1993 yellow Honda Civic for a broken tail light in December. He had purchased a B-20 Vtech engine with a double-overhead cam a couple months before, and after a police investigation, was told it was stolen.

Zavala, who admits he's been involved in street racing, estimates he and his mother spent about $10,000 on improvements to his car.

After watching his Civic demolished, Zavala is left without a car as he plans to attend a fire academy in the fall.

"It's heartbreaking to see this," said Zavala, who graduated from high school last year. "This is where all my time and money went."

Maldonado also said he put plenty of time and effort working on his 1992 black Honda Civic. He was stopped in November by police in what Higbee described as an area where racers gather.

The 18-year-old mechanic said a vehicle identification sticker apparently fell off and without it, police suspected some of the parts were stolen. Maldonado stood several feet away from his car as it was pounded into a heap of metal.

Maldonado said he has taken the advice of police by racing legally on one of several race courses around Southern California. For the money spent in fines and other penalties - on average about $5,000 for illegally modified cars - Higbee said street racers could compete about 250 times a year at a legitimate track.

"If you have to race, take it to a legal venue," Higbee said. "But as long as they keep racing illegally, we keep crushing their cars."

All three men who saw their vehicles destroyed said they believe illegal street racing will continue to prosper across the region.

"It will never go away," Maldonado said. "If it's in your heart, you will continue to do it until you can't anymore."

This post has been edited by BlackCelicaGT94: Jun 20, 2007 - 6:03 PM

[massbrandon]

^^ they are not taking their cars without it being necessary. The cars that are being crushed (if Im not wrong) are the ones with stolen parts and such on them.

[jgreening]

^^ they are not taking their cars without it being necessary. The cars that are being crushed (if Im not wrong) are the ones with stolen parts and such on them.

Who says what is necessary? Is it necessary to crush a 1998 Integra Type R because there is a stolen transmission in it? The owner sourced the transmission from somewhere - he didn't steal it himself. Why not just demand the return of the stolen goods? An innocent third party purchaser has no way of knowing if used parts are stolen. Maybe they should run the risk of losing their investment if the part turns out to be stolen, but does anyone really think its fair to have their whole car crushed?????????

Either they crush the car because of stolen parts or they crush it because of street racing (which is what the article is about). Either way, its still BS.

[Yellow94GT]

^^ they are not taking their cars without it being necessary. The cars that are being crushed (if Im not wrong) are the ones with stolen parts and such on them.

Who says what is necessary? Is it necessary to crush a 1998 Integra Type R because there is a stolen transmission in it? The owner sourced the transmission from somewhere - he didn't steal it himself. Why not just demand the return of the stolen goods? An innocent third party purchaser has no way of knowing if used parts are stolen. Maybe they should run the risk of losing their investment if the part turns out to be stolen, but does anyone really think its fair to have their whole car crushed?????????

Either they crush the car because of stolen parts or they crush it because of street racing (which is what the article is about). Either way, its still BS.

1. Ordinarily I am not in favor for sweeping away of people's freedom.

I would say however that the tragedy over the street racer's due process rights bothers me less than
crushing the cars of those who are using them to race on public roads.


uberschall made a good comparision:
"street racing is simply being treated more like other criminal acts, like carrying a gun in public. the
moment you decide to do it, you forfeit some legal rights."


2. As far as stolen parts goes:

Hoang the "owner" of that particular 1998 Integra Type R said he had been caught using to race on public
roads.

Maldonado's "vehicle identification sticker apparently fell of".

Zavala, who admits he's been involved in street racing, estimates he and his mother spent about $10,000
on improvements to his car.

The vehicle code allows law enforcement to destroy vehicle even if a part is has been proven to be stolen
in California. It was interesting that the article mentioned only individuals who had been involved directly
with racing on public roads.

You better buy parts from a legitimate source if you live or drive in California.


Yellow94GT

This post has been edited by Yellow94GT: Jun 22, 2007 - 6:37 AM