Police raid cruise night...

[Steve1968LS2]

I know it was imports, but it's a disturbing habit..

This is a disturbing trend..


http://thenewspaper.com/news/23/2302.asp

California: Police Raid Car Enthusiast Gathering, Generate Revenue
Police raid Riverside, California parking lot to issue modified car tickets at local car enthusiast gathering.

Using $503,000 in federal and state gas tax revenue to pay for overtime, nine police agencies in Riverside, California sent more than one hundred police officers to surround a gathering of automotive enthusiasts. Owners of imported sport compact cars had gathered at the Canyon Crossing shopping center on Friday night to swap stories, talk about their passion for cars and show off the latest enhancements to their rides. At around 11pm police surprised participants by blocking all exits with fifty police cruisers. Officers then began a warrantless search and interrogation operation of the 150 vehicles that were present.

"If you're not into street racing, why would you need that?" Riverside Police Traffic Sergeant Skip Showalter asked an enthusiast during a similar crackdown last year. "Why would you want more power going to your car?"

Police issued a total of forty-eight tickets for "engine modifications" with police accusing the owners of the parked vehicles of being street racers. Another fifty tickets were issued for paperwork violations, dark window tinting and lack of a front license plate. The most revenue, however, will be generated from the fees imposed on twenty vehicles that were confiscated. Despite labeling the parking lot raid as taking place at a "street racing venue," Riverside Police offered no evidence that any street racing actually took place.

Across the state, gas tax funds are regularly used to fund similar crackdowns that generate big revenue. In 2004, the California Highway Patrol issued a total of 101,553 "modified car" citations worth $10.5 million according to CHP data obtained by TheNewspaper.

Other law enforcement agencies participating in Friday night's raid included the California Highway Patrol, Riverside County Sheriff's Department, and police from Baldwin Park, Fontana, Irwindale, Moreno Valley, Ontario and Mount San Jacinto Community College.

[badmatt]

My biggest piss off about police is that they "think" just because people modify their cars there bound to street race with them....

I wish a lot of cops would drop this ****.

[chicane]

Hey... no one said they were the smartest tools to walk the earth.

[Streetking]

Jackasses...

SW

[Spiffav8]

IF this was an organized event taking place with the permission of the property owner and there was no racing taking place....then what happened is B.S.!!

Tickets of that nature are a load of crap. Heck I used to own a Police Interceptor and it had all kinds of illegal stuff done to it buy the Highway Patrol! To bad that some one some where decided that this was a quick and easy way to make a buck for the various departments. I'd rather see them use those funds to go after the guys that are actually street racing.

[Steve1968LS2]

I remember a story of a car show in Texas where the highway patrol waited at the exit and gave out "fix it" tickets for stuff like no plate, exhaust and other nonsense.

They moved the show from that town and the area lost a lot of revenue. At least that's what I heard.

[jeff hanson]

That is nuts! I think this takes the cake. I just hope they don't try this in Michigan. I highly doubt they would because so many cops around here are into cars, but c'mon this is friggin crazy! Someone out there needs to stand up and take this on. I can't believe they would ask "If you're not into street racing, why would you need that?" This whole country is full of drag strips, road courses, auto-cross, etc. HELLO! Rediculous!

[camcojb]

unfortunately, this is more about the money than curbing street racing. Last year on a Wednesday afternoon I was at a friends shop on Sunrise Blvd. This is the main drag to the race track, and Wednesday night is open to all cars. They had 4 different agencies involved and stopped every import heading to the track that had any visible mods; exhaust, lowered car, etc. I watched six of them get pulled over and all six went on a wrecker to impound. None of the people I saw were arrested, but the impounding of their cars and related fees had them pretty pissed off to say the least.

Here's my problem. I have no sympathy for the guys racing on the street, they pretty much get what they deserve. But these guys were heading to the track to do legal racing. Isn't that the point? What a stupid message to send to them; don't race on the street, but don't go to the track either, as we'll set up an impound sting.

The thing is, they've discovered how much money in fines and fees this brings in, and since most every agency is faced with budget cuts, this is an easy way to make money. You guys who haven't seen this personally be prepared, because once they all realize how much money this generates it'll be coming to a city near you....................

Jody

[Spiffav8]

Originally Posted by camcojb

unfortunately, this is more about the money than curbing street racing. Last year on a Wednesday afternoon I was at a friends shop on Sunrise Blvd. This is the main drag to the race track, and Wednesday night is open to all cars. They had 4 different agencies involved and stopped every import heading to the track that had any visible mods; exhaust, lowered car, etc. I watched six of them get pulled over and all six went on a wrecker to impound. None of the people I saw were arrested, but the impounding of their cars and related fees had them pretty pissed off to say the least.

Here's my problem. I have no sympathy for the guys racing on the street, they pretty much get what they deserve. But these guys were heading to the track to do legal racing. Isn't that the point? What a stupid message to send to them; don't race on the street, but don't go to the track either, as we'll set up an impound sting.

The thing is, they've discovered how much money in fines and fees this brings in, and since most every agency is faced with budget cuts, this is an easy way to make money. You guys who haven't seen this personally be prepared, because once they all realize how much money this generates it'll be coming to a city near you....................

Jody

Well said!

[jst8a5.0]

Makes you wonder just WHEN it's gonna hit closer to home.