mdchaser

As a new vette owner I haven't had much chance to take it out. I live in N. CA and finally got out last night to go cruisin around town. The usual compliment of very festive looking ricers were out making lots of noise and getting pulled over for being stupid (my friend even warned one that a cop was RIGHT THERE and he STILL got pulled over for driving poorly). I followed a friend of mine WAY out of town to where they apparently have spontaneous stree racing every weekend. Most of the cars were festive little civics that sounded terrible but there were a couple of quick Mustangs and so forth. One kid managed to drop his car in a ditch while turning around which added a bit of humor (he got pushed out by some friends, no harm done). All in all it was a fun/interesting experience. So now my question is what are the consequences for getting caught racing or even just watching? I know it can be pretty harsh depending on where you live. They kept telling me cops rarely show up and never end up tagging anyone but I'm not willing to risk my vette just for a show.

White99FRC

whether you are a spectator or involved in illegal street racing does not matter, the cops will view it that both parties are supporting and contributing to illegal street racing. therefore a spectator will get the same punishment as a racer. from what i hear now a days if you are caught, possible jail time or fines, license being suspended, as well as having your car impounded. definitely not worth it.

Also, IBTL!!

mdchaser

Thats what I figured. Do you know if I could actuall lose my car? I've got a perfectly spotless record so it would end up being a first offense no matter what they charged me with. It was so much fun I'd like to go back but if I could actually lose my car then it's just not worth it (I don't mind risking fines as I've been told it has yet to happen). This place is so far out of town that I need to follow someone out, I can't remember all of the turns .

mdchaser

BTW, I believe this is very dangerous stuff and I'm not recommending it in any way shape or form to anyone (including myself). I'm NOT a street racer, I think it should be taken to the track (no track around here unfortunately). I do not zip around town racing from light to light or exceed the speed limit (ok, maybe once in a while). Just wanted to clear that up .

JH

Excellent counsel. An organization I founded brought to Colorado two law enforcement officers from San Diego to present their program to curb street racing. ANYONE who street races in California is putting themselves at risk for significant police action. Don't do it. Take your car to a track during test-and-tune night to see what it will do, or autocross if you want more than a straight track to run on.

ONealLaw

As a member of the legal system. I can tell you that you put yourself at risk for a number of charges. The most serious could be manslaughter, vehicular homocide, negligent homocide and etc. A bystander can be charged for anything that the actors do as a principal to the crime. The least of your worries will be if they take your car away... they wil take away your freedom, youth and your life. A zealous Prosecutor will charge you with these crimes especially if a life is lost and it becomes highly publicized. There are way too many risks to get involved with street racing... It is far better to pay a few dollars admission fee at your local dragstrip. Just my .02. - O'NEAL

RoHo

And that is no BS, they will and do impound your car

b98

Mr. Lucky

I can't offer any advice that hasn't already been provided, but your reference to the ricer-mobiles as "festive" cracked me up.

AU N EGL

Track days for road racing in CA & NV

http://track-days.org/

White99FRC

If you are nearby Sacramento, Sacramento Raceway has Test-N-Tune every Friday night from 6pm-10pm. I go at least once a month and get 8-10 runs a night.

OutlawDon

Where exactly in NorCal are you?

427CPE

Im in Folsom too. I go out to the track once in a while usually on test n tune night. Also, no street racing! There are only kiddies out there mainly anyway. Most of the real cars are at the track.

White99FRC

Nice to see a fellow Folsomite on here in CF!!

mdchaser

I am about 1.5hrs north of Sac. That might be an option, I could just head down there after work. Do they have a web site I could check out? There were a total of THREE nice cars out last night, my vette included. I don't think I"m going to make it a regular thing, not worth the risk. Especially when all of the "festive" "tuners" decide to do burnouts right in the middle of a crowd of people (NOT smart but no one would listen to me, I'm about double the average age).

rickko

San Diego:
Illegal street racing is becoming an increasingly serious problem in San Diego. Just in 2002, 15 young men and women have been killed in San Diego County. An additional 19 people have been severely injured due to illegal street racing. It is not rare to be driving along the freeway and have a few cars speeding past you at 80, 90 or 100 mph while racing against each other. And it is much more organized on the streets. There are a number of underground clubs and a wealth of information about where to race on the internet. On weekend nights a desolate street can turn into a scene of 500 kids willing to race or be a spectator, all of them risking their lives.

The City of San Diego is taking a couple of approaches to help put an end to illegal street racing. The first is passing a Spectator Ordinance within the City. ... this ordinance makes it illegal to be a spectator at an illegal street race. If caught offenders will be prosecuted, fined upwards to $1,000 and eligible for up to 6 months in jail time.

White99FRC

there is a drag strip up in redding, it may be a little closer to u. they have street legal race nights as well as test n tunes. check it out!!

www.reddingdragstrip.com

WALLstAL

I have heard they can/will confiscate your car in Los Angeles. Ouch!

MacC5

I got busted for racing in Sacramento 2 years ago. I only did it once and that's all it took. I ruined a spotless record with a misderminor traffic charge. It was a little unfair I thought, undercover cops watched the ricers racing for over an hour. I was incline to just watch too. But after a motorcycle dude asked me to race, I said what the he11 why not, I had NOS. After a dead even finish, it was something out of the movies with cops coming from every direction. That whole operation rounded up a grand total of 2 people. Me and the guy on the bike. Anyway, they took my Vette for 30 days. After spending 6 hours in cuffs, took me to jail for 24 hours. The fines, impound & legal fees were about $3500. So, for anyone thinking about racing, think about spending the night with the 20 -30 of your closest drunks, crack heads and gang thugs in one small room. I personally didn't like watching people getting the **** kicked out of them on a dirty cell floor by a big fat gang banger as crooked cops looked the other way. Thats the Sacramento County Jail. Oh, and if you try to fight the ticket and lose, you get to go back and visit those friends for 6 months....

For those who just watch, it's not as harsh. But still a fine. But no one here on the CF would do that...

Jeffyvette

MD,
You want go fast check this out:

www.openroadracing.com

Jeffy'