Should Street Racers Cars Be Crushed ?

[pnyk33]

With street racing related deaths on the rise across North America, governments and police forces are having to try new and drastic measures to combat the illegal and dangerous activity. On Wednesday in California, several known street racer’s rides were sent to the crusher to send a message to other racers that their hobby will not be tolerated.

 

 

Here in Ontario, a couple of loogans were “racing” on a major highway last weekend and caused a major accident which resulted in the death of a selfless truck driver who drove off the road rather than crash into the existing accident. The two that caused the incident have been charged under new street racing laws.

 

In response to this latest death, Toronto area police are lobbying to begin crushing street racer’s cars in a program similar to that in California. The difference is that in California, the cars crushed are those belonging to known, convicted street racers. Here in Toronto, the cops want to crush cars that are modified for street racing.

 

From the Toronto Star:

“Just on the balance of probabilities if we can establish that a car is being used for the unlawful purpose of street racing, we will seize it and you will never see it again.

 

“We will crush your car, we will crush the parts.”

 

Here is the problem: How are they going to determine if a car has been modified for street racing, or modified to improve vehicle handling, or modified for legitimate competition?

 

World wide, weekend warriors partake in legal, sanctioned motorsports events in their modified daily drivers. In most cases, these guys and girls drive like little old ladies on the street, because they have the opportunity to get their jollies out on the track. Many of these good folks are young adults, who may enjoy the same style of clothing and music as their street racing counterparts. How do the police intend to differentiate between the good and the bad, solely based on the modifications made to their cars?

 

Make no mistake, street racing needs to stop, but is it fair to paint with a wide brush just due to bolt on performance parts. In York Region, at Toronto’s north end, police have laid over 550 charges against street racers in the last 6 weeks. Why not begin crushing the cars that belong to those guys, who have already been caught. Then, suspend their driver’s license indefinitely. If they have no license, then they (hopefully) won’t be driving at all. Ever.

Manuel Hernandez reacts after his car and other impounded vehicles were crushed at Ecology Auto Parts in Rialto, Calif., on Wednesday.

Edited January 6, 2009 by pnyk33

[ksev]

geez that would suck!!

[Jason]

They tried the same tactic with other things. 3 strikes? Failed.

[LittleRedSpirit]

They do it here in QLD too. 3 strikes and your car gets crushed. I think its very unfair. The wreckers that crush these full house cars for the cops must surely realise that they are crushing up to 50k in parts that would recycle fine each time they do this. It doesn't make sense from so many points of view. Envirinmental, econimic, human rights etc. Its a heavy handed rage fueled response with no real though put into it. There was a time when before they legislated such things they would do some research, maybe hire a university to do a study and make some recommendation on how to handle it. Now we get the gung ho politicians who want to be sheriff trying to make laws all over town.

 

It makes me sick, they are eroding the rights of the individual, they cannot effectively decide who is a street racer and who isn't on car appearance alone. What ever happened to having to being caught doing something before you could get prosecuted for it. The need a special task force for such things. It just sounds to me like anyone with a sports car is in danger. I bet they wont crush the Ferrari the judge drives, or the supercharged 6.3 litre mercedes the legislators are getting around in, and those guys could blow us boyracers into the weeds.

 

Unfortunately the way it works the laws will be passed and the onus will be on the citizens to fight the laws and prove in court that they are prosecuting people without people having committed a crime.

 

Either that or just start a protest, tun it to a riot and torch all the legislators cars. Imagine how they'd feel if the shoe were on the other foot.

 

Perhaps you can start a motorist advocacy group to build a loud voice of opposition. If they could provide us with more facilities to try entry level motorsport we would use them. The few racetracks we have in QLD are booked out months in advance, so even arranging to get there can be very hard. We have nowhere else to go. Why not try to provide somewhere, then you have every right in the world to say stay off the streets.

 

They have a drag racing series in far western Queensland now, which I bet not many people have heard about. They close the airports and have drag and burnout comps on the runways.

 

They actually go out of their way to have a scheduled event in an easily accessible place where anyone can participate. I think all metro governments need to look at this model and realise that you cannot just prohibit mass parts of our culture. If they supported the sporting aspect of it wed be in a much better position as far as us enthusiasts go.

 

Its time for a revolution. People need to stand up for themselves. How far will they push us before we unite and up rise against our oppressors. Once they stick a microchip in your arm its all over, we wont be able to fight back thanks to anti-terror laws. Think about the way the world is going...

Edited January 6, 2009 by LittleRedSpirit

[Jason KE30]

they shouldnt punish those who have a nice, worked up car just because they look like they would be the type of person who would do something stupid on the streets eg. drag racing, drifting

but...

if they have a nice, worked up car and get caught doing something stupid on public roads then by all means crush their pride and joy. they deserve it. i mean if you need to get your rush by putting other lives, and your own in danger just to get that thrill of being 'alive', take it off the streets and put your creativity on something useful. like gettin all your buddies with the same persona as you and round up a pertition. who knows, the government might be good for once and start up a track in a easy to get to place. but on one condition... keep the stupidity off our streets or your car will get crushed.

[Jason KE30]

oh and if you are going to get your car crushed, then you can at least appeal for it. whether you win in court is another matter.

[orangeLJ]

I think you would find (well atleast in australia) that the legislation of crushing cars is actually in direct violation of sections of the constitution, and IF you had enough money to fight the laws in court, you would infact keep your car from the crusher.

[godlovesugly]

crushing a 50-100k car is *** stupid and the cops should use some common sense... sell the cars, or strip the cars and sell parts and then do something good with the money like building some tracks or paying for the hospital bills of people who have been hurt due to idiot street racers.

[67Rolla-Ken]

I'm all for it, DON'T DRIVE LIKE A DICK!

 

Or at least, don't get caught! :P

[Rich_Rolla]

Hey it beats the fact that I can break my behaviour bond and go to prison for J WALKING! GAH!

[styles d]

crushing a 50-100k car is *** stupid and the cops should use some common sense... sell the cars, or strip the cars and sell parts and then do something good with the money like building some tracks or paying for the hospital bills of people who have been hurt due to idiot street racers.

 

 

I agree with you 100%, impound the car and sell the parts. Use the money towards preventing shit like that happening again. Crushing my car in front of me will definately put me in my place, but no less than if my car was stripped of all its parts and sold for a better future for other street racers. It's pretty obvious what should be done in the circumstances, but the government once again proves to us why theres such things as political humour and satire.

[67Rolla-Ken]

What, sell the performance parts so other hoons can go faster??!

 

That wouldn't be a bit of a contradiction...

[Jason KE30]

exactly, its just stupidity and the system can easily be bent because you could just buy the parts back. or get a friend to do it incase your not alowd to. if your stupid enough to street race and get caught doing it then too bad if your car gets crushed, you deserve it.

[PMP020]

it really is simple.

 

don't drive like a retard.

 

do so and be punished by the full extent of the law.

 

if it means ur car gets crushed, then so be it.

 

don't want ya crushed?

 

oh wait were back at start.

 

don't drive like a retard.

 

cheers, scott

[67Rolla-Ken]

I should add that I do not agree with crushing cars because they are modified. This should only happen to when the drivers are caught hooning.