For All You So Cal people

[blownmotor]

I found this on another site i belong to i think it's fucked up and violates the constitution http://www.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.

[ALEXTHESUS*PECT]

now i do think it's kinda crooked te way they went about it, but ask anyone there, or anyone who has ever been there, and it is street racing starting point. not all people there were gonna race, but in cali it is guilty by association. at the 1 meet i actually frequent when the cops do show up they usually give a warning and let all go home.

did the cops do this stritcly by the book........no
did they stop street racing that night in that area..........most likey.

[brndck]

yes what they did is probably a violation of your civil rights... but do you have the $ to hire a lawyer to fight a ticket for you? instead, i suggest joining sema and supporting their actions in fighting both stupid auto related laws and also combating the stereotypes heaved upon us. yes, there are a shit ton of street racers, but by being more discrete we should be able to minimize the attentio directed at us. by discrete, i mean not revving, chirping, bov-ing, and general driving like jack asses. the community as a whole only knows what they saw in f&f so thats what they think every kid with a modified car is doing. by acting in a responsible manner, we CAN convince them otherwise. so keep it on the fucking track. and when a cop asks you why you have those modifications, tell him that they're for improved mpg, cuz thats what chicks these days go for.

[s14_legend]

yup thats cali for ya...the quick buck...if you have a import your guilty

[azndoc]

That's a lot of money to spend to crack down on some kids.

Geez.

[duffman1278]

I think from a law class I took its considered to be some form discrimination in the way that they classify "street racers", kind of like arresting someone because he looks like a gang memeber or they think he's selling drugs. Its a shame what they did though. And I guess that cop doesn't realize that some people do use that horsepower under their engines when they go to a track or a legal event of that matter.

[na3j nitsuj]

even stock cars can street race...even muscle cars can street race...so why bother?!right?!

stupid pigs~!

[hustlervibes]

Originally Posted by duffman1278

I think from a law class I took its considered to be some form discrimination in the way that they classify "street racers", kind of like arresting someone because he looks like a gang memeber or they think he's selling drugs. Its a shame what they did though. And I guess that cop doesn't realize that some people do use that horsepower under their engines when they go to a track or a legal event of that matter.

It's profiling or stereotyping.

[NismoB13]

stereotyping FTL.

I wonder if you have a NASA or SCCA license/ membership on you that they wouldn't be as harsh because you'd be proving you legally track your car.