Police raid California car enthusiast gathering to generate revenue

[ZilviaBot]

Filed under: Tuners (http://www.autoblog.com/category/tunertuesdays/), Government/Legal (http://www.autoblog.com/category/government-legal/)
http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/04/sean_bigbird.jpg (http://thenewspaper.com/news/23/2302.asp)

It isn't uncommon for automotive enthusiast groups to organize gatherings in large commercial parking lots. Quite often the local businesses even support the groups due to increased sales generated by the crowds. Such is apparently not the case in Riverside, California. The city believes large automotive-focused get togethers promote street racing and that must also be the purpose of any vehicle equipped with performance modifications. To quell the situation, last Friday night around 11PM, police surprised 150 vehicles and their owners during a meet at Canyon Crossing shopping center. Fifty police cruisers from Riverside County, Irwindale, Ontario and a few other regions were paid overtime to block off parking lot exits and issue citations. Tickets were written for illegal modifications, paperwork violations, window tint and having no front license plate. Twenty vehicles were even impounded due to suspected stolen parts.

The funds for the crackdown, and others like it, get drained from the California state gas tax account. Typically the gas tax goes towards transportation maintenance and improvements, like better roads and public transport. Rather than put all the money into aiding traffic flow, California's math calculations have determined that more revenue can be generated by handing out fix-it tickets with increased frequency. Of course, that is as long as the violation fares are more than law enforcement overtime expenses. Even still, most likely a few folks will fight their citations and thus drain more funds from the state government through the legislative process. Thanks for the tip everyone!
[Source: theNewspaper.com (http://thenewspaper.com/news/23/2302.asp)]
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[azndoc]

$eriou$ly you gotta $pend money to get money.

That'$ how they $ee it I gue$$.

[Xmax]

Giving tickets is a business operation, even though the police is here to serve and protect, they are business professionals to generate revenue for the city and state. Nothing new. But in a way that is a good thing, that they did this, because they cracked down on people that have stolen parts on their cars. Which is a few less thieves on the street.

[kouki_s14]

Giving tickets is a business operation, even though the police is here to serve and protect, they are business professionals to generate revenue for the city and state. Nothing new. But in a way that is a good thing, that they did this, because they cracked down on people that have stolen parts on their cars. Which is a few less thieves on the street.


I dont think anyone got arrested and even if they did they would be right back on the streets in no time.

and now since their car was taken away they need to steal another one.

[LongGrain]

just read about this on another forum.

another reason i dont live in cali.

[adrians_s13]

why bother the import car enthusiasts... I'd say like 70% of them are
1) young 2) broke

I'd like to see police raid like a cars and coffee meet in Irvine, haha... well, I wouldnt really... but man, that just sucks balls. Cars and Coffee meets are almost the same thing... a bunch of dude standing around in a parking lot showing off their cars and talking gearhead talk...

[ROUGE180]

Cars and Coffee meets are almost the same thing... a bunch of dude standing around in a parking lot showing off their cars and talking gearhead talk...

Pretty much my weekends for the past year lol. The cops don't usually mess with us because we're not doing burnouts or doing tyte driftz yo!!:nono: Sometimes a UC drives though and talks to us. Hey, Starbucks is happy because of us that's for sure.

1 time I did get a ticket for "trespassing" because I was sitting in a MacDonald's parking lot with some other car heads long after it closed. I wasn't even driving and I got a ticket. Had to go to court. Such a waste of time.

[jskateborders]

Giving tickets is a business operation, even though the police is here to serve and protect, they are business professionals to generate revenue for the city and state. Nothing new. But in a way that is a good thing, that they did this, because they cracked down on people that have stolen parts on their cars. Which is a few less thieves on the street.
Not true. "Suspected stolen parts" can be if your vins dont match on your dash, honda guys might not have the vins on their trannys, that "questionably stolen" anything without paperwork to prove its legal can be considered stolen. Do you have paperwork on your motorswap? stolen
cops can , and unfortunately sometimes will, bend things around to serve their intrests

[Taniguchi_Is_#1]

wait. if performance mods MUST be for street racing, how is it that i see dudes in camaros, mustangs, and other cars of that sort (read: domestic) cruising around with 1000 dB exhaust and NOS in the back window without any sort of second look from the man? where i grew up, if there was a civic with a muffler next to an F-body at a light, and the F-body's revs climbed as it accelerated through the light, the civic would get a ticket and the F-body would get a high five. fuck that. tomorrow, i'm selling the G20, and i'm gonna buy a trans am. shit is wack.

[godzillarb]

The cop has his hand on his gun... wtf?

[besTint]

make more tracks so people dont street race.

[let5l1de]

The cop has his hand on his gun... wtf?


they caught him ridin dirty... btw is that a fawking hummer in the background? omfg... i know where that fix-it-ticket $$ is going...

[s14_legend]

sucks that this is how our government makes money...tisk tisk

[urmyhero4now]

thats a really old shot from an article in superstreet years ago...and thats the o so famous "big bird" skyline....which was also in the f&f...

[wylin]

i think they should stick to ticketing speeders and other forms of driver education through tickets. Wasting money on modded cars is kind of stupid IMHO.

If they really wanted to stop street racing they'd, go browse forums for places that people drift, drag, and touge. That would be a better idea and more in line with protecting the public versus attacking a large non-mobile car meet.

[handinpants]

Wow all this being done in a shopping center parking lot which is most likely private property, so the property owner can be held liable for this. But I would call Greg doll and double check this.

[an_orange_s2k]

hread about this on the s2ki boards...this fawkin sucks cops need to focus on other things that are more important

[Nismoknightska-t]

i think its gonna get worse but truthfully i could care less..

1-2 ref tickets a year isnt that bad for driving around with a fully built motor.. :naughtyd:

[brewster240]

i hope this shit stays out in cali.

well they do it here to, but not that bad.

[TheSquidd]

why bother the import car enthusiasts... I'd say like 70% of them are
1) young 2) broke

Because people that are young and broke, can't FIGHT tickets by hiring expensive lawyers, and thus depriving the state of the money it attempted to steal.

People that drive Ferrari's and Lamborghini's CAN afford to fight tickets. Hell half of them are lawyers in the first place.


And yeah, the argument that cop made: "Why would you modify your car if you don't street race?"

Because I can't afford a Porsche or Ferrari, but I want a car that performs as close to one as possible. Because I'm a testosterone filled punk ass that loves the rumble of a motor and the feel of acceleration. Does this mean I street race? Hell no, I hardly ever break the speed limits (I move with the flow of traffic, if the flow is 80mph on the freeway, I do 80mph.).

But on the weekends I like to be able to take my car to the track, and at least the acceleration up to 45mph is "interesting".

THAT is why I modify my car.

With his attitude, why would ANYONE buy a car that goes faster that the speed limit? Why buy a powerful German luxury sedan that does 0-60 in 5 seconds and tops out at 180mph? OBVIOUSLY whoever is buying THAT car is street racing.

That one statement says SO MUCH about the law enforcement officers in our state it's ridiculous. THAT is how far our officers have their heads up their asses around here.

[a_ahmed]

well if it makes anyone feel better i got a 60km/hr speeding ticket in a 50km/hr zone two days ago :D he was a nice guy at least... lol, he seemed new and most new cops are assholes. Was a young guy, my age, I was like cmon man what is this im going to pick up my wife from a frickin hair saloon; guy gave me a ticket i gotta pay 40 bux 0 points.. woopie do but so lame :-/

Unlike the asshole who gave me a 67 over speeding ticket in rural farm lands in a '50' zone which was actually an 80 not a 50 zone, I went back there and saw the 50 zone buffer which was not visible AND short AND the asses hid there on a holiday. No soul ever even drives there somehow they happened to be there. Been a year since that incident but alas. You can't even hear a cow moo, that's how retarded farm field remote rural it is... what pisses me off is how the guy was grinning and cynical.

Fight every ticket, the government doesn't deserve your hard earned money.

Traffic police/tickets and everything associated with it is nothing but a business. Guess how many millions of dollars did the canadian government lose on 'family day' where the courts decided to 'forgive all cases' and dropped all tickets/court dates that day? Just guesst.... then look it up. It's nothing but a large scam. I HATE when I hear 'safety' bullshit, but then see roads crumbling with basketball size holes and grannies driving 50 on a highway or whatever.

Oh and, lmao, all the hypocracy of some people who throw 'take it to the track' slogans, when we all know EVERYONE speeds at least a lil including grannies and grandpas with their expensive ferraris/porsches/etc... Guess what started happening? Cops started giving tickets at local canadian tracks HAH! Just waiting for people to get off the track and BOOM ticket (illegal exhaust, car made for street racing, blabla).

Oh and I got a wonderful 30.00$ parking ticket for stepping out of my car in toronto downtown for like 5 minutes to pick up my wife from college where there is virtually no parking ever. WOW THATS SUCH A GREAT FEELING! I SAW the parking meter fag give me the ticket right in front of me! So 70 bux of my hard earned money just went to the government for jack shit.

What I ALSO love is how cops CAN turn their lights on and then run red lights if they please or how they ENJOY speeding and taking corners fast when they see fit even though they have no emergency or anything like that. OH AND when they have banged up cars (eg; one headlight only working), how come we can't give them damn tickets and earn a lil money lol. Oh they are trained professionals LMAO bullshit!

[its_teddd]

wow dude thats super foul. plus why is the cop driving a hummer?! the goverment likes to waste gas?!?!? wahhh!??!

[dragon_x330]

Wow, that's gay. Thank god I live in WI. Cops are asses here, but they're not anal...yet.

[PoorMans180SX]

I heard about his on the news.

Lame attempt at getting money.

I agree with most of the posts here.

[Flipzide]

Because people that are young and broke, can't FIGHT tickets by hiring expensive lawyers, and thus depriving the state of the money it attempted to steal.

People that drive Ferrari's and Lamborghini's CAN afford to fight tickets. Hell half of them are lawyers in the first place.


And yeah, the argument that cop made: "Why would you modify your car if you don't street race?"

But on the weekends I like to be able to take my car to the track, and at least the acceleration up to 45mph is "interesting".

THAT is why I modify my car.

With his attitude, why would ANYONE buy a car that goes faster that the speed limit? Why buy a powerful German luxury sedan that does 0-60 in 5 seconds and tops out at 180mph? OBVIOUSLY whoever is buying THAT car is street racing.

That one statement says SO MUCH about the law enforcement officers in our state it's ridiculous. THAT is how far our officers have their heads up their asses around here.

That's exactly what I was thinking. You took the words right out of my mouth. I was going to post something along the same lines on the comments in autoblog, but it'll get ignored anyway...

[steve shadows]

With his attitude, why would ANYONE buy a car that goes faster that the speed limit? Why buy a powerful German luxury sedan that does 0-60 in 5 seconds and tops out at 180mph? OBVIOUSLY whoever is buying THAT car is street racing.

That one statement says SO MUCH about the law enforcement officers in our state it's ridiculous. THAT is how far our officers have their heads up their asses around here.

EXACTLY

Why do they allow people to buy 600 hp Mercedes ?

to get milk?

[Jodan]

thank god im not in shitville cali

[steve shadows]

see avatar

but I know florida is good too

so yeah fuck cali

They wonder why all the business is leaving the state and we are going bankrupt.

It's like a communist south american country here or is becoming one.

[Grenade180sx]

i was there...


media totally blows it outta proportion.

there was maybe 50 cars if that.

a few buddies of mine including myself were parked away from the meet.

all the honda heads were burning out and hauling ass, this was the scene for the past weeks , anyways i never saw or heard anyone say they wanted to or headed out to go race.

but when the cops rolled they pulled EVERYONE into it.

we werent even near our cars and they told us to go into the barricade,

the lined up everyone about 6 cars deep and popped hoods

they had the ISO system(vin numbers) and were towing cars that were either missing VIN's or other reasons.

i received a state ref ticket for modified smog. on my s14 sr same as my buddy with a rb25.

i feel that it was kinda shitty how they made us go into the barricade, but hey you gotta pay to play right?

i cant hate.
cops are being cops, its there job and they are doing what our gov says cant blame them really.



and skylar you make a very valid point, in which i cant afford what you drive mr lawyer so imma try to make the next best thing.

its unfortunate that we are stamped as a street racer and such because of the mistakes of others.

yet what do you think the officers near Azusa think when they see a few 240's rolling mountain wards?

cops aren't dumb they connect the dots.

and the reason they end up ticketing spectators as well is. everyone wants to feel like tanguchi or chris rado

having people tell you damn your shit is sick or nice driving is what any teenager kid wants.
so of course you take the fun outta it and things tend to relax.

just my opinon.

[ALEXTHESUS*PECT]

the cops went to a meeting spot notorious for street racing. they didn't go to just any meet that's nice and quiet. they do burnouts, drifting, and "fly-bys". the cops did what they are supposed to do to stop the street racing epademic that so cal has.

as for the lambo,ferrari,mercedes argument, yes they are fast. the amount of speed that car can make is not important. how often do you see these cars stret racing?

as for more tracks in so cal, that can't be a problem. there are more events going here in so cal than anywhere else in america on any given day. and for those that strictly drag races, there are places like irwindale speedway that have open drag races every thursday.

now i'm not saying the cops are all justified in taking all the cars they did, but keep in mind that like i said, it is a known street racing meeting place. they didn't just pick a meet that is quiet and keeps all the local shops happy. there have been many complaints from this meet from the local shops, and many incidents of street racing accidents that started from here.

[DreamN]

^ very well said. if you have something under the hood of your car that shouldn't be there there's no reason for you to be at a meet that is filled with complete jackasses. easiest way to get popped.

[ALEXTHESUS*PECT]

i was there...




all the honda heads were burning out and hauling ass, this was the scene for the past weeks , anyways i never saw or heard anyone say they wanted to or headed out to go race.

that's just asking for the cops to come. you know they got complaimts from the local businesses.



but when the cops rolled they pulled EVERYONE into it.


i received a state ref ticket for modified smog. on my s14 sr same as my buddy with a rb25.

i feel that it was kinda shitty how they made us go into the barricade, but hey you gotta pay to play right?

i cant hate.
cops are being cops, its there job and they are doing what our gov says cant blame them really.





guilty by association. they don;t know who was doing what, so they stop them all. you know going into it that your motor is illegal, but atleas you seem to have the right attitude about it.

the people who were driving like asses there begged for the cops to come. glad they got their wish granted!:keke:

[240love]

I was pulled over this past sat around the corner of my house on my way to willow. The cop was a complete asshole, the first thing he said was, "were you guys going? street racing". Then took me out of the car and searched me while yelling he hates street racers. I never "race" my car on the street, actually my car only sees willow and thats it but like someone mentioned, Guilty by Assosiation.

[DreamN]

^ harsh. some cops are just major assholes like the one you encountered. I've met up with some real chill ones. One was actually interested in everything I'd done to it and mentioned how he tracks his mr2 every month or so. he was probably going to give me a ticket for speeding, but it ended up only as a warning and a fix it ticket because I didn't have either my insurance or registration on me.

[khmer1]

yah should tell the cops why do they modify there car haha all them gadget and crap could be funny thou i know police must have some kind of mod right??

anyways my car is to beat up to race also it an auto with a fucked trans or something slow rpm climb when floored..

[Nismoknightska-t]

and for those that strictly drag races, there are places like irwindale speedway that have open drag races every thursday.


socal drag tracks suck.. irwindale is the most postless place to take your car.. this is why most people street race

someone needs to open a track that is open every weekend.. i know for sure that it will be packed and keep a lot of people from street racing..

[Grenade180sx]

yeah i totally understand the guilty by association


but they werent just pulling :imports: get this..

The Irwindale PACE CAR yes the red mustang with stickers plastered all over it was there and the proceeded to let him go first... i mean that is where it gets gay really fast.

they had trucks with ladders in the lines too. anything and anyone.

but oh well shit happens then you die. so slide it up!

[going topless 240]

OH AND when they have banged up cars (eg; one headlight only working), how come we can't give them damn tickets and earn a lil money lol. Oh they are trained professionals LMAO bullshit!

Just a thought... from my understanding.... ALL cars on ANY legal roads must have all lights in working order... understand this.. if an officer has a headlight out, his car is on the road illegally.. according to the law, an officer cannot break the law in order to catch you breaking the law... there used to be laws (not sure if still enforced in some states) that if the officer was out of uniform, he could not write you a ticket... this used to include his hat.. The old trick that truckers used to play is to drive close to the officer to cause the wind from their truck to blow off his hat and thus causing the ticket null and void.. this law was changed because a few truckers got too close and hit officers... but I believe this law still holds true for their vehicles... if their vehicle is illegal.... ie. broken or non working lights (ANY), bald tires, etc.. they cannot enforce a ticket.. I've made the officer call his commanding officer once because of his attitude.. I requested his commanding officer be present because the ticket he was writing was BS.. He showed up, pulled the officer back to his car... returned to my car and apologized for the rude behavior of the officer and tore up the ticket.... being polite is always a plus, staying calm helps too.... but on the other hand, when a cop pulls you over for speeding and you were.. don't be an asshole and argue because you got caught.... apologize and admit you were... don't give some lame excuse.. now if your hand is sawed off and sitting in the seat next to you in ice, by all means use that excuse... been through many tickets.. have won about half in court just by showing up and fighting when the ticket was unjust... and paid the ones that I was wrong in.. I agree that the West Coast is way out of control with how they handle things (both extremes... too harsh and like pansies), but remember the cop is a person too.. he doesn't know who he is about to face, so he goes in as a force not to be messed with until he can assess the situation... be polite and calm, make him feel like your not gonna pull a gun on his ass and that you are a sane person... many times they will reduce the ticket right there or tell you how to get it reduced and no points.... if you have to go to court, your last impression is what he remembers... don't flip him off or burn out after - it'll end up in his report, so when your day in court arrives... he has a refresher to remember you by... try telling him you appreciate the fact that his job is tough (being shot at and possibly having to die at any moment) and have a better day... that way when you go to court and he refers back to his notes.. guess what.. he may reduce the ticket to almost nothing... just some thoughts

[bardabe]

^ harsh. some cops are just major assholes like the one you encountered. I've met up with some real chill ones. One was actually interested in everything I'd done to it and mentioned how he tracks his mr2 every month or so. he was probably going to give me a ticket for speeding, but it ended up only as a warning and a fix it ticket because I didn't have either my insurance or registration on me.yeah i actually got arround to a cop like that, ha ha but the dude was cooler he asked me for a ride. do you know how ackward it is to hear a cop Tell you to punch it on your car? :x: it was like a once in a life time kinda shit. cops are actually cool sometimes just like anything else you got the bad apple in the basket,

:begin rant: then ofcourse the state government itself being the biggest mafia in california, and the media brainwashing the elder folks that vote for the bullshit asshole leaders we got today. Reason why we got bush for another fuckin 4 years after 2004? cause most of the younger generation didn't vote. reason why we got Arnold for another 2 years? same fuckin reason, also the ignorant ppl desided to go out and vote for him because "his movies are good" (that's a fact i heard it on the mexican news i was so mad)

:end rant:

[ripnbst]

:begin rant: then ofcourse the state government itself being the biggest mafia in california, and the media brainwashing the elder folks that vote for the bullshit asshole leaders we got today. Reason why we got bush for another fuckin 4 years after 2004? cause most of the younger generation didn't vote. reason why we got Arnold for another 2 years? same fuckin reason, also the ignorant ppl desided to go out and vote for him because "his movies are good" (that's a fact i heard it on the mexican news i was so mad)

:end rant:


A fact you heard on the Mexican news about an American politician? I don't know if that could be trusted as the truth.

[raz0rbladez909]

I went to the meet back around march when i was in cali for leave, shit was nothing special at all. Some of the guys are my good friends, real chill and what not just hanging out, but i can see why the cops raided that shit because of the douchebag ricers wanting to do burnouts in the parking lots. Bad for business when you see families leaving a restaurant and some asshat is doing donuts in the parking lot

[CKAMC]

When I was visiting socal a couple weeks ago I attended two meets.

The irvine one was nice and quiet... I don't recall ever seeing a cop roll by at that one.

The super autobacs was a little more riced out, lots of loud exhaust's and a few civics doing fly by's with loud exhaust. There was only one cop that came by for a little bit and was looking for a white mustang=...

he hung out for a little while then he left. there were two bike cops across the street for a while but they just hung out and chat'd by the looks of it.

The local pizza shop in the plaza was busy as hell.

Just depends on where your at I guess, along with what your meet is known for by the cops, and by local shops.

[jackjack]

shits wack. as long as people arent doing anything stupid, they should just ask them to leave (if need be). i mean.... i'm all for theives getting their cars impounded/taken away, but everyone else? the people who go just to hang out and relax? they should be left alone. just let them leave and go about your business.

[sideview_180sx]

if I were to go to one of those i'd go eat come back with a recipt. If they haraased me I'd ask them for the C.O. to come down for harrassment. Due to wrongful judgement, I will not admit shit unless I am without a doubt guilty. Like how they had you go into the barricade, even though you were across the street. Bullshit I wouldn't pop my hood unless they had probable cause. You can say no these days. In order to check your hood, and trunk a specific warrant must be present in order for that to take place.

[Grenade180sx]

unfortunatley.. its takes literally 30 mins or less and a warrant is in front of you.

[steve shadows]

socal drag tracks suck.. irwindale is the most postless place to take your car.. this is why most people street race

someone needs to open a track that is open every weekend.. i know for sure that it will be packed and keep a lot of people from street racing..

This is why, for the most part, I just quit drag racing about 1-2 years ago.

:(

I miss it but fuck overcrowded tracks.

I get way more track time fun racey time at auto-x road races now (when I actually go)