Posted on 06/20/2007 8:31:15 PM PDT by Ready4Freddy
Nick Ut / AP
Manuel Hernandez reacts after his car
and other impounded vehicles were crushed
at Ecology Auto Parts in Rialto, Calif., on Wednesday.
Southern California authorities crack down on illegal hot rods, street racing
RIALTO, Calif. - Charles Hoang winced when the whoosh went out of the tires. Daniel Maldonado took pictures with a digital camera as glass exploded and rained down to the ground.
The cars the teens had so meticulously souped up and tricked out were crushed Wednesday as part of a crackdown on illegal street racing in Southern California.
"That's my heart, my dream," said Hoang, 18, of Chino, who was surrounded by friends as his 1998 Acura Integra was put into a compactor. "That's my girlfriend, the love of my life. The cops can crush my car, but they can't crush my memories."
Authorities destroyed six vehicles Wednesday at an auto graveyard, hoping would-be racers think again after looking at the mashed machines. Illegal street racing is responsible for or suspected in 13 deaths in Southern California since March.
The thrill-seeking, adrenaline-pumping activity is rampant in Riverside and San Bernardino counties east of Los Angeles where rows of tract homes line wide streets that attract racers.
Nearly 1,000 people drivers and spectators have been arrested for investigation of street racing activities over the past two years in San Bernardino County alone. Police need a court order to destroy the cars. They must prove that the serial or identification numbers on a vehicle or its parts are removed, altered or destroyed.
Police said they have managed to reduce illegal racing and related fatal collisions, but know the underground hobby still thrives.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
“What next, burn down your home because you advocate conservatism?”
Amen. If they can’t or won’t enforce the law, then the answer is not seizing private property. This is the heavy hand of government doing EXACTLY what our founding fathers fought against.
It’s a shame that too many folks don’t see this for the tyranny that it is.
Please ignore last post, I see ID’d later post as 260z.
“I am no stranger to laying power down”
And neither is the government in this case.
“They have a lot more smashing to do if you ask me.”
You are absolutely and completely wrong on this. Think of it this way, what if the government smashed your ‘vette because you exceeded the speed limit one too many times.
Why would you think it couldn’t happen?
“It says illegal and as far as I am concerned if they are convicted they lost all rights to the ride.”
Nobody says the individuals should not be punished - put them in jail, fine them, whatever. It is the seizure and destruction of private property that is the problem - and it’s a constitutional problem when government is allowed to seize and destroy property.
Every citizen very likely breaks some law somehow every day. Maybe the government wants something that you have.
Did you make it to Bonneville in 1954? I'll never forget the Chrisman Brothers "32 coupe" with the De Soto Hemi in the back that turned 193 mph at 7500 rpm. Sounded like a giant buzz saw cutting a big groove down the salt.
Asset siezure is a tried and true law enforcement measure, held up as Constitutional by the courts since its inception as a weapon in the Drug War. Not only has that horse left the barn, but its l-o-n-g gone.
Aren’t these people and their cars in violation of the new Vatican commandments regarding cars and driving?
“Not only has that horse left the barn, but its l-o-n-g gone.”
Unfortunately you are correct. But I hate to see people celebrating that fact because the seizure is over their particular pet peeve.
Didn't that make it awfully heavy - even if rust-proof?
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Amendment VIII
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
You along with many others on this thread seem to have forgotten this frequently overlooked little bit of historical trivia
I would change a couple of words in the above from "law enforcement measure" to "revenue expansion measure" and then I'd agree with it.
Yeah, the cops up here (in Toronto) are talking the same crap - if you’re “preparing” to race and your car has been “souped up” for racing, they might seize it and crush it. I say if there are equipment violations, ticket them - for every violation and as often as they can - I don’t have a problem with that. If they’re caught while involved in racing, charge them with that. If they cause accidents resulting in property damage, injury or death while racing, charge them with that. But, as far as I know, as a general rule it still isn’t illegal to soup up your car. If that’s going to be the law, I better start seeing them scooping up hopped up Mustangs and other American iron, too - and by the way, I don’t particularly enjoy the sound of a V8 with a loud exhaust any more than ricers with coffee can exhausts.
Total agreement there. I don’t car if it’s super-loud subwoofers, coffee-can exhausts, Flowmasters, or straight pipes on a cruiser, among other things, I too would like to see something done about the racket all these idiots make.
On an open road, you’ll see me fading away into the distance...
Still I despise this type of taking by the Government.
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