Nick Ut / AP 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 ...
Back in the 50s and 60’s we were 1/4 mile maniacs but knew the rules and didn’t play in traffic.
Today’s clowns play the road rally game and ignore the traffic. Big difference.
Keep crushin’! :-)
Just like taking the cars of 'johns'.
And, if someone decides you have an ILLEGAL shed on your property, will you agree to your home being destroyed?
Why stop at ILLEGAL Street Racing, which has pretty much always been ILLEGAL, why not speeders, DUI’s, red light and stop sign runners. Why not call for their cars being crushed as well?
No, you shouldn’t feel sad for these kids, throw the book at them. What you should feel is that this is another getting the foot into the door move like they have done with tobacco, to deny property rights to people.
Does it even occur to any of you that the kids just go get another car? In the meantime, government has won the privilege of taking personal property and destroying it.
Are you serious , is the question ? I take it that you support nanny state property confiscation ? I’m sure there is a monetary incentive behind this , which in turn would make it rife with abuse.
What’s next , you speed, an officer says you were racing, and goodbye car ?
It appears you have faith in the confiscators to do the right thing .
Are they confiscating vehicles for DUI in this same area ?
Now using your gun control logic , since you say they are criminals, I guess they will always get their hands on a car and modify it and race it, now won’t they ? License or not .
Criminals can always get guns , and they can always get cars regardless of the law .
Penalties are the correct approach to make sure innocent people , or speeders, don’t get caught up in this mess .
Very, very nice work.
Work on my Impala is proceeding...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1767228/posts
There’s a local guy who does some restoration work, he kept telling me “I’d gut it”.
I kept tellin him “Ain’t gonna happen, dude”
Well, maybe 450-470HP
She is a Beauty
We'll bring any car back to life!
And it ain't just cars. I know a guy who runs sound system for rock and roll concerts. Hispanic groups are known for stacking their speakers 10-20 feet high.
I saw a few of these rice grinders back when I lived in Nevada —and some here in Idaho, although it’s not as common—and from what I have heard they pass emissions tests.
Wow—Suuuhhweeet!
i cant beleive this is the fr i joined 7-8 years ago who took this place over the left coasters?
“...meanwhile the Harley running open pipes...”
Do you mind? Let’s leave my Harley out of this.
The only way to fly.
(BTW 12.54 @ 117 mph.)
Not a good analogy as an illegal shed won't kill someone at 60 mph plus.
Isn’t that the truth! These ridiculous modified 4s are a far cry from the muscle/pony cars of our day.
Any car wil at say 35mph. Destroying anothers property for doing so just on that fact (dangerous) is unjustified.
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