Evo Street Racers: Enforcement News: Prime Minister pledges to tackle street racing

Drag-race watchers could be cited

Source: Valley Press
Author: BOB WILSON
Date: December 29, 2003

PALMDALE - People who congregate on streets and roadways to watch illegal drag races could be ticketed and penalized under an ordinance before the City Council.
The council already has given the new regulation the first of two required approvals.
The vote for final approval is expected to come Jan. 14.

If adopted, the ordinance would give Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies the authority to issue tickets for either infractions or misdemeanor violations, said Cesar Bertaud, the city's assistant city attorney.
Those found guilty of infractions may be fined $100 or the first offense, $200 for the second offense and $500 for the third offense, Bertaud said.

Those found guilty of misdemeanor violations may be fined up to a maximum or $1,000 or sentenced up to a maximum of one year in county jail, he said.

At some point, under another ordinance yet to be brought forward, the vehicles of spectators who gather to witness drag races might be subjected to impoundment or forfeiture, Bertaud said.

For now, and to get the ordinance on the books, the city would impose only the typical penalties available, he said.

The ordinance was considered late during the council's Dec. 10 meeting.
At the time, only a newspaper reporter and one member of the public were in attendance, and the proposal drew no public comment.

The proposal was approved 4-0 in the absence of Mayor Pro Tem Mike Dispenza.
As approved, the ordinance would make it illegal for any person to "be knowingly present as a spectator at any illegal motor-vehicle speed contest or exhibition of speed conducted on a public street or highway."

The ordinance defined a spectator as "any person who is present … for the purpose of viewing, observing, watching or witnessing the event as it progresses." A spectator would be "any person at the location of the (racing) event without regard to whether the person arrived at the event by driving a vehicle, riding as a passenger in a vehicle, walking or arriving by some other means," the proposal showed.

A person would be considered present at an illegal speed contest if he or she "is within 150 feet of the location of the event, or within 150 feet of the street or highway where preparations are being made for the event."

Preparations for an illegal speed contest included situations where people: had arrived as a group at a predetermined location to an event; were lined up on one or both sides of a street or highway to watch an event; had impeded the free public use of a street or highway by actions, words or physical barrier for the purpose of conducting an event; were in a vicinity where two or more vehicles had lined up with motors running to participate in an event.