59 busted in parking lot drag racing!!

[joebowlr21]

59 busted in parking lot drag racing
Deputies impound six vehicles
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press on Monday, June 13, 2005.
By JAMES C. LOUGHRIE
Valley Press Staff Writer



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LANCASTER - Apparently, the best venue in the Antelope Valley for drag races, drinking and vandalism is the east Lancaster Wal-Mart.
That's where deputies made 59 arrests for loitering Saturday night and impounded six vehicles that had been driven recklessly across the parking lot.

According to the Lancaster Sheriff's Station, the arrests were part of a sweep by the Lancaster Gang Enforcement Team and the California Highway Patrol.

The sweep followed weeks of video surveillance by Lancaster station personnel following complaints of reckless driving, vandalism and drinking in public.

Before deputies moved in for the arrests, a Wal-Mart employee ordered the group of hooligans to leave the parking lot, and many did not comply, according to the Sheriff's Department.

In addition to the six towed cars, two other cars were not found at the parking lot but had been videotaped driving recklessly.

The Sheriff's Department reports those vehicles will be towed at a later date. Deputies also impounded two other vehicles, one for possibly being stolen.

While this is the most recent drag racing bust in the Antelope Valley, it certainly was not the first. Palmdale and Lancaster, though not as barren as Modesto, have played host to many street races reminiscent of the movie "American Grafitti" throughout the years.

In March 2002, a Lancaster CHP team put an "Operation Anaconda"-style squeeze on the local "Fast and the Furious" wannabe crowd, rounding up 40 vehicles in a weekend street racing crackdown. The sweep took place on 110th Street East between avenues I and J.

The CHP team made at least one driving under the influence arrest, of a 16-year-old girl; impounded five vehicles, including a couple of "muscle cars"; and issued two dozen citations for various vehicle violations.

The problems associated with drag racing also led the Palmdale City Council to make anyone watching a street race subject to a citation.

The ordinance, passed in January 2004, defined a spectator as "any person who is present … for the purpose of viewing, observing, watching or witnessing the event as it progresses."

First-time offenders are eligible for a $100 fine.

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Holy crap!This is for anyone that has ever street raced in the AV area.I was rolling up to the parking lot in my buddies integra when i got a call from another buddy sayin don't stop at the lot just go across the street.Well as we are driving by you see a good 15 squad cars an lights a flashin.They blocked off the whole lot.My buddies an i went across the street to Stater bro's parkin lot an just watched.We were gettin calls that the cops were checkin under hoods for "stolen parts" and "illegal modifications".

Scared the crap out of my buddy because he almost brought out his 66 coronet that night that he just finished.The car is loud as hell an he probably would've been first on the list.

After watching for another half hour we decided to go race anyways on a street in the boonies.Suprisingly, we started the crowd at the strets for races an nobody wanted to run the cars that were with us.My buddy runs a 93 si hatch with a fully built crv bottom end with a Type R built head.Not sure what it runs but he took out a black SRT-4 that ran 11.9 at the track an got booted for no roll cage.all in all we stayed out all night watching some pretty fast cars race.

[BlackGT2000]

"the local "Fast and the Furious" wannabe crowd" That was my favorite part haha. Were these guys really causing alot of trouble or do the cops just not have anything better to do?

[joebowlr21]

Actually there were only a handful of idiot that cruise out there on sat nights.Usually the cops jsut come an tell us to leave, but because there are these idiots that drink an do burnouts in the parking lot, the cops ewre getting serious.

[BlackGT2000]

Its always a few idiots that spoil it for everyone.

[drewh4386]

Or a few idiot guys who try to mimic the moive. Like some of that shit happens in real life.

stupid dudes. Don't they know wal-mart has cameras in the parking lot?

[-The Stig-]

I say we blame it all on Wal-Mart... for having such nice parking lots to meet in.

Had they not built the store, nobody could gather there in that nice big parking lot.

Problem solved.

[GTStang]

I love how states are using their special gang-units to crack down on street racing. Not saying these guys aren't morons and deserve to be busted but how about the special gang-units deal wit serious gangs doing serious crimes then worry about the dumbass kids drinking and street racing.

And I know that some street racing clubs are almost gang like... but when they start forming drug cartels to pay for car parts then you can go for it.

[WarShrike]

Haven't seen a street racing club, but I don't live near an actual metro area so I guess that's the reason. I know of a few people that do race, but funny thing is that it's summer time and I haven't seen anything yet.

[street_racer_00]

It's all about meeting in the home depot parking lot...that means as soon as I clock out saturday night, all I have to do is get into my car and I am "the spot"...I win.

[97SLGT]

Yeah, I was there but the thing was it wasn't everybody they wanted. It was just the gang members and the idiots that did the burnouts. Because Walmart employees came and talk to these Mexican Cholos or whatever their called and ask them to leave and they didn't so thats why the cops came. And whoever did the burnouts the cops put a BIG FAT X on the windsheild, that meant they where gonna be towed away because of wreckless driving and all that other BS. OH and this is probably the dumbest thing I ever saw there was a 13 and a 14 yr old kid at the street races I mean it's 12 at night and it's all out of control. I shoulda got it on camera. Funniest thing I ever seen. And I thought street racers where suppose to have fast cars but I see these punker kids role up with their moms Hyundai Eccent.

So all I got to say is I hope your city doesn't end up like mine having all these wannabes and stupid idiots who know nothing about cars that just want to hang out with the racers.

[drdisque]

thats why we kick out idiots like that from our meeting spots. You just walk up to them and tell them to leave, they usually do.

[eps]

Hey hey hey, I take my 13 year old brother to the local street races...! Gotta start them young.

[importeater38]

Originally Posted by street_racer_00

It's all about meeting in the home depot parking lot...that means as soon as I clock out saturday night, all I have to do is get into my car and I am "the spot"...I win.

I take it you wear and orange apron daily?

[street_racer_00]

Originally Posted by importeater38

I take it you wear and orange apron daily?

Nah...just 4 to 5 days a week
Edit: And I make it look damned good too

[importeater38]

Originally Posted by street_racer_00

Nah...just 4 to 5 days a week
Edit: And I make it look damned good too

i got you beat, i put the orange on 6-7 days a week.