New tactics paying off for CHP in fight against street racers
| Monday, Jul 27 2009 04:45 PM
Last Updated Monday, Jul 27 2009 04:45 PM
Rural street racing in Kern County used to be more organized than the cops. The California Highway Patrol is changing that.
No longer is the CHP sending one or two patrol cars to combat what could be hundreds of people roaring their engines and screeching their tires on farm roads.
Now the agency is sending out every available officer to reports of street racing. It has paid off with more than a couple hundred citations at two events.
The CHP calls its tool a "Street Racing Task Force."
That means when a citizen reports a street racing event, an on-duty sergeant assigns as many officers as he can to crack down on it, Officer Robert Rodriguez said.
The first task force of 11 officers and a sheriff's helicopter went out July 18 to Zerker Road north of Bakersfield and cited 43 for aiding and abetting an illegal street race.
The second was on Saturday when 16 officers blocked exits on Garces Highway west of Highway 43 to round up 163 people for the same crime.
Those cited ranged in age from 13 to 26. Officers estimated up to 300 people were present, including racers and vehicles and pedestrians lining the shoulders.
Compare that to a CHP crackdown in September where only one patrol car was dispatched and the officers were able to cite only two people.
"If you send one car, they (street racers) will just flee," Rodriguez said. "It's like chasing a bunch of cockroaches when you turn on the light."
He noted the street racers are very organized. Saturday's event was planned weeks in advance and participants came from as far away as San Diego.
