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Fair Or Not? California Police Raid Car Enthusiast Gathering To Generate Revenue

Agent009 submitted on 04/04/2008 Official Bell & Ross Timestamp: 3:25 PM
from: thenewspaper.com

[53] user comments | category: Misc News

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Fair Or Not? California Police Raid Car Enthusiast Gathering To Generate Revenue

Using $503,000 in federal and state gas tax revenue to pay for overtime, nine police agencies in Riverside, California sent more than one hundred police officers to surround a gathering of automotive enthusiasts. Owners of imported sport compact cars had gathered at the Canyon Crossing shopping center on Friday night to swap stories, talk about their passion for cars and show off the latest enhancements to their rides. At around 11pm police surprised participants by blocking all exits with fifty police cruisers. Officers then began a warrantless search and interrogation operation of the 150 vehicles that were present.

"If you're not into street racing, why would you need that?" Riverside Police Traffic Sergeant Skip Showalter asked an enthusiast during a similar crackdown last year. "Why would you want more power going to your car?"

Police issued a total of forty-eight tickets for "engine modifications" with police accusing the owners of the parked vehicles of being street racers. Another fifty tickets were issued for paperwork violations, dark window tinting and lack of a front license plate. The most revenue, however, will be generated from the fees imposed on twenty vehicles that were confiscated. Despite labeling the parking lot raid as taking place at a "street racing venue," Riverside Police offered no evidence that any street racing actually took place.

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xdrive_ - 4/4/2008 3:41:29 PM

-4 Boost

So many of those ricers are illegally modified (and dangerous because of it) so I have no problem with this personally. Police need to crack down on those "xenon-look-a-like" headlights and headlights that have orange, pink, and dark blue tints as well.

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ricer - 4/4/2008 4:39:44 PM

+13 Boost

I hate California. This is 1 reason why I moved out of there. Also, up and down Cali is full of loser *ss gang bangers.

EnnNorak - 4/4/2008 10:39:08 PM

+9 Boost

Another example of the government declaring war on motorists. Where are the cops when little old ladies get mugged on the street? Bad PR -- the cops just made a bunch of enemies.

0to60 - 4/5/2008 8:21:03 AM

+6 Boost

EnnNorak, their hiding behind bushes waitiing for someone to speed by them 5 miles over the speed limit so that they can write them a ticket.

germanautoaddict - 4/9/2008 8:24:46 AM

+1 Boost

Have you ever noticed that at the end of the month cops are out in full force. They have to meet their quota for that month. Looks like in this situation they can sit around and eat donuts for the rest of the month.

carguy68 - 4/4/2008 3:50:00 PM

-12 Boost

Sure like if they only go to share stories!! they should crush all those rice cars.

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Carboy - 4/4/2008 3:51:41 PMView My AgentSpace

+17 Boost

I'm not a ricer fan, but that is completely unfair! Just because they are modified doesn't mean they are for racing. That's likes saying you got an M5 for F1.

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vladyxa - 4/4/2008 3:54:26 PM

-1 Boost

How this people come up with such unrealistical numbers like $503,000 in overtime pay?
Unless two-three thousand officers were involved in this action, simple math will prove this number wrong.

As for tickets, same as with many other "illegal" things - if the modification is illegal, expect it to cost you. I have nothing against these modifications, all I'm saying is that they might come with the price of ownership.

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KillBot - 4/4/2008 3:59:03 PM

+11 Boost

This is pure and utter crap, they'd never in a million years try that in WE-HO or Beverly Hills. All that money and time spent, and for what? Window tinting and engine moding tickets. Talk about a total waste of tax money. Go stop a real criminal, and not some people showing off their pride and joy. It's like if you make 100k or more it's ok, but if you look like an extra from the Fast & Furious they'll write you every ticket in the book. It's totally unfair and biased. Laws like these do nothing but keep the rift there, between true car enthusiasts and tools who have too much money, and buy cars that they're not even qualified to drive.

Killbot

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Agent009 - 4/4/2008 4:28:01 PMView My AgentSpace

+18 Boost

I would call it profiling:

Taking a group of people and "assuming" they are up to no good simply based on their affinity to custom cars.

What is next, raiding a 50's car show at a Sonic?

KillBot - 4/4/2008 5:28:26 PM

+8 Boost

009 I couldn't agree with you more. I wonder how many people in government position or positions of power, own hot/street rods. Imagine what would happen if this weekend the police impounded everyone of them. The proverbial $h!t would hit the fan.

Need4Speed - 4/4/2008 6:06:36 PM

+7 Boost

If this were a club sponsored event this probably would never have happened because of the possiblity of a class action lawsuit against the city for what is a typical example Law Enforcement profiling. Most people know this but few are willing to fight against it. Those people who got tickets should fight them on principal even if they were wrong...and some lawyer should see opportunity here...that is unless profiling is legal in CA....which it probably is.

TheBoss - 4/4/2008 7:30:39 PM

+4 Boost

This is all about race wether people want to admit it or not. There was never much of a problem with car enthusiasts until the asian kids got involve with their asian cars in the 90s. The muscle car guys did more damage and street racing than todays diverse car enthusiasts ever do. This type of crack down wouldn't happen at Sonic or at a 50s meet cause it's mostly white enthusiasts. Notice just about all the cops involved are white cops and whites are a minority in cali.

It's all about letting people know who's in charge of america.

w209w114 - 4/4/2008 4:17:41 PMView My AgentSpace

+16 Boost

Let me start off by saying that Im not a fan of the modified/aftermarket car scene. Totally unfair and just plain wrong. You cant be ticketed just for driving an M3 or an AMG or even less for having it parked.

How would you feel if a police officer just came up to you as you were sitting in a parkinglot searched your car and ticket you because your car had performance enhancements.

Plenty of people here have no problem with it because they werenot the ones who felt violated, but in my book this doesnt seem right, at all.

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kablaam - 4/4/2008 9:02:37 PM

-8 Boost

They weren't ticketed for performance modifications, they were ticketed for ILLEGAL performance modifications.

1970toyotamarc - 4/4/2008 4:18:18 PM

+3 Boost

Having too many times been on the other side of the window from CHP and other local police, (101mph on the I-5 between SFO and LA is perfectly safe, officer!) I can feel for these kids. However, I wouldnt mind hearing this story from a more balanced source.

example... "surround a gathering of automotive enthusiasts." Others might say to break up an illegal, dangerous street race. just sayin..... Does that make me seem old?

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Agent009 - 4/4/2008 4:29:12 PMView My AgentSpace

+9 Boost

If there was street racing it should be mentioned and busted.

1970toyotamarc - 4/4/2008 5:13:23 PM

+1 Boost

yes, and if it was just a "gathering," the agencies will be in a heap of trouble. But it is really hard to tell from that article what was really going on. For instance, the article says that vehicles were searched without warrants. technically that is legal, if there is probable cause. Is an oversized wing probable cause? But if the cars are lined up on either side of a quarter mile stretch, might that be probable cause? I doubt we'll ever find out the results of this.

JWalkerLegrande - 4/7/2008 5:47:58 AM

+1 Boost

Let me do the math, 101 mph is roughly 165 km/h, hmm, that IS perfectly safe speed on a highway driving today's vehicles. Bear in mind, Italian speen limit is 150 km/h +10%, Austria 160 km/h, Germany prudent and reasonable (where not limited to 130 km/h)...

Porschinator - 4/4/2008 4:22:10 PM

+4 Boost

This is BS. I guess people have to schedule different locations to meet. Yes some people do deserve tickets for absurd $h1t but it is jacked up that Police make it easy on themselves by raiding a meet instead of pulling them over on the roads.

Yes..take action if they are actually racing or knowledge of illegal activities taking place. I doubt the city actually made up the cost of the raid anyways...lol.

Pisses me off...

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bigmotov - 4/4/2008 4:29:55 PM

+3 Boost

It might not be fair, but I'm sure what they did was "legal". I still smell a lawsuit coming. I agree with KillBot...take care of the real criminals!

You can get pulled over and ticketed for pretty much anything they want these days.

I'm sure there are gatherings for Hot Rods, classics...etc, but I doubt you'll see 100 cops at those gatherings.

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Htay7500 - 4/4/2008 4:59:34 PM

+2 Boost

if they're actually racing, action should be taken. but in a gathering boggles me. there are gatherings here some 3-5 miles from here with all kinds of cars. but if your car has those ugly altezza lights and a huge wing (on some regular car) and a distasteful body kit, yuck. I saw a corolla in these gatherings and laughed my a$$ off.

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gooch - 4/4/2008 5:16:07 PM

+5 Boost

Unless they were actually racing, there should have been no police involvement other than monitoring the situation.
To pull up to a gathering and just pass out tickets like candy is ridiculous. How about going to Long Beach and stopping some of the illegal drugs from being brought into the country?
It seems some of you are forgetting that you were once young and apt to do things young men do -- one of which is to modify their ride. You may not like how they mod their rides, but it's going to happen. It happened in the 1950s, the 1980s, to now, and it will in the future. Get over yourselves.
I'm all for a cop stopping anyone who is driving stupidly or has illegal mods ON THE STREET. But if the car isn't moving, leave it alone.

reply to this comment

answer - 4/4/2008 5:19:29 PM

+7 Boost

I think all those fast and furious cars are silly. But if the modifications are not in violation of existing law, what's the problem?

You can't bust someone for possibly street racing in the near future.

What is this "Minority Report"?

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VISO - 4/4/2008 6:01:18 PM

+6 Boost

California is known for this. Santa Barbara Police did the same thing in 2004 at a European gathering of automotive enthusiasts. The organization rented the Santa Barbara fairgrounds for the gathering with all types of aftermarket sponsors. The fairgrounds is like a fish bowl with exits going out of it onto two main streets. The cops were waiting for the event to end and started ticketing as soon as one drove out for tinted windows, no front license plates, etc. Definitely a set-up.

reply to this comment

ZBL1414 - 4/4/2008 7:18:53 PM

-8 Boost

1. For everyone yelling about profiling- profiling based on the type of car someone drives is not the same as profiling based on their race, religion, etc. Sorry, this was perfectly legal.

2. It should be pointed out, no one was ticketed for gathering. They were ticketed for illegal modifications so enough of the ... "we can't even get together and share our automotive passion any more" complaints.

3. There is no rich/poor distinction going on here. If a billionaire with an illegally modified Rolls Royce was there he would be ticketed. It's not the police's fault that this income demographic happens to gather in large numbers and make it very easy for the police to write a lot of tickets in a short amount of time. The lesson is, if you are going to engage in illegal activities maybe you should keep a lower profile.

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gooch - 4/7/2008 10:38:19 AM

+1 Boost

What was illegal about their activity? Your post doesn't make sense. If they have illegal stuff on their car and it is PARKED, there is nothing the cops can -- or should -- do. The cops don't know if the car is trailers or towed. However, if the car with illegal mods moves under its own power on the street, sure, go ahead and write 'em up.
But really, this entire "let's bust the ricers" thing with Cali police agencies does smack of Minority Report.

gooch - 4/7/2008 10:39:15 AM

+1 Boost

"trailered" not trailers

BigShow50 - 4/4/2008 7:25:57 PM

+3 Boost

So it took about half-a-million dollars for the the toy cop pigs to even give a crap and start shit up before it even happens...interesting to know we have more idiots in this world today, when we already thought we had enough...LMAO!!!

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kablaam - 4/4/2008 9:03:54 PM

+3 Boost

Huh?

TheBoss - 4/4/2008 7:35:12 PM

+4 Boost

Last year I threw a car show open to the public and they sent undercover gang task strike force to check up on my customer(most were asians). This is on top of me paying 4 off duty cops as security for the event already. They said the undercover pigs were free of charge.

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Hwany - 4/4/2008 7:49:19 PM

+8 Boost

I hate cops. They have too much free time caring about "traffic violations". They should be out there protecting us, not sneaking around trying to find us "guilty"

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kablaam - 4/4/2008 9:06:03 PM

-5 Boost

Many "real criminals" have been caught by them caring about "traffic violations". I won't even waste my time rattling off the names, google it.

cdoke - 4/4/2008 8:03:38 PMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

I am not so sure this is legal. I am no lawyer, but I did have a friend whose grandfather owned a large number of grocery stores that he is due to inherit.

I remember quite distinctly him telling me that the police could not legally enter their parking lot even if there had been an accident, without some special qualification. I believe they had to acquire permission from his grandfather to enter it.

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brmq - 4/4/2008 8:16:53 PM

+5 Boost

I have one question. Why? Why if they are just gathering in a parking lot, Why bother them? Because they are young and you think they are up to no good? I didn't read that these people had warrent or Drugs? All this will do is make more people hate the police. I'm in a Subaru Legacy club and we have meets all the time and even Midnight meets and get around 20 to 30 cars there. They don't bother us because we are all 30's, 40's and up, home owners and don't fit the "young punk" profile. We don't have flames and lighting bolts all over our cars and are more low key. Hot rodding has been around for a long time and this is just dumb. There is alot of crime in that area and the Police time could have been better spent on real crimes. Did the lot owner call the cops?

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Htay7500 - 4/4/2008 9:40:01 PM

+3 Boost

yeah legacy clubs!!!

toolatetorace - 4/4/2008 10:47:44 PM

+3 Boost

One easy way to not get picked on is to do the gathering without getting picked on is the same way that everybody else in this country does . Get the community involved and donate a share of the proceeds to some local charitible orginization . This is the way a local church picnic with a handfull of carswould do it all the way to the Barrett Jackson Auto Auction .Both of these and all the ones in between make the first step by checking in with the Town Chairman or Mayor and state when they would like to have the eventand where . Another option would be to have it at a local outdoor arena where there would be some to degree of supervision rather than have eveyone set the rules themselves

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Htay7500 - 4/5/2008 1:07:59 PM

0 Boost

when your in a gathering, just don't be an a$$ and act all tough, etc. you'll lure trouble in and spoil it for others.

fuelfool - 4/5/2008 2:45:00 AM

+9 Boost

So if one of the attendees tried to exit, but was blocked from leaving by police with no cause to detain him, this is legal? Wow. As a native Southern Californian, I have seen first hand how rude, thuggish and obnoxious all the many gangsters and wannabe gangsters can be. I have also seen how rude, thuggish and obnoxious the cops here can be. I have seen first hand how they lie in police reports in order to rack up charges so they can pressure the "criminal" into an expedient plea bargain. In my neighborhood in Orange County, no one consistently breaks more traffic laws than police officers. And I'm not talking about when they're actually chasing someone. The police action in this article is an absolute abuse of tax payer money and should be investigated.

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Bored - 4/5/2008 4:45:02 AM

+2 Boost

What a waste of taxpayers' money!
I like to know in the amount time and resources wasted on something like this, how many acts of true criminal activity happened elsewhere -- more important places for 100 cops or squad cars should be.

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TauronB2G - 4/5/2008 12:23:43 PM

+3 Boost

This has to be illegal. There is definitely profiling going on. How can you give me a ticket for a parked car?
T

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vladyxa - 4/5/2008 12:32:13 PM

+1 Boost

I see many people say "waste of taxpayers' money", but did anyone think that this whole story is a BS, or not exactly true?

After reading about $503K spent on this raid, which cannot be possible even remotely true, I would not be surprised if whole story is bogus. Anyone has links to more reputable, news agency perhaps, course. At least 50 police cruisers blocking exits - this gathering would surely attract attention of some news crews.

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TheBoss - 4/5/2008 2:37:29 PM

+1 Boost

This story ain't bogus, this kind of pig corruption happens every weekend where I troll.

Lyall - 4/5/2008 6:53:44 PM

+1 Boost

SoCal Cop asks-'Why would you need more power to the car?" By this yardstick, anybody driving a 911 Turbo, Nissan GTR, Bugatti, Ferrari, Lambo, Aston, M5, AMG or any one of 50 dozen HIgh BHP cars should be pulled over without any cause what soever. 'Sir- may I ask why you feel the need to drive a 516Bhp Mercedes E63AMG?"
The SoCal cops may actually be WORSE than the gang bangers.

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sold2early - 4/5/2008 6:56:53 PM

0 Boost

Note to modified car owners in California: If you plan to attend a gathering like this one, don't forget to glue some razor blades to your hood release latch in case one of those mongoloids decides to unlawfully enter your car to do an engine inspection.

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adamsaf723 - 4/5/2008 9:58:52 PM

+1 Boost

Are they even given the right to petition this?

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tattedtwice - 4/6/2008 5:40:37 AM

-2 Boost

Im kinda conflicted; while I hate police, I hate ricers MUCH more. I think this is funny as hell and hope cops across the country follow suit. Maybe eventually we'll have peace and quiet thanks to no fart cans, and less eyesores caused by stickers and rice kits.

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TheBoss - 4/7/2008 8:12:26 PM

+1 Boost

Ricers don't rob you, Pigs do, Rethink!!

fatboi - 4/6/2008 2:28:30 PM

-1 Boost

those " VIN DIESEL'S " should visit jail for couple of days and do some community service afterwards.

reply to this comment

993Turbo - 4/7/2008 7:43:42 AM

+1 Boost

What do you expect from California out on the left coast?

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SS21CA - 4/7/2008 2:43:15 PM

+1 Boost

Unless these guys were causing problems I don't see how this was warranted. So nine agencies decided finding real criminals that terrorize our communities was too hard, so they decided to take the "shooting a fish in the barrel" route.

I really hope some good lawyers get involved, and I love the quote from the one douchebag. "If you're not into street racing, why would you need that?". Lets just generalize every automotive enthusiast who likes modifying their vehicle from anything as simple as a set of wheels to an FI kit as a "street racer".

It is unfortunate that the police and a lot of naive politicians are focusing their efforts to taking away our civil liberties.

reply to this comment

fatboi - 4/7/2008 5:35:48 PM

+1 Boost

I think that i have been - 1 Boost by VIN DIESEL himself!

those people are gathering after midnight and start making dountas and revving thier v4 engines and disturb drugs to innocent teenagers and and shout about crazy things like FIGHT THE SYSTEM and stuff like that.
its a good thing that police is aware of thier illegal activities.

reply to this comment

mercuryguy - 4/10/2008 4:21:00 PM

+1 Boost

This is big brother cracking down. We have the same thing in New York State with DWI.
Treat yourself to a nice dinner on a Friday evening and have a glass of wine with your meal, and your whole world might likely be flipped upside down. In this state they block the roads and interrogate drivers like the KGB. They shine a light in your face and scare your kids in the backseat. They have a zero tolerance policy. So if you made the terrible mistake of relaxing with a beverage after a long day of work, you may lose it all now, especially if you drive your car for sales work. No car=no job=bankruptcy.
They have a racquet going on for DWI. 1st you need to get someone to drive you downtown, since your license is suspended, then they put you on an ongoing schedule of expensive appearances. You need to pay the clerk, the parole officer, the lawyers, the shrink you are required to see on a regular basis (Cash only as health insurance doesn’t cover it) Then comes the wallop to the car insurance already at record levels compared to other states. Add this to the $3,000 in Sales tax for the car, the gasoline tax, road tolls, Costly Registration, Inspection, another state Racquet.
I would prefer to walk down to the train station and take the train to the restaurant to avoid all this. There is only one problem; there is NO TRAIN, and no train station. General Motors fixed that with their iron-fist decision to remove trains from cities and have people drive cars instead. Of course if you take a train through this city you might get mugged or shot, because the cops are busy in the suburbs setting up more road blocks.

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