bwahaha, Civics are 0wn3d!

[jandree22]

I can make out 3 Civics, a Teg, and a nasty-ass beer gut (owned)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19339955/

Street racers souped-up cars crushed
Southern California authorities crack down on illegal hot rods, street racing

Nick Ut / AP
Updated: 10:12 p.m. ET June 20, 2007
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.

"We are making a dent," said Ontario police Cpl. Jeff Higbee. "But it's summertime and ... we expect to see more activity."

350-horsepower engine
Hoang said he was caught late last year racing his prized car, on which he spent at least $10,000 to get into top shape. The 350-horsepower engine topped out at 160 mph, Hoang said, swearing it could beat a Corvette or even a Ferrari.

When police popped open the hood, Hoang said, they found a stolen transmission. Hoang flashed a receipt for the transmission he bought from his father who runs an auto shop and doubted the item was hot.

"Everything on that car was practically brand new," Hoang said as he watched his car get moved to auto death row. "They should take out the stuff that matters, auction it off, and give the money to charity."

Because racers put heavy stress on their vehicles, they often burn out or blow up parts. Higbee said the need for the expensive parts has created a "theft mill" where additional cars usually Hondas or Acuras are stolen and stripped of the necessary replacements.

Most of the cars police examine are illegally modified. Sergio Zavala, 18, was pulled over in his 1993 yellow Honda Civic for a broken tail light in December. He had purchased a B-20 Vtech engine with a double-overhead cam a couple months before, and after a police investigation, was told it was stolen.

Zavala, who admits he has been involved in street racing, estimates he and his mother spent about $10,000 on improvements to his car.

'Where all my time and money went'
After watching his Civic demolished, Zavala is left without a car as he plans to attend a fire academy in the fall.

"It's heartbreaking to see this," said Zavala, who graduated from high school last year. "This is where all my time and money went."

Maldonado also said he put plenty of time and effort working on his 1992 black Honda Civic. He was stopped in November by police in what Higbee described as an area where racers gather.

The 18-year-old mechanic said a vehicle identification sticker apparently fell off and without it, police suspected some of the parts were stolen. Maldonado stood several feet away from his car as it was pounded into a heap of metal.

Maldonado said he has taken the advice of police by racing legally on one of several race courses around Southern California. For the money spent in fines and other penalties on average about $5,000 for illegally modified cars Higbee said street racers could compete about 250 times a year at a legitimate track.

"If you have to race, take it to a legal venue," Higbee said. "But as long as they keep racing illegally, we keep crushing their cars."

All three men who saw their vehicles destroyed said they believe illegal street racing will continue to prosper across the region.

"It will never go away," Maldonado said. "If it's in your heart, you will continue to do it until you can't anymore."

 

[fkmp5]

The 18-year-old mechanic said a vehicle identification sticker apparently fell off

yeah, okay.

 

[genericuser]

Zavala, who admits he has been involved in street racing, estimates he and his mother spent about $10,000 on improvements to his car.

His mother needs to be crushed with the car. I'd never fund my kid's car modifications, especially if they are street racing.

Here's a good idea.. How about giving junior that 10 grand to move out of the house.

 

[nvmsp]

Most honda parts are stolen. Thats why I wouldn't want one. You make the car all nice and then someone steals it and it's so easy to do it.

I personally know people who do it and I'm sure many others do too.

I have to disagree with crushing the cars though. Such a waste. I hope they paid those kids or parents, that s*** aint right. Sucks to live in Cali apparently.

 

[Foolish]

I have to disagree with crushing the cars though. Such a waste. I hope they paid those kids or parents, that s*** aint right. Sucks to live in Cali apparently.

Hell no, they don't pay them for the cars! The cars are crushed as part of their punishment for street racing! Buying your car from you is not a punishment!

Personally, I'm torn on the crushing thing. On hand, it seems like it could be a fairly effective old-fashioned cutting off the hand of a thief-kind of punishment. Since I deplore street racing, I'm all for severe punishment.

On the other hand, I'm a car guy, so it seems like a shame to destroy a good car. I'm also a car-modifying guy, so I kind of hate to hear about a car that someone's put a lot of time and effort into being destroyed.

Finally, I suspect that this could possibly lead to more street racers trying to escape the police, so that they don't get their cars crushed. Let's face it, street racers aren't known for making good decisions.

 

[Mr. Win]

Hell no, they don't pay them for the cars! The cars are crushed as part of their punishment for street racing! Buying your car from you is not a punishment!

Personally, I'm torn on the crushing thing. On hand, it seems like it could be a fairly effective old-fashioned cutting off the hand of a thief-kind of punishment. Since I deplore street racing, I'm all for severe punishment.

On the other hand, I'm a car guy, so it seems like a shame to destroy a good car. I'm also a car-modifying guy, so I kind of hate to hear about a car that someone's put a lot of time and effort into being destroyed.

Finally, I suspect that this could possibly lead to more street racers trying to escape the police, so that they don't get their cars crushed. Let's face it, street racers aren't known for making good decisions.

I felt the same way. Seriously that's a hell of a fine and by this token they should do the same for DUI then.

 

[thewrench]

I have a problem with the government seizing private property, especially property not received as a result of "ill-gotten gains". Fine 'em, put 'em in jail, take away their licenses for a LONG time, whatever, but seizing rightfully owned property seems to be against the constitution. Now if they are stolen cars or won thru bets on said racing, well that's possibly different. We aren't talking drugs or drug money here, cars ARE legal to own in the US.

 

[crashkelly]

I have a problem with the government seizing private property, especially property not received as a result of "ill-gotten gains". Fine 'em, put 'em in jail, take away their licenses for a LONG time, whatever, but seizing rightfully owned property seems to be against the constitution. Now if they are stolen cars or won thru bets on said racing, well that's possibly different. We aren't talking drugs or drug money here, cars ARE legal to own in the US.

i think part of the point was that all these guys had stolen parts and in one case the vin wasnt even present...im sure there is a little more too it...i mean they made these kids seem like they were ok but they still had stolen parts and a lot of people also commit insurance fraud to get upgraded parts...which is why we all pay a buttload for it...

but i totally agree with your point about seizing private property...as long as it is all legal...definately should fine or jail someone... but to fine them and then take their property and destroy it...i do not like...you should pay your debt to society with money or time served not property

 

[kickniteasy]

The 350-horsepower engine

is this believable? I'd call BS.


anyway, back on topic. I don't agree with crushing cars for street racing, seems much too extreme. Somebody already said my main point, so what about the exessive speeders and DUI people? Why do they get to keep their cars but street racers have their property crushed. It almost seems like they're bullying these kids because they can, what are a bunch of 18-24 year olds going to do. When a 40-year-old lawyer gets pulled over for being plastered though, his benz stays in one piece. I don't advocate street racing AT ALL, and I recognize it's a problem that needs fixing....but there are a ton of other problems (see also: drinking and driving) that have been around MUCH longer and caused many more deaths that haven't had this extreme a penalty imposed.

 

[thewrench]

i think part of the point was that all these guys had stolen parts and in one case the vin wasnt even present...im sure there is a little more too it...i mean they made these kids seem like they were ok but they still had stolen parts and a lot of people also commit insurance fraud to get upgraded parts...which is why we all pay a buttload for it...

Well, I'll admit I didn't read the whole article carefully, have now. If they are stolen parts or cars, then the state can feel free to seize them as evidence and dispose of them how it sees fit. But the article doesn't say that the "owners" were tried and convicted of having or receiving stolen property. Rather it seems the police wanted to make an example for street racers, and having an "illegally modified" car does not, to me, constitute any grounds for the state to seize property. Force the owner to remove the mods, yes, seize and destroy the vehicle, no. And btw, I think the kids are idiots, but at least so far, that's not a crime.....yet.

 

[Foolish]

You know, it's not going to solve the problem either, unless the street racers are in the cars when they're crushed......it would help if it were televised.

 

[crashkelly]

is this believable? I'd call BS.


anyway, back on topic. I don't agree with crushing cars for street racing, seems much too extreme. Somebody already said my main point, so what about the exessive speeders and DUI people? Why do they get to keep their cars but street racers have their property crushed. It almost seems like they're bullying these kids because they can, what are a bunch of 18-24 year olds going to do. When a 40-year-old lawyer gets pulled over for being plastered though, his benz stays in one piece. I don't advocate street racing AT ALL, and I recognize it's a problem that needs fixing....but there are a ton of other problems (see also: drinking and driving) that have been around MUCH longer and caused many more deaths that haven't had this extreme a penalty imposed.

+1 ! its all about who has the power right

 

[crashkelly]

You know, it's not going to solve the problem either, unless the street racers are in the cars when they're crushed......it would help if it were televised.

taking their licenses would be the first step...and then if they get caught again in the future after their suspension they should do kinda what they do with drunks...ya know how they put the breath-a-lizer in the car...well they should install a rice-a-lizer in their car...making it impossible to go over the highest posted speed limit in their area

 

[pluto316]

If they know their car is going to be crushed they are going to be that much more likely to run, which is even worse.

is this believable? I'd call BS.

I've seen 300hp stock-block SOHC Civics before.

 

[kickniteasy]

I've seen 300hp stock-block SOHC Civics before.

 

[Sveivo]

I've seen 300hp stock-block SOHC Civics before.

N/A? Holy crap.

 

[Knox Joe]

I felt the same way. Seriously that's a hell of a fine and by this token they should do the same for DUI then.

+1

I think DUI should have much more harsh penalites than street racing. They allready put egg on their face by releasing the number of deaths from street racing. DUI kills many, many, many, many more every day than street racing does in a year.

If it were me getting my car crushed, my companies lawyers and attorneys would be all over the State.

 

[wannabe]

they should give these street racers the option to pay like 5-10,000 to get the car out of inpound...at least make some money off the suckas..

 

[genericuser]

they should give these street racers the option to pay like 5-10,000 to get the car out of inpound...at least make some money off the suckas..

this is probably a better solution than crushing them.

 

[DeanSweet]

put them up for auction so the owner (his mom for example?) has a chance of getting the car back and the state of Ca makes some money?

Just seems a bit harsh.