Kalifornia again(Sorry Jamo)

[Cobrabill]

SIEG HEIL!!!


4/2/2008
California: Police Raid Car Enthusiast Gathering, Generate Revenue
Police raid Riverside, California parking lot to issue modified car tickets at local car enthusiast gathering.

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.

Across the state, gas tax funds are regularly used to fund similar crackdowns that generate big revenue. In 2004, the California Highway Patrol issued a total of 101,553 "modified car" citations worth $10.5 million according to CHP data obtained by TheNewspaper.

Other law enforcement agencies participating in Friday night's raid included the California Highway Patrol, Riverside County Sheriff's Department, and police from Baldwin Park, Fontana, Irwindale, Moreno Valley, Ontario and Mount San Jacinto Community College.

Link:


http://thenewspaper.com/news/23/2302.asp

[AMF]

God bless law enforcement, you can't fault them for it.

It's our current system of laws.

It doesn't bring in any revenue to catch a rapist, or a child molestor, or a drug dealer.

It MAY prevent future expenditures to catch a serial killer.

But the bottom line is that with all the terrible crimes committed and all the criminals running around loose, it pays more to write tickets and citations than it does to actually try to focus on what's important.

There's no doubt that street racing is a serious issue. But window tint? Gimme a break. Just like noise ordnances, license plate infractions....all that crap.

Now don't get me wrong, breaking the law is breaking the law. But aren't there more important things out there that all these resources could be utilized toward?

Oh wait, that other stuff doesn't make any money.

[Joe Wicked]

AMF,
While I get what you are saying and to a point I agree, but the problem with that is when you make it acceptable to break some laws, because they are not as bad as others, then that becomes the norm, now the next level is tested and when it becomes acceptable, it just keeps going downhill. The right way is to get the law changed, as long and hard as that road is.

As far as this crap goes, I think it is complete BS to be able to target a group that is gathering and label it as street racing. If anyone is racing, then fine nail them to the wall, but a gathering in a parking lot is not racing.

[Ron61]

Bill,

You don't need to apologize to anyone in this state. I just read in the paper this morning that they are considering turning loose many of the violent criminals they have in prison now as that will save the state $400 million. What crap, when they are $14 Billion in the hole. Same in this are with the seat belt tickets. They have some plain white Cameros and Fords that the CHP uses and they will stop anyone they can't see a seat belt on while traffic whizzes by at 80 MPH. I got stopped in my 1965 Comet once because I didn't have a shoulder belt. I told the dam idiot that they never had them in that car in 1965 and I wasn't going to accept a ticket, he could arrest me and we would take it to court. He had to go radio in and find out if the 1965 Comet came with shoulder belts AND AIR BAGS. Also in this area the police will not come to a house that is being broken into even if you call while it is happening. Standard reply is, We don't have anyone available, send in a written report. Right, it kind of hard to write a report while a person is being beaten to death. We have one good thing here. Our past two Sheriffs have been big gun advocates and if a person can pass the tests they can get a CCP easy. I have had one for as long as I can remember and with the dopers in this area becoming more and more of a threat to all people, I will continue to carry. I don't like it, but I won't be beaten by these dam dopers because I happen to walk down the street and see them selling their crap.
Another example of law enforcement right here where I live. Four weeks ago an illegal from Mexico who has been arrested and deported twice already backed over a 3 year old and killed her. He got 4 months in jail and the dam Rights Advocates are raising cain about them sending him to jail at all. Two months ago a teen ager who was speeding, had no prior record, and was well liked, got 5 years in jail because he tried to evade the police.

Ron

[meat]

Originally Posted by Cobrabill

SIEG HEIL!!!

4/2/2008
California: Police Raid Car Enthusiast Gathering, Generate Revenue
Police raid Riverside, California parking lot to issue modified car tickets at local car enthusiast gathering.

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.

Across the state, gas tax funds are regularly used to fund similar crackdowns that generate big revenue. In 2004, the California Highway Patrol issued a total of 101,553 "modified car" citations worth $10.5 million according to CHP data obtained by TheNewspaper.

Other law enforcement agencies participating in Friday night's raid included the California Highway Patrol, Riverside County Sheriff's Department, and police from Baldwin Park, Fontana, Irwindale, Moreno Valley, Ontario and Mount San Jacinto Community College.

Wow. It's like a game of Telephone gone horribly, horribly wrong. The more correct story:

3 Arrested, 20 Cars Seized In Street Racing Bust
RIVERSIDE, Calif. Three people were arrested, 100 citations issued and 20 cars were impounded after more than 150 street racers were corralled early Saturday morning by nearly 100 police officers at a shopping center near Moreno Valley.

Police checked the more than 150 cars and impounded 20 of them, Riverside police spokesman Steven Frasher said in a statement. One of the impounded cars had a stolen engine and transmission, while another 14 had altered engines or identification information.

The citations issued were for vehicle code violations. Another 48 citations were issued for illegal engine modifications common in street racing.

Racers had been tearing up the streets for the past several Friday nights at Canyon Crossing, 6187 Valley Springs Parkway, Frasher said. The shopping center is within the Riverside city limits next to Moreno Valley. The crackdown was conducted by a multi-agency task force.

One arrest was for speed exhibition, one for resisting arrest and the third for being drunk in public.

"We want to send a powerful message that street racing will not be tolerated," Riverside police Sgt. Skip Showalter said in a release.

http://cbs2.com/local/Riverside.Stre....2.687707.html

Other links:
ABC
Press Enterprise
MSNBC

Amazing how that story morphed into some kind of facist thing. But, again, look at the source.

Your pal,
Meat.

[Cobrabill]

I didn't alter the story check the link.And i should have known a twitiot like you would be clairvoyant so as to know the correct story when you know absolutely nothing.They weren't racing you dumb PHUCK.They were on private property-hanging out.

Ron-i wasn't apologizing per se.It was a semi-cryptic dig at Jamo.


AMF-the hell i can't fault law enforcement.Just like 21 law enforcement agencies raiding Boyd Coddingtons shop with guns drawn because of TAX ISSUES.

[Ron61]

Darn Meat,

It sounds almost as if street racing down there is getting as bad as it is in Canada. I haven't heard so much about it in L.A. for sometime, but our news up here tends to ignore things like that unless they kill a few people. I guess that is one advantage to living in a small place where people are so scattered out. Only once a year can they seem to get more than maybe a dozen cars together and that is at the big Kool April Nights car show. And the few cars they can get to go to the drive in are mostly restored older cars and they don't race at all. Even breaking traction here is a $350 dollar fine.

Ron

[Cobrabill]

Originally Posted by Joe Wicked

AMF,
As far as this crap goes, I think it is complete BS to be able to target a group that is gathering and label it as street racing. If anyone is racing, then fine nail them to the wall, but a gathering in a parking lot is not racing.

Bingo.How long before we're the target?How about that dumb phuck cop Ron writes about that was so stupid he didn't know 65 model years didn't have shoulder belts or airbags.Can you imagine him looking under the hood of a Cobra?
People say:Ha-ha...Ricers.I say bull$hit.We need to draw the line NOW before it engulfs US.

[AMF]

Originally Posted by Joe Wicked

AMF,
While I get what you are saying and to a point I agree, but the problem with that is when you make it acceptable to break some laws, because they are not as bad as others, then that becomes the norm, now the next level is tested and when it becomes acceptable, it just keeps going downhill. The right way is to get the law changed, as long and hard as that road is.

As far as this crap goes, I think it is complete BS to be able to target a group that is gathering and label it as street racing. If anyone is racing, then fine nail them to the wall, but a gathering in a parking lot is not racing.

I agree to an extent. Breaking the law is breaking the law. But you have to establish priorities.

You wouldn't mow your overgrown lawn while your house burns to the ground (even though you need to mow the lawn, taking care of the fire is PROBABLY more important).

Unfortunately, the system is setup so that if you don't mow the lawn, when the insurance adjuster shows up, you get no coverage.

More people die each year involving parked cars on the side of the road than do for speed racing incidents.

You don't see state troopers doing anything about all the people on the side of the road....stranded, broken down, out of gas, whatever. In the meantime, you have people driving 70mph+ by them at close range.......

Again, it's more about revenue these days than it is about effectiveness.

One traffic cop can bring in more revenue than he costs per day, just writing tickets.

[Ron61]

Bill,

In all fairness that CHP officer was in the minority. I think most of the law enforcement people around here are honest and are doing the best they can for low pay and a thankless job, but like in any profession there are going to be a few jerks and then all the rest are judged by them. I know several of the local law enforcement people in all agencies and with a couple of exceptions they are more disgusted with what they are ordered to do than the public is. We have had three law enforcement people transferred out of this area in the past two years because of their problems, but as I said, you can't say all the rest are like them. They were the exceptions to the rule and abused the power they thought they had.

Ron

[meat]

Originally Posted by Cobrabill

I didn't alter the story check the link.

Who said you altered the story? I didn't.

But ... since you brought it up and all: You didn't research your post and you presented a biased post that was - quite clearly, to anyone with a whit of intellect - wrong. Stuff like what you quoted doesn't happen in real life.

Originally Posted by Cobrabill

And i should have known a twitiot like you would be clairvoyant so as to know the correct story when you know absolutely nothing.They weren't racing you dumb PHUCK.They were on private property-hanging out.

Well ... Since I live in Southern California, and since I've been through Moreno Valley on weekends many times, and since I'm familiar with the culture, and since I attend many car shows, and since I know many street racers, and since I've flown down to French Valley at night and have seen the street racers on the roads, and since this is an old story that's been reported in the Press Telegram, Los Angeles Times, Orange County Register, ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC, Fox, KCAL and KTAL, I do indeed know the correct story, the correct players, the correct location, and even the correct time to show up if I want to watch the honda boiz pretend they're racers.

While they may not have been racing at the moment, Mr. Smarty Pants, that particular parking lot is one of the three different staging areas that are used on a fairly regular basis - almost every weekend, and certainly every month. It's been written up on a number of different street racing forums and videos are even on YouTube.

Furthermore, the parking lot in the story is subject to public traffic regulations and control. It says so on the signs posted. Duh.

Oh, and...

Originally Posted by Cobrabill

Just like 21 law enforcement agencies raiding Boyd Coddingtons shop with guns drawn because of TAX ISSUES.

Having been there, done that with the whole Titles Unlimited thing back in the day, allow me to quote my acquaintence, Jim Rizzo, who was there:

"Well, yeah, I mean, they had guns but just because they wear guns everyday in their work, they didn't have them drawn or anything,'' - Coddington spokesman, Jim Rizzo.

The headline, for the guys who don't understand what happened, was:

State of California agents, armed with guns, raided Boyd Coddington's hot rod shop last month.

"armed with guns" isn't "with guns drawn." Duh.

Some people must stay out there in the sun too long in Arizona. It appears to fry their brains.

Your pal,
Meat.

[Joe Wicked]

Originally Posted by AMF

I agree to an extent. Breaking the law is breaking the law. But you have to establish priorities.

You wouldn't mow your overgrown lawn while your house burns to the ground (even though you need to mow the lawn, taking care of the fire is PROBABLY more important).

Unfortunately, the system is setup so that if you don't mow the lawn, when the insurance adjuster shows up, you get no coverage.

More people die each year involving parked cars on the side of the road than do for speed racing incidents.

You don't see state troopers doing anything about all the people on the side of the road....stranded, broken down, out of gas, whatever. In the meantime, you have people driving 70mph+ by them at close range.......

Again, it's more about revenue these days than it is about effectiveness.

One traffic cop can bring in more revenue than he costs per day, just writing tickets.

Yea we agree, basically saying the same thing from opposite sides.

[Joe Wicked]

Originally Posted by meat

Who said you altered the story? I didn't.

But ... since you brought it up and all: You didn't research your post and you presented a biased post that was - quite clearly, to anyone with a whit of intellect - wrong. Stuff like what you quoted doesn't happen in real life.

I don't want to start an argument about it, but stuff like that does happen. I used to live in San Diego and worked off of Mira Mesa blvd at night. I got stopped on numerous occasions going to lunch. I missed many hours of work sitting in jail for street racing. I don't street race. I drove a V6 Mustang convertible and the reason I was given most of the time is they believed I was cruising the streets looking for a street race. The charges always got dropped as I was able to prove I was at work and on my lunch break. Not all cops do it, but there are those who see a type of car and assume you are a street racer because, "otherwise why would you have it?" In my current Mustang, 03 GT coupe, I had the car for about a week and I got pulled over. When I asked the officer why I was pulled over he stated that he had reason to suspect that the car was not legal. Keep in mind the car was completely stock at the time. Here in TX we have an inspection sticker with a serial number, he ran that, when it came back good, he performed a complete safety inspection, and when he could not find anything wrong, he wrote a ticket for "License Plate not illuminated". This was at about 11:00 AM on a sunny day. That ticket was also dismissed.

Don't get me wrong, I am one who believes that MOST cops are good. There are those that act this way. I live in a small town just outside of the Dallas area and the cops we have are the best. I know that they patrol the neighborhoods looking for things out of place and I know that they pay attention. I was loading up my truck for a trip back in december early in the morning, and had my garage open with the light on when they drove by. They stopped and checked to see if anyone was around. I came out and he yelled for me to freeze and asked who I was and what was I doing. I told him, he checked, apologized and told me to continue, I told him no need to apologize and thanked him. He apologized again and left. I know the SGT and I got a hold of him and thanked him for for his officers good work. I have seen him again and he stopped and told me that he got a letter from the mayor for his efforts towards the community and that it was my call to the SGT that started the process.

[Rich A]

"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?"

"We want to send a powerful message that street racing will not be tolerated," Riverside police Sgt. Skip Showalter said in a release.

They were just sitting/hangin out in a parking lot not street racing in the parking lot.
Police profiling and stereo typing at it best.

21 law enforcement agencies raiding Boyd Coddingtons shop with guns drawn

Three people were arrested, 100 citations issued and 20 cars were impounded after more than 150 street racers were corralled early Saturday morning by nearly 100 police officers at a shopping center near Moreno Valley.

It would be nice if all these law enforcement agencies would crack down on the ILLEGAL imigration problem in California.
Isn't it illegal to cross the border without correct documentation?

Also in this area the police will not come to a house that is being broken into even if you call while it is happening. Standard reply is, We don't have anyone available, send in a written report.

If they said that to me I would say forget about sending the police send a coroner.

[meat]

Originally Posted by Rich A

It would be nice if all these law enforcement agencies would crack down on the ILLEGAL imigration problem in California.

They are. Keep in mind, however, that immigration enforcement isn't the primary purpose of the cop in the patrol car; it's to keep the peace.

Your pal,
Meat.

[Jamo]

CobraBill...bite me.

Meat...good catch.

Putting this stuff in perspective, there have been several recent accidents and deaths in the Riverside-San Berdoo areas during the last year from street racing, as in other areas of the State. Last year, the daughter of racing legend Art Pombo was killed by street racers who slammed into her car while she was driving to the store here in Fresno.

Please don't compare it to the street racing of our youth...far more cars, much higher speeds, and alot less planning than we engaged in. Big Willy...where are you.

Hitting "gatherings" is the most efficient way of doing it. As most (should) know, racers/groups are sent out from such locations to different street racing locations after matching up and putting their bets down. When I was in college in Riverside, we met at the shopping center off 91 and were sent out to areas around Lake Matthews or roads near the river around Corona. I s'pose you could argue that the cops should always catch them in the act, but that would be like waiting for the gangs to actually engage in a drive-by and spraying a house instead of using selective law enforcement to round the basturds up beforehand, or maybe not going in to review employer records until you have proof that each employee whose record you want to review is an illegal alien.

And please folks...why not really check out news stories by comparing some other news sources and maybe checking what's really behind the story before you post it here.

General rule...you post it...you own it.

[wtm442]

Originally Posted by Ron61

Even breaking traction here is a $350 dollar fine.
Ron

I'd be on welfare if that was enforced around here.

[tcrist]

Jamo, You knowing the law and all maybe you can answer this.

In the first post of this thread it was mentioned that they wrote tickets for modified exhaust and I think engines modified for racing. It was brought up later about hoping that they dont check our cars (Cobras). What is the leagal standing on modified exhaust and racing components on Cobras. Can they only ticket you for those things if your car was built by a manufacture such as Ford, Chevy, Dodge, Honda, ECT.? How can they say what is STOCK on Cobras since they are not built by a manufacture? They are hand crafted.

Terry

[Cobrabill]

Originally Posted by meat

Who said you altered the story? I didn't.

But ... since you brought it up and all: You didn't research your post and you presented a biased post that was - quite clearly, to anyone with a whit of intellect - wrong. Stuff like what you quoted doesn't happen in real life.


Well ... Since I live in Southern California, and since I've been through Moreno Valley on weekends many times, and since I'm familiar with the culture, and since I attend many car shows, and since I know many street racers, and since I've flown down to French Valley at night and have seen the street racers on the roads, and since this is an old story that's been reported in the Press Telegram, Los Angeles Times, Orange County Register, ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC, Fox, KCAL and KTAL, I do indeed know the correct story, the correct players, the correct location, and even the correct time to show up if I want to watch the honda boiz pretend they're racers.

While they may not have been racing at the moment, Mr. Smarty Pants, that particular parking lot is one of the three different staging areas that are used on a fairly regular basis - almost every weekend, and certainly every month. It's been written up on a number of different street racing forums and videos are even on YouTube.

Furthermore, the parking lot in the story is subject to public traffic regulations and control. It says so on the signs posted. Duh.

Oh, and...


Having been there, done that with the whole Titles Unlimited thing back in the day, allow me to quote my acquaintence, Jim Rizzo, who was there:

"Well, yeah, I mean, they had guns but just because they wear guns everyday in their work, they didn't have them drawn or anything,'' - Coddington spokesman, Jim Rizzo.

The headline, for the guys who don't understand what happened, was:

State of California agents, armed with guns, raided Boyd Coddington's hot rod shop last month.

"armed with guns" isn't "with guns drawn." Duh.

Some people must stay out there in the sun too long in Arizona. It appears to fry their brains.

Your pal,
Meat.

Meathead-i spent 20 years in So.Cal.I've forgotten more about that place than you'll ever know.

As far as Coddington goes-FU-the guns were drawn.I know people that were there.

And since you know everything about it,please tell us the "Meth" angle to the story.

[meat]

Originally Posted by Cobrabill

Meathead-i spent 20 years in So.Cal.I've forgotten more about that place than you'll ever know.

Old senile people say stuff like that all the time. Obviously, you didn't know enough to verify your story before you posted the pantload you did ... and doing that didn't require you spending any time in So. Cal.

And, as I've spent my entire life in in Southern California, and my mental faculties are still intact, that pretty much means that I know twice as much as you ever did about California, and I've retained all of it.

Neener, neener, neener.

Originally Posted by Cobrabill

As far as Coddington goes-FU-the guns were drawn.I know people that were there.

As far as Coddington goes, I know people who were there as well as personnel from the agencies involved who were there as well.

Guns were not drawn.

Y'know ... they make medication that treats Alzheimer's. Maybe you should look into getting into one of the programs available in your area.

Originally Posted by Cobrabill

And since you know everything about it,please tell us the "Meth" angle to the story.

"Us" who? There's more than one person living in your head? Well, I guess that would make sense since you've got all that free space from "forgetting" things available. Might as well rent out the empty space to someone who could use it for something productive.

Your pal,
Meat.