Street racers get busted in Charlotte
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Street racers get busted in Charlotte
suckers!
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlot...s/15940038.htm
Police sting puts brakes on I-485 racing
11 people arrested, 17 cars confiscated
DÁNICA COTO
dcoto@charlotteobserver.com
* Slideshow | Cars seized, racers arrested
Drivers who reached speeds of 165 mph on Interstate 485 were among those targeted by police this weekend in an ongoing crackdown against street racers in Mecklenburg County.
After four months of surveillance, authorities on Sunday arrested 11 people and seized 17 souped-up cars. They began investigating after receiving complaints of more than 100 people gathering Saturday nights at the Stonecrest at Piper Glen shopping center in south Charlotte.
People would meet in the parking lot and then race on the outerbelt or Rea Road, police said.
"It's easy to say that speed kills, but these folks haven't realized that," said Maj. Dale Greene, who oversees Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department's special operations unit.
The sting was called "Enjoy the Show" because big crowds gathered to watch the street racers, Greene said. It's a growing problem, with several Web sites promoting the next race, he added. Spontaneous racing also has become popular, with cars slowing to 35 mph on a highway and then racing to the next exit when someone blows a car horn three times, he said.
Most racers are men in their late teens to early 30s, police said. Those arrested early Sunday live in Charlotte, Kannapolis and Monroe and are between the ages of 18 and 22, along with one 31-year-old man who police said likely organized races.
They all face several misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and prearranged speed competition. Their cars, some valued at up to $40,000, likely will be sold at a public auction, police said.
On Sunday, officers seized several Ford Mustangs, Honda Civics, Acuras and Mitsubishis. Many had new engines and transmissions, and their owners had stripped the seats, radios and air conditioners so the cars could go faster, an undercover CMPD officer who didn't want to be identified told the Observer. One Mustang had a racing engine in it, police said.
DMV officials claimed at least six of the 17 cars because they think some of the cars contained stolen parts.
Michael King, 20, who faces one charge of prearranged speed competition and two charges of reckless driving, said he's never raced. But he added that he bought his 1994 Mustang two years ago and souped it up to make the engine sound bigger.
King said he started hanging out at Stonecrest about two years ago because of the big parking lot and the number of people showing off their cars.
"I might play around and spin a tire," he said.
About four years ago, racers in Mecklenburg County would congregate at a Home Depot along Providence Road near Ballantyne until officers ran them off. Now they've chosen Stonecrest, probably because it's close to several interstates and has a large parking lot, police said. Crosland, the company that manages Stonecrest, allowed people to gather in the parking lot so police could investigate, authorities said.
In the past two months, authorities also have arrested eight people and seized eight cars as part of the sting.
More than 70 officers with CMPD, the N.C. Highway Patrol and the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles were part of the sting. At least 60 warrants are still pending, and more car seizures are expected, Greene said.
Racers still meet at other south Charlotte shopping centers, Greene said, and police will target those in upcoming months.
Among Those Arrested Sunday
• Brian Kanabroski, 31, of Charlotte.
• José P. Hernández, 22, of Charlotte.
• Jorge Alfonso Maldonado, 21, of Monroe.
• Michael King, 20, of Kannapolis.
• Emanuel Fakhori, 20, of Charlotte.
• James Ivey, 19, of Kannapolis.
• Thomas Blakney, 19, of Kannapolis.
• Timothy Roberts, 19, of Charlotte.
• Michael Clontz, 19, of Monroe.
• Vincent Aupied, 18, of Charlotte.
![Thumbs Up](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif)
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlot...s/15940038.htm
Police sting puts brakes on I-485 racing
11 people arrested, 17 cars confiscated
DÁNICA COTO
dcoto@charlotteobserver.com
* Slideshow | Cars seized, racers arrested
Drivers who reached speeds of 165 mph on Interstate 485 were among those targeted by police this weekend in an ongoing crackdown against street racers in Mecklenburg County.
After four months of surveillance, authorities on Sunday arrested 11 people and seized 17 souped-up cars. They began investigating after receiving complaints of more than 100 people gathering Saturday nights at the Stonecrest at Piper Glen shopping center in south Charlotte.
People would meet in the parking lot and then race on the outerbelt or Rea Road, police said.
"It's easy to say that speed kills, but these folks haven't realized that," said Maj. Dale Greene, who oversees Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department's special operations unit.
The sting was called "Enjoy the Show" because big crowds gathered to watch the street racers, Greene said. It's a growing problem, with several Web sites promoting the next race, he added. Spontaneous racing also has become popular, with cars slowing to 35 mph on a highway and then racing to the next exit when someone blows a car horn three times, he said.
Most racers are men in their late teens to early 30s, police said. Those arrested early Sunday live in Charlotte, Kannapolis and Monroe and are between the ages of 18 and 22, along with one 31-year-old man who police said likely organized races.
They all face several misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and prearranged speed competition. Their cars, some valued at up to $40,000, likely will be sold at a public auction, police said.
On Sunday, officers seized several Ford Mustangs, Honda Civics, Acuras and Mitsubishis. Many had new engines and transmissions, and their owners had stripped the seats, radios and air conditioners so the cars could go faster, an undercover CMPD officer who didn't want to be identified told the Observer. One Mustang had a racing engine in it, police said.
DMV officials claimed at least six of the 17 cars because they think some of the cars contained stolen parts.
Michael King, 20, who faces one charge of prearranged speed competition and two charges of reckless driving, said he's never raced. But he added that he bought his 1994 Mustang two years ago and souped it up to make the engine sound bigger.
King said he started hanging out at Stonecrest about two years ago because of the big parking lot and the number of people showing off their cars.
"I might play around and spin a tire," he said.
About four years ago, racers in Mecklenburg County would congregate at a Home Depot along Providence Road near Ballantyne until officers ran them off. Now they've chosen Stonecrest, probably because it's close to several interstates and has a large parking lot, police said. Crosland, the company that manages Stonecrest, allowed people to gather in the parking lot so police could investigate, authorities said.
In the past two months, authorities also have arrested eight people and seized eight cars as part of the sting.
More than 70 officers with CMPD, the N.C. Highway Patrol and the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles were part of the sting. At least 60 warrants are still pending, and more car seizures are expected, Greene said.
Racers still meet at other south Charlotte shopping centers, Greene said, and police will target those in upcoming months.
Among Those Arrested Sunday
• Brian Kanabroski, 31, of Charlotte.
• José P. Hernández, 22, of Charlotte.
• Jorge Alfonso Maldonado, 21, of Monroe.
• Michael King, 20, of Kannapolis.
• Emanuel Fakhori, 20, of Charlotte.
• James Ivey, 19, of Kannapolis.
• Thomas Blakney, 19, of Kannapolis.
• Timothy Roberts, 19, of Charlotte.
• Michael Clontz, 19, of Monroe.
• Vincent Aupied, 18, of Charlotte.
#3
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Good!!
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Originally Posted by CL Platano
Time to go to the auctions in Charlotte ![Smile](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
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#9
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Some pics some guy took from another forum. They aren't anything special though. Gotta copy paste em
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/uncjigg...edracers_1.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/uncjigg...edracers_2.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/uncjigg...edracers_3.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/uncjigg...edracers_4.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/uncjigg...edracers_5.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/uncjigg...edracers_6.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/uncjigg...edracers_1.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/uncjigg...edracers_2.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/uncjigg...edracers_3.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/uncjigg...edracers_4.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/uncjigg...edracers_5.jpg
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/uncjigg...edracers_6.jpg
#11
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I like how they were monitoring them for 4 months..
#12
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Originally Posted by srika
![Owned](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/owned.gif)
I like how they were monitoring them for 4 months..
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Michael King, 20, who faces one charge of prearranged speed competition and two charges of reckless driving, said he's never raced. But he added that he bought his 1994 Mustang two years ago and souped it up to make the engine sound bigger.
#14
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I have to say these guys are a bunch of idiots. Stonecrest isn't off the beaten path or hidden away from in a private area. It's an open area with shops, restaurants, and a movie theater. It's not a place to hide anything, it's a place to be seen. What a bunch of morons....
#16
Three Wheelin'
How is it legal for the cops to just confiscate those cars and then SELL them via auction. I'd think that if you paid the fine, and did the time, or appealed and won then you'd keep the car.
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It's one thing to soup up a car, another to go actually racing on a highway like that every month. People like that gave us Car enthusiasts a bad name.....
#26
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alot of the stuff written in the media is over blown and exaggerated to scare the shit out of people... they did a bust similar to that to a few kids racing at a spot out in the middle of nowhere like 15 cars no real spectators... everyone got tickets... everyone still has their cars... everyone still comes out and still do what they do, just on a much more conservative note.
i like how they say things like ... that mustang had a "RACE" motor . Most of the accusations of stolen parts are unregistered motors from honda swaps.
i cant beleave they were just hanging out in a parking lot and all got fucked... i would have assumed they atleast got caught in the act of organized racing it just looks like there in some regular parking lot shooting the shit...
i like how they say things like ... that mustang had a "RACE" motor . Most of the accusations of stolen parts are unregistered motors from honda swaps.
i cant beleave they were just hanging out in a parking lot and all got fucked... i would have assumed they atleast got caught in the act of organized racing it just looks like there in some regular parking lot shooting the shit...
#31
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Originally Posted by UNCTYPE-S
"Drivers who reached speeds of 165 mph"
I dont see a single car in those pics that could go that fast. Maybe one of the mustangs with a limiter delete?
![what](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/what.gif)
mabe... mabe the cobra
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#32
says "hello to my TLX".
Originally Posted by Black Tire
how are those classified as "racers"?
Originally Posted by synth19
"souped up cars"
#36
That Integra should be impounded for having Altezzas. Same with the EG with those weird ass holes in the rear bumper.... weight reduction?
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#37
Originally Posted by SanJoseRoller
alot of the stuff written in the media is over blown and exaggerated to scare the shit out of people... they did a bust similar to that to a few kids racing at a spot out in the middle of nowhere like 15 cars no real spectators... everyone got tickets... everyone still has their cars... everyone still comes out and still do what they do, just on a much more conservative note.
i like how they say things like ... that mustang had a "RACE" motor . Most of the accusations of stolen parts are unregistered motors from honda swaps.
i cant beleave they were just hanging out in a parking lot and all got fucked... i would have assumed they atleast got caught in the act of organized racing it just looks like there in some regular parking lot shooting the shit...
i like how they say things like ... that mustang had a "RACE" motor . Most of the accusations of stolen parts are unregistered motors from honda swaps.
i cant beleave they were just hanging out in a parking lot and all got fucked... i would have assumed they atleast got caught in the act of organized racing it just looks like there in some regular parking lot shooting the shit...
I hope you know that an illegal speed contest is now a felony in the state of california. They will take your car and demolish it. Just a heads up
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Take it to the track... Cheap thrills is not worth dying for
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#38
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Originally Posted by Edr0e
I hope you know that an illegal speed contest is now a felony in the state of california. They will take your car and demolish it. Just a heads up
Take it to the track... Cheap thrills is not worth dying for![Tomato](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/tomato.gif)
![2 Cents](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/2cents.gif)
Take it to the track... Cheap thrills is not worth dying for
![Tomato](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/tomato.gif)
my friend got busted racing a STi in his evo 9 yesterday ... ticket and a visit to the state ref is all he got/ a tow...
he gets it back in 28 ish days
mabe in san diego not in norcal
#39
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Originally Posted by I Go To Costco
That Integra should be impounded for having Altezzas. Same with the EG with those weird ass holes in the rear bumper.... weight reduction? ![Scratch](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/scratch.gif)
![Scratch](https://acurazine.com/forums/images/smilies/scratch.gif)
the cutts int he bumper are air diffusor it allows under currents of air to escape and not hold up wind resistance against the car its more popular amoungst "faster" honda's dunno if that guy is fast
#40
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Originally Posted by vishnus11
How is it legal for the cops to just confiscate those cars and then SELL them via auction. I'd think that if you paid the fine, and did the time, or appealed and won then you'd keep the car.