2 City Council Members Propose Tougher Laws to Curb Drag Racing

Recent deaths in drag races prompted two Los Angeles city officials Friday to call for laws that would allow police to ticket spectators and to impound and even sell the cars involved.

Saying he is concerned about the number of illegal street races in his north San Fernando Valley district, City Councilman Hal Bernson of Granada Hills was joined by Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski in introducing a motion to toughen laws against drag racing.

“It’s been a serious problem, especially in the north Valley,” said Ali Sar, a spokesman for Bernson.

In the last year, eight young people have died in the San Fernando and Antelope valleys in accidents that were believed to involve illegal racing or intentional speeding.

Last summer, the Los Angeles Police Department issued more than 300 tickets and made four arrests during a one-night crackdown on drag racing in Chatsworth.

Police have found hundreds of people at some of the races, which abound in Valley areas that have long stretches without traffic lights.

The problem has grown so severe that Bernson called a summit meeting this week with police officers from the Devonshire, Foothill and Traffic divisions to find ways to curtail the races.

“We are looking for a legal process to deter street racing and the gathering of spectators that encourages the races,” said Lt. Joe Eddy, who oversees detectives in the Devonshire Division.

Bernson’s motion would allow police to cite spectators at illegal races and to impound the cars involved for up to six months. The current impound limit is 30 days. It also would allow the city to keep the cars and sell them if fines were not paid within six months.

“That would be a worthwhile tool in trying to get a handle on these kids who are out street racing,” said Capt. Ron Seban, commanding officer of the Foothill Division. “It would really put a bite in the law if these kids knew they were going to lose their car for six months.”

Seban also said officials have sought a location for controlled racing. Although officers now hand out discount passes to a drag racing strip in Pomona, illegal street races still occur.

Seban said kids from as far away as San Diego and Newport Beach have been found at the Valley races, which are organized on the Internet.

“It’s been going on for 40 or 50 years,” Seban said.

On many Friday and Saturday nights, races are held on Foothill Division streets including San Fernando Mission Road, Seban said.

On Wednesdays, young people often gather on Plummer Avenue and Devonshire Street.

“They have scouts who alert the racers that we are coming and everyone scatters,” the captain said.

The Bernson-Miscikowski motion is scheduled for consideration by the City Council next week.