Readers React: How to stop street racing: Make muscle-car owners pay more

To the editor: The only way to stop street racing is to ban cars that belong on a racetrack, not on a city street. But if we can’t ban very fast cars, we should regulate them. (“Could a regional law enforcement task force put a dent in deadly street racing?,” April 2)

Require the drivers to be 21 or older. Require proof of pre-paid insurance for the registration period that will provide $1 million in death or insurance benefits for each victim, up to 10 of them, and $500,000 in property damage.

To pay for police and emergency response to the accidents they cause, have a performance tax of $1,000 for each second under eight that the car can reach 60 miles per hour and every 10 mph over 100 that the vehicle can reach as its top speed.

Jim Winterroth, Torrance

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To the editor: The article indicates that the police are interested only in prohibition of this very dangerous, stupid activity. But we all know that prohibition — whether it’s for alcohol, drugs or sex — is futile and generally a waste of time and money.

People, especially young, testosterone-filled men, have been racing their cars since the very first horseless carriages. It seems to me that a more constructive solution would be for law enforcement and jurisdictions with street-racing problems to reach out to these drivers via social media and tell them to “take it to the track.”

These agencies could coordinate with the few remaining local drag strips (in Irwindale and Fontana) to promote amateur racing in a safer environment.

Mike Greene, Tustin

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