Riverside, Ca-  At its January 26, 2005 meeting, the Riverside City Council passed a new ordinance and amended a second ordinance to address the issue of illegal street racing. Illegal street racing places not only its participants in danger, but endangers the lives of spectators and innocent members of the community. The Council’s action is a proactive response to a problem experienced in other communities with illegal street racing and is intended to send a message that illegal street racing will not be tolerated in the City of Riverside.

Vehicle Code Section 23109 makes it a crime punishable by fine and imprisonment to engage in illegal street racing. The new ordinance makes it a crime to be a spectator at an illegal street race. Spectators at an illegal street race can be cited or arrested. The amendment to the existing city ordinance governing nuisance vehicles, allows the police department to seize and pursue civil forfeiture of any vehicle used in an illegal street race.

Police Chief Russ Leach said “Illegal street racing is a danger to the community and this ordinance will enable the police department to take action against those who carelessly place themselves, and others in danger by engaging in this type of behavior.”

The new and amended city ordinances take effect on February 25, 2005.

For more information on the enforcement of the new and amended ordinances or on Illegal street racing, please contact Lieutenant Ken Carpenter of the Police Departments Traffic Division. You can contact Lieutenant Carpenter at (951) 351-6294.