Who'd a thunk it? A thread about speeding/racing would turn into a political and social football?

My .01999,

Application of "racing" laws is not always fair or just. Many of the statutes were designed to curtail "organized" street racing, not the "oooh, let me show you how fast my car is" lapses in judgement on the freeway. However, because of the way the laws are written, they can be applied to either situation. An officer and the judge can and should take this in to consideration and exercise discretion when warranted.

The "Drag-Net" program was in Ontario CALIFORNIA not Canada. According to news reports "Each vehicle was suped up with illegally modified or stolen auto parts, the typical gear for illegal street racing as police say. One of them had every part except the hood and the trunk either altered or stolen." When departments confiscate illegal items, they are usually destroyed (e.g., narcotics). Because of obvious liability issues, it is not got good practice to auction off stolen or illegal property nor to return the property to the person from whom it was confiscated. Yes, this was a publicity stunt, but if it got the message to these "racers" and saved even one teen from injury or death it was worth it.

As a teen, I drove way too fast and took too many chances. As a cop, I have seen kids who weren't as lucky as I. One incident in particular comes to mind. A 16 year old driver with 3 passengers was racing up and down a "secluded" rural road. On his last run he hit a crest in the road and got a little light. His car drifted sideways and hit a tree at over 100 mph. The car was ripped in half, as was a 15 year old female passenger. As I surveyed this carnage I thought of my own precious daughters and how powerless parents are sometimes. It was almost too much to bear.

Laws are in place for a reason. Whether you call it socialism or not is irrelevant. Whether you live in a constitutional monarchy, a republic, a commonwealth, or a representative democracy you can: obey the law, break the law and risk the penalties, or work to change the law.