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Jan 17, 2022
Illegal street racing has been a focus for local law enforcement throughout much of the pandemic. The Los Angeles Times recently reported that as of July 2021, the number of illegal street races or ‘takeovers’ had increased by 27%, with police investigators attributing at least three deaths to such incidents.
And illegal street racing has become a concern throughout California, with the San Jose City Council passing an ordinance last June making it a misdemeanor to promote, instigate, or encourage such events online.
Here in Glendale, police have captured videos of street races taking place on Glenoaks Boulevard. And as local KTLA recently reported, the Glendale Police Department is utilizing a state-of-the-art helicopter to help crack down on local street racing or takeover activity.
Illegal street racing involves an unsanctioned race occurring on a public roadway. The California Highway Patrol notes on its website that street racing is a “growing concern.” Accordingly, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department recently created a Street Racing Task Force to curb such illegal activity.
A street takeover or sideshow involves blocking off an intersection or area for drivers to take part in slides or donuts with their vehicles. While street racing involves two or more vehicles attempting to reach a finish line, takeovers or sideshows are essentially exhibitions that occur on often busy streets.
As KTLA noted in a recent report, Glendale has a zero-tolerance policy on illegal street racing. Together with the Burbank Police, Glendale Police use an MD 520N helicopter to measure how fast a vehicle is traveling and track its location.
The police helicopter uses a “high-tech-computer-linked” camera system to monitor vehicles and then relay important information to other police ground units in the vicinity. As a result, street racing vehicles are often unable to evade police vehicles.
“If someone were trying to evade us, going onto a dark street under a tree and get out of the car in complete darkness, we would see them clear as day with the infrared camera,” Steve Conaway, a local pilot, told KTLA.
According to Glendale Police Department data, more than 100 arrests were made for illegal street racing in 2021.
“We mean zero tolerance. If we catch anyone participating in those activities, they will be arrested and their vehicles will be impounded,” Glendale Police Sergeant Christian Hauptmann said to KTLA.
A new law which took effect on January 1 – California Assembly Bill 3 (AB 3) – increases penalties for offenders engaging in illegal street racing or takeovers. In addition to fines, anyone caught violating the law may have their driver’s license suspended for between 90 days and six months.
Under AB 3, a sideshow or takeover event is defined as:
“An event in which two or more persons block or impede traffic on a highway, for the purpose of performing motor vehicle stunts, motor vehicle speed contests, motor vehicle exhibitions of speed, or reckless driving, for spectators.”
A civil claim involving a car accident may be brought if an injury occurs as a result of another driver’s negligence or carelessness. As street racing or takeover activities are both illegal, causing a crash as a result may be grounds for a civil lawsuit in pursuit of financial compensation for various damages.
Some common damages that may be recoverable in a personal injury car accident claim include:
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you may have a limited window to file a claim. The typical statute of limitations is two years from the date of the incident involving an injury. However, some claims involving public or government entities may have a much shorter deadline – sometimes only six months.
Ready to file a claim and pursue justice through a financial damages award? Our expert attorneys are available online or by phone now.
Accordingly, injured car accident victims are encouraged to file claims as soon as possible to ensure their ability to recover money damages is not jeopardized.
To speak with a car accident lawyer from Dordulian Law Group (DLG), contact us today at 866-GO-SEE-SAM. Our consultations are always free and without any obligation, and our No Win/No Fee Guarantee means you never have to worry about upfront expenses. We only charge a fee after successfully recovering a maximum financial damages award for your car accident injury claim.
DLG’s experienced team of car accident lawyers have helped injured victims like you secure more than $200,000,000 in settlements and verdicts while maintaining a 98% success record. Founded by former Deputy District Attorney for Los Angeles County, Sam Dordulian, DLG’s proven results offer each client the peace of mind needed when pursuing financial compensation for a car accident injury.
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