Issue date: 10/12/05 Section: Features

In response to the coming implementation of the Drag-Net program to crack down on street racing, Sacramento Raceway has encouraged racers to participate in the street-legal drag races held every Wednesday night. However, the program will begin with certain steps.

The first step, the one that began at the end of September, is to begin training police officers who serve in the Sacramento area what to look for, according to Lt. Bill Beerman of the Sacramento Police Department. The partnership with Sacramento Raceway to stop racing on the streets does not begin until the first of the year, when the education of the public begins, Beerman said.

"We have to take this in the proper steps," he said.

Police from throughout the state are being trained to recognize illegal modifications to vehicles, said Alan Coppage of the Bureau of Automotive Repair.

Modifications, such as removing parts of the emissions system to boost engine performance, are illegal because they prevent a car from complying with California emissions standards.

The education program for the public will begin during the winter, when rain usually curbs street racing naturally.

"People don't want to stand in a parking lot in the rain just to watch an illegal street race," Beerman said.

Even the raceway closes down for the winter months.

"We can't race in December because it rains too much," Trimp said.

The education program would be combined with the driving under the influence education programs that already exist, according to Beerman. The education process would also include law enforcement's partnership with Sacramento Raceway as well as other regional racetracks.

"We're willing to give out free tickets for problem areas," Trimp said. Vehicles with modifications should still be cautious, however. The drivers of those vehicles can still be cited for those modifications.

"I can't speak for every officer out there, but we look for citable violations before making a vehicle stop," Beerman said.

Citable violations include speeding, unsafe lane changes, and obvious street racing.

Even with the tracking of illegally modified vehicles, there are still legally modified cars that race on the streets. It is those racers who are being sought after by the raceway.

The raceway is not the only one who is not changing its operations in preparation for the new program. Some of the racers aren't either. "I'd probably get caught before I change my car," said Juan Farias, who participates in the Wednesday night drag races.

With the program coming closer to the starting line, racers are still speculative about whether or not it will work.

"Racing has been around for years," said Gaston Benjamin, another participant in the races. "People will race no matter what," Benjamin.

Beerman knows that fighting street racing is an uphill battle. "It's not going to end completely," he said.

Jenna Hughes can be reached at features@statehornet.com

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