The Reno Police Department, Sparks Police, and the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office issued citations for 45 violations at an illegal street racing event on Aug. 19. The collaborative effort by several local law enforcement agencies effectively shut down the reckless driving, speeding, trick driving, and equipment violations. Two vehicles were impounded and two people were arrested- one for driving under the influence and another on an outstanding warrant.
“This has been an ongoing issue for years now,” says Sparks Police Public Information Officer Stephen Goodrum. “We understand that this has been a pastime of car enthusiasts, but it has been getting more and more dangerous.”
Officer Goodrum explains that more “sideshows” are popping up, where street racers seize an intersection to spin donuts, race, and drive recklessly. Law enforcement agencies have noticed an increasing number of fights, intoxication, drug use, weapons charges, accidents, and even fatalities if a car gets out of control and runs over spectators.
“There will be several hundred vehicles and several hundred people taking over parking lots in these illegal street racing events,” Officer Goodrum says.
Car enthusiasts are mainly holding these sideshows in the valley, but Goodrum says that they have been increasingly gathering in Washoe County’s industrial areas, either meeting in Reno and street racing in Sparks or vice versa.
“That’s why this is a joint effort, it’s not just happening in Reno and not just in Sparks, it’s countywide,” Goodrum adds.
Big street racing events tend to happen in Los Angeles, Oakland, San Francisco, and Las Vegas, but when they started to show up here in Reno and Sparks- backing up traffic and causing accidents- the Sparks PD and other local law enforcement wanted to be proactive and stop the issue as much as possible.
Law enforcement found out about the August 19 event through an ongoing effort of gathering intelligence, but Goodrum says that they find out about illegal street racing the most through calls for service.
“People call and report reckless driving, racing through their neighborhood, accidents, and fights,” he says.
Goodrum doesn’t believe that car festivals like Hot August Nights draw the same kind of crowd, and he hasn’t really seen any evidence linking that, but with Sacramento and San Francisco being so close, street racers may be inclined to bring their sideshows to Washoe County.
“The key for us is consistency. We will continue to send the message that this will not be tolerated. There is more prosecution behind it now and we will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law as we can.
“This is a consolidated effort to push forward and show the community the seriousness of it. We want people to find legal and respectful ways to enjoy their hobbies, but we’re here to keep the community safe and we will continue to do that. If you have any questions feel free to call us, and please report any of this kind of activity,” Goodrum says.
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