Police raid so-cal car gtg
04-02-2008, 01:32 PM
#1
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Police raid so-cal car gtg
http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/23/2302.asp
California: Police Raid Car Enthusiast Gathering, Generate Revenue
Police raid Riverside, California parking lot to issue modified car tickets at local car enthusiast gathering.
Using state and federal gas tax money to pay for overtime, nine police agencies in Riverside, California sent more than one hundred police officers to surround a gathering of automotive enthusiasts. Owners of imported sport compact cars had gathered at the Canyon Crossing shopping center on Friday night to swap stories, talk about their passion for cars and show off the latest enhancements to their rides. At around 11pm police surprised participants by blocking all exits with fifty police cruisers. Officers then began a warrantless search and interrogation operation of the 150 vehicles that were present.
"If you're not into street racing, why would you need that?" Riverside Police Traffic Sergeant Skip Showalter asked an enthusiast during a similar crackdown last year. "Why would you want more power going to your car?"
Police issued a total of forty-eight tickets for "engine modifications" with police accusing the owners of the parked vehicles of being street racers. Another fifty tickets were issued for paperwork violations, dark window tinting and lack of a front license plate. The most revenue, however, will be generated from the fees imposed on twenty vehicles that were confiscated. Despite labeling the parking lot raid as taking place at a "street racing venue," Riverside Police offered no evidence that any street racing actually took place.
Across the state, gas tax funds are regularly used to fund similar crackdowns that generate big revenue. In 2004, the California Highway Patrol issued a total of 101,553 "modified car" citations worth $10.5 million according to CHP data obtained by TheNewspaper.
Other law enforcement agencies participating in Friday night's raid included the California Highway Patrol, Riverside County Sheriff's Department, and police from Baldwin Park, Fontana, Irwindale, Moreno Valley, Ontario and Mount San Jacinto Community College
California: Police Raid Car Enthusiast Gathering, Generate Revenue
Police raid Riverside, California parking lot to issue modified car tickets at local car enthusiast gathering.
Using state and federal gas tax money to pay for overtime, nine police agencies in Riverside, California sent more than one hundred police officers to surround a gathering of automotive enthusiasts. Owners of imported sport compact cars had gathered at the Canyon Crossing shopping center on Friday night to swap stories, talk about their passion for cars and show off the latest enhancements to their rides. At around 11pm police surprised participants by blocking all exits with fifty police cruisers. Officers then began a warrantless search and interrogation operation of the 150 vehicles that were present.
"If you're not into street racing, why would you need that?" Riverside Police Traffic Sergeant Skip Showalter asked an enthusiast during a similar crackdown last year. "Why would you want more power going to your car?"
Police issued a total of forty-eight tickets for "engine modifications" with police accusing the owners of the parked vehicles of being street racers. Another fifty tickets were issued for paperwork violations, dark window tinting and lack of a front license plate. The most revenue, however, will be generated from the fees imposed on twenty vehicles that were confiscated. Despite labeling the parking lot raid as taking place at a "street racing venue," Riverside Police offered no evidence that any street racing actually took place.
Across the state, gas tax funds are regularly used to fund similar crackdowns that generate big revenue. In 2004, the California Highway Patrol issued a total of 101,553 "modified car" citations worth $10.5 million according to CHP data obtained by TheNewspaper.
Other law enforcement agencies participating in Friday night's raid included the California Highway Patrol, Riverside County Sheriff's Department, and police from Baldwin Park, Fontana, Irwindale, Moreno Valley, Ontario and Mount San Jacinto Community College
Last edited by neveo; 04-02-2008 at 01:49 PM. Reason: title wrong
04-02-2008, 02:17 PM
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http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/23/2302.asp
California: Police Raid Car Enthusiast Gathering, Generate Revenue
Police raid Riverside, California parking lot to issue modified car tickets at local car enthusiast gathering.
Using state and federal gas tax money to pay for overtime, nine police agencies in Riverside, California sent more than one hundred police officers to surround a gathering of automotive enthusiasts. Owners of imported sport compact cars had gathered at the Canyon Crossing shopping center on Friday night to swap stories, talk about their passion for cars and show off the latest enhancements to their rides. At around 11pm police surprised participants by blocking all exits with fifty police cruisers. Officers then began a warrantless search and interrogation operation of the 150 vehicles that were present.
"If you're not into street racing, why would you need that?" Riverside Police Traffic Sergeant Skip Showalter asked an enthusiast during a similar crackdown last year. "Why would you want more power going to your car?"
Police issued a total of forty-eight tickets for "engine modifications" with police accusing the owners of the parked vehicles of being street racers. Another fifty tickets were issued for paperwork violations, dark window tinting and lack of a front license plate. The most revenue, however, will be generated from the fees imposed on twenty vehicles that were confiscated. Despite labeling the parking lot raid as taking place at a "street racing venue," Riverside Police offered no evidence that any street racing actually took place.
Across the state, gas tax funds are regularly used to fund similar crackdowns that generate big revenue. In 2004, the California Highway Patrol issued a total of 101,553 "modified car" citations worth $10.5 million according to CHP data obtained by TheNewspaper.
Other law enforcement agencies participating in Friday night's raid included the California Highway Patrol, Riverside County Sheriff's Department, and police from Baldwin Park, Fontana, Irwindale, Moreno Valley, Ontario and Mount San Jacinto Community College
California: Police Raid Car Enthusiast Gathering, Generate Revenue
Police raid Riverside, California parking lot to issue modified car tickets at local car enthusiast gathering.
Using state and federal gas tax money to pay for overtime, nine police agencies in Riverside, California sent more than one hundred police officers to surround a gathering of automotive enthusiasts. Owners of imported sport compact cars had gathered at the Canyon Crossing shopping center on Friday night to swap stories, talk about their passion for cars and show off the latest enhancements to their rides. At around 11pm police surprised participants by blocking all exits with fifty police cruisers. Officers then began a warrantless search and interrogation operation of the 150 vehicles that were present.
"If you're not into street racing, why would you need that?" Riverside Police Traffic Sergeant Skip Showalter asked an enthusiast during a similar crackdown last year. "Why would you want more power going to your car?"
Police issued a total of forty-eight tickets for "engine modifications" with police accusing the owners of the parked vehicles of being street racers. Another fifty tickets were issued for paperwork violations, dark window tinting and lack of a front license plate. The most revenue, however, will be generated from the fees imposed on twenty vehicles that were confiscated. Despite labeling the parking lot raid as taking place at a "street racing venue," Riverside Police offered no evidence that any street racing actually took place.
Across the state, gas tax funds are regularly used to fund similar crackdowns that generate big revenue. In 2004, the California Highway Patrol issued a total of 101,553 "modified car" citations worth $10.5 million according to CHP data obtained by TheNewspaper.
Other law enforcement agencies participating in Friday night's raid included the California Highway Patrol, Riverside County Sheriff's Department, and police from Baldwin Park, Fontana, Irwindale, Moreno Valley, Ontario and Mount San Jacinto Community College
04-02-2008, 02:23 PM
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How can they possibly get away with that? You are accused of doing an activity that you aren't doing but possibly could? Why not throw murder in there since you have knives, etc. at home. I would make it my personal crusade to battle that **** regime.
04-02-2008, 02:24 PM
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I hope every single one of those people goes to court and clogs their legal system for a month. Any lawyers here want to represent their case? Could be good publicity.
04-02-2008, 02:29 PM
#6
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anyone know what would allow them to confiscate parked cars unless there are outstanding tickets or no current registration... they can do this with engine mods? maybe no CARB stickers?
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04-02-2008, 02:33 PM
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If a cop asked my why I needed more power out of my car I'd say it was to go tracking/dragging LEGALLY and tell him to shove it. Those events are not illegal.
Last edited by Cylinder Head; 04-02-2008 at 02:37 PM.
04-02-2008, 02:39 PM
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Will people never learn that you DO NOT HAVE TO CONSENT TO A SEARCH???
Jesus f'in christ. You know how many times I've been asked "you mind if we take a look in the vehicle", and have told them not till hell freezes over. They always pull the "well if you have nothing to hide..." crap, and I told one of them to save the guilt trips for his kids.
The other thing is, if you are detained and have already refused the search, then give them 20 minutes or so and then tell them either arrest you, write you a ticket, or you are leaving. If they refuse, call 911 on your cell phone and say "I've been here for 45 minutes, they won't tell me whether I did anything wrong, and I am leaving now". You can subpoena that later.
There is a truckload of caselaw that says it is unreasonable to detain you longer than necessary to write you a ticket and go on your way. So if they're trying to stall you to wait for the drug dog or whatever, you don't have to sit there ad infinitum...
As all this relates to the strip-mall car show, the cops should have never been under the hood of a car there in the first place. Each and every one of those guys with tickets would get out of it scot-free, unless they consented to the search...
People ought to have to take a mandatory class on knowing their rights.
Jesus f'in christ. You know how many times I've been asked "you mind if we take a look in the vehicle", and have told them not till hell freezes over. They always pull the "well if you have nothing to hide..." crap, and I told one of them to save the guilt trips for his kids.
The other thing is, if you are detained and have already refused the search, then give them 20 minutes or so and then tell them either arrest you, write you a ticket, or you are leaving. If they refuse, call 911 on your cell phone and say "I've been here for 45 minutes, they won't tell me whether I did anything wrong, and I am leaving now". You can subpoena that later.
There is a truckload of caselaw that says it is unreasonable to detain you longer than necessary to write you a ticket and go on your way. So if they're trying to stall you to wait for the drug dog or whatever, you don't have to sit there ad infinitum...
As all this relates to the strip-mall car show, the cops should have never been under the hood of a car there in the first place. Each and every one of those guys with tickets would get out of it scot-free, unless they consented to the search...
People ought to have to take a mandatory class on knowing their rights.
04-02-2008, 02:42 PM
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The owners probably consented to a search and then they found an NOX bottle or something...people are their own worst enemies when dealing with the police.
04-02-2008, 02:46 PM
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Will people never learn that you DO NOT HAVE TO CONSENT TO A SEARCH???
Jesus f'in christ. You know how many times I've been asked "you mind if we take a look in the vehicle", and have told them not till hell freezes over. They always pull the "well if you have nothing to hide..." crap, and I told one of them to save the guilt trips for his kids.
The other thing is, if you are detained and have already refused the search, then give them 20 minutes or so and then tell them either arrest you, write you a ticket, or you are leaving. If they refuse, call 911 on your cell phone and say "I've been here for 45 minutes, they won't tell me whether I did anything wrong, and I am leaving now". You can subpoena that later.
There is a truckload of caselaw that says it is unreasonable to detain you longer than necessary to write you a ticket and go on your way. So if they're trying to stall you to wait for the drug dog or whatever, you don't have to sit there ad infinitum...
As all this relates to the strip-mall car show, the cops should have never been under the hood of a car there in the first place. Each and every one of those guys with tickets would get out of it scot-free, unless they consented to the search...
People ought to have to take a mandatory class on knowing their rights.
Jesus f'in christ. You know how many times I've been asked "you mind if we take a look in the vehicle", and have told them not till hell freezes over. They always pull the "well if you have nothing to hide..." crap, and I told one of them to save the guilt trips for his kids.
The other thing is, if you are detained and have already refused the search, then give them 20 minutes or so and then tell them either arrest you, write you a ticket, or you are leaving. If they refuse, call 911 on your cell phone and say "I've been here for 45 minutes, they won't tell me whether I did anything wrong, and I am leaving now". You can subpoena that later.
There is a truckload of caselaw that says it is unreasonable to detain you longer than necessary to write you a ticket and go on your way. So if they're trying to stall you to wait for the drug dog or whatever, you don't have to sit there ad infinitum...
As all this relates to the strip-mall car show, the cops should have never been under the hood of a car there in the first place. Each and every one of those guys with tickets would get out of it scot-free, unless they consented to the search...
People ought to have to take a mandatory class on knowing their rights.
Wow man someone should sticky that. Good knowledge to drop on the peeps. You should start a thread called, "Know your rights", we can have Vic sticky it.
04-02-2008, 02:48 PM
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Later the police tattooed identification numbers on the forearms of each person and loaded them onto boxcars for what the police called "processing".
Reports about gatherers being paraded around in front of drunken officers while being mocked and scientific experiments being performed on gatherers were categorically denied by authorities.
Oddly, every attendee we have contacted has not returned calls for comment.
Reports about gatherers being paraded around in front of drunken officers while being mocked and scientific experiments being performed on gatherers were categorically denied by authorities.
Oddly, every attendee we have contacted has not returned calls for comment.
04-02-2008, 02:49 PM
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The law has to prove you did something wrong. Being parked in a parking lot with a car with modifications is not against the law, unless said modificatons makes your car illegal as far as emissions. Being charged with something you may do is far and away against your constitutional rights and I would shove that right up the State's ***.
04-02-2008, 02:55 PM
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^ Because those violent criminals have already been apprehended, local law enforcement officials had no alternative but to crack down on the area’s rampant automotive hooliganism. It's the only crime left to be dealt with.
^ Because those violent criminals have already been apprehended, local law enforcement officials had no alternative but to crack down on the area’s rampant automotive hooliganism. It's the only crime left to be dealt with.
04-02-2008, 02:55 PM
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WOW....that's bad...though I've been in the middle of a few of those street racing busts and I always run...I really have no fear of getting my car impounded! CA sucks! Any cars with exhaust mods are illegal...so probably most of those modded cars are gonna have to go back to stock or something.
04-02-2008, 02:58 PM
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This is just sad.... these people were not street racing or doing anything illegal. They gathered in a parking lot for friendly talks and car enthusiast discussions, then they all end up getting tickets, and some have their cars taken away 
I hope they all fight those tickets and win
I hope they all fight those tickets and win
04-02-2008, 03:03 PM
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Unless it is against the law for having a NOX bottle in your car, who gives a rat's ***? The law has to prove you did something wrong. Being parked in a parking lot with a car with modifications is not against the law, unless said modificatons makes your car illegal as far as emissions. Being charged with something you may do is far and away against your constitutional rights and I would shove that right up the State's ***.
The law has to prove you did something wrong. Being parked in a parking lot with a car with modifications is not against the law, unless said modificatons makes your car illegal as far as emissions. Being charged with something you may do is far and away against your constitutional rights and I would shove that right up the State's ***.I watched this documentary on tv about street racing in CA, and there was this scene where the cops were all having a catered party at a junkyard while they watched like 200 cars they had seized for racing go through the crusher. They even invited the car owners, and some of them were interviewed on camera. Now THAT is some ownage...
Anyway, as to your question, I am assuming their legal theory is that NOX or all the other mods = equipment for street racing. That thinking has been around since the dawn of time, and does hold up in court. It's the same thing as it being perfectly legal to own a crowbar, right? But if you are out at 2am with one, then it is admissible evidence of intent to commit burglary...
I still think that won't go anywhere in this situation, though. It was clearly just a car meet. Can't do much racing with five HUNDRED people sitting in a parking lot. Cops are just out of control.
Last edited by CWW; 04-02-2008 at 03:07 PM.
04-02-2008, 03:19 PM
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Wow.. I cant believe what is happening... I am starting to really fear what our society will be like in another 2 or 3 yrs...
You get tickets for exhibition of speed at the discretion of the officer for doing ANYTHING in a moving vehicle.
You can have your car impounded on the spot for 50km/h over the limit and your license pulled and thrown in jail for 3yrs.
You can get raided and ticketed while your car is stationery and you are in a group of people just TALKING.
What is next???? Really scarey stuff!
You get tickets for exhibition of speed at the discretion of the officer for doing ANYTHING in a moving vehicle.
You can have your car impounded on the spot for 50km/h over the limit and your license pulled and thrown in jail for 3yrs.
You can get raided and ticketed while your car is stationery and you are in a group of people just TALKING.
What is next???? Really scarey stuff!
04-02-2008, 03:44 PM
#21
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Good opportunity for an attorney to do some pro bono work and tie up the DA for awhile costing the city a few thousand $$. They might think twice next time.
Complete BS.
Complete BS.
04-02-2008, 04:12 PM
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E500,CLK500K, E55
Will people never learn that you DO NOT HAVE TO CONSENT TO A SEARCH???
Jesus f'in christ. You know how many times I've been asked "you mind if we take a look in the vehicle", and have told them not till hell freezes over. They always pull the "well if you have nothing to hide..." crap, and I told one of them to save the guilt trips for his kids.
The other thing is, if you are detained and have already refused the search, then give them 20 minutes or so and then tell them either arrest you, write you a ticket, or you are leaving. If they refuse, call 911 on your cell phone and say "I've been here for 45 minutes, they won't tell me whether I did anything wrong, and I am leaving now". You can subpoena that later.
There is a truckload of caselaw that says it is unreasonable to detain you longer than necessary to write you a ticket and go on your way. So if they're trying to stall you to wait for the drug dog or whatever, you don't have to sit there ad infinitum...
As all this relates to the strip-mall car show, the cops should have never been under the hood of a car there in the first place. Each and every one of those guys with tickets would get out of it scot-free, unless they consented to the search...
People ought to have to take a mandatory class on knowing their rights.
Jesus f'in christ. You know how many times I've been asked "you mind if we take a look in the vehicle", and have told them not till hell freezes over. They always pull the "well if you have nothing to hide..." crap, and I told one of them to save the guilt trips for his kids.
The other thing is, if you are detained and have already refused the search, then give them 20 minutes or so and then tell them either arrest you, write you a ticket, or you are leaving. If they refuse, call 911 on your cell phone and say "I've been here for 45 minutes, they won't tell me whether I did anything wrong, and I am leaving now". You can subpoena that later.
There is a truckload of caselaw that says it is unreasonable to detain you longer than necessary to write you a ticket and go on your way. So if they're trying to stall you to wait for the drug dog or whatever, you don't have to sit there ad infinitum...
As all this relates to the strip-mall car show, the cops should have never been under the hood of a car there in the first place. Each and every one of those guys with tickets would get out of it scot-free, unless they consented to the search...
People ought to have to take a mandatory class on knowing their rights.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqMjMPlXzdA
04-02-2008, 04:16 PM
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Ya, the cops out there have turned into real *****. I mean, cops are usually always a-holes anyway, but cali takes the cake...
I watched this documentary on tv about street racing in CA, and there was this scene where the cops were all having a catered party at a junkyard while they watched like 200 cars they had seized for racing go through the crusher. They even invited the car owners, and some of them were interviewed on camera. Now THAT is some ownage...
Anyway, as to your question, I am assuming their legal theory is that NOX or all the other mods = equipment for street racing. That thinking has been around since the dawn of time, and does hold up in court. It's the same thing as it being perfectly legal to own a crowbar, right? But if you are out at 2am with one, then it is admissible evidence of intent to commit burglary...
I still think that won't go anywhere in this situation, though. It was clearly just a car meet. Can't do much racing with five HUNDRED people sitting in a parking lot. Cops are just out of control.
I watched this documentary on tv about street racing in CA, and there was this scene where the cops were all having a catered party at a junkyard while they watched like 200 cars they had seized for racing go through the crusher. They even invited the car owners, and some of them were interviewed on camera. Now THAT is some ownage...
Anyway, as to your question, I am assuming their legal theory is that NOX or all the other mods = equipment for street racing. That thinking has been around since the dawn of time, and does hold up in court. It's the same thing as it being perfectly legal to own a crowbar, right? But if you are out at 2am with one, then it is admissible evidence of intent to commit burglary...
I still think that won't go anywhere in this situation, though. It was clearly just a car meet. Can't do much racing with five HUNDRED people sitting in a parking lot. Cops are just out of control.
04-02-2008, 04:18 PM
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SL600
Ya, here you guys go...this is Cali's new initiative I was telling you about...
If they think you're street racing, they seize your car and have it crushed.
Here's the vid:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnmjVKlCHB0
And here's a news article:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19339955/
If they think you're street racing, they seize your car and have it crushed.
Here's the vid:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnmjVKlCHB0
And here's a news article:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19339955/
