An enforcement campaign targeting illegal street racing in Surrey resulted in nearly 100 violation tickets written in one night.
Surrey Police Service launched Project Rogue Racers, a targeted enforcement campaign aimed at preventing unsanctioned and illegal street racing and stunting events, in the wake of complaints from businesses and residents regarding the ongoing issue of street racing and stunting in South Surrey.
On Friday (June 6) – the second weekend of Project Rogue Racers – more than two dozen SPS officers, along with the Integrated Road Safety Unit (IRSU) and City of Surrey bylaw enforcement officers, attended the 2800-block of 192 Street, where dozens of vehicles and more than 300 spectators had gathered for illegal races.
Later in the night, SPS and IRSU moved up to the Port Kells neighbourhood on the Surrey/Langley border, where about 40 racers and some 200 spectators had gathered, an SPS release said.
By the end of the night, police had written almost 100 violation tickets for various offences, impounded five vehicles for excessive speeding, stunting and impaired driving, issued 12 Notice and Orders for illegal vehicle modifications, and issued two Immediate Roadside Suspensions for impaired driving.
Two vehicles were stopped after being clocked travelling 167 km/h and 171 km/h, respectively, in a 60 km/h zone. Both vehicles were impounded for seven days, and the drivers were issued $483 fines, the release noted.
“Illegal street racing and stunting is extremely dangerous and puts drivers, spectators, and other motorists at significant risk of injury. The potential for something to go wrong at such high speeds leaves no margin for error and it is only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured or killed,” SPS Staff Sgt. Lindsey Houghton said in the release.
“The irony is that there are places to legally race that cost a fraction of the fines that these drivers will get if they’re caught by police, and that does not include the lifetime of costs associated with being in a collision and hurting yourself or someone else.”
Drivers who are caught illegally street racing or stunting could face significant fines and penalties, in addition to tow and vehicle storage fees, from $138 to $196 for speeding, and $368 to $483 for excessive speeding; all speeding offences are three points.
Drivers caught stunting face vehicle impoundment and potential fines as well, the release notes.
Project Rogue Racers is to continue in Surrey throughout the rest of this year.
