Renton cracking down on street racing

10:29 PM PDT on Friday, July 8, 2005
By PAT McREYNOLDS / KING 5 News

RENTON, Wash. – The city of Renton may soon pass a new law that would allow police to arrest spectators.
For years, it was only the drivers who could be arrested for racing on city streets. But starting Monday in Renton, Wash., drivers as well as spectators lining the curbs could find themselves being thrown into the back of a squad car.
The street racers come from all corners of the state and have the technical advantage over the cops trying to catch them. They put spotters on rooftops with cellphones and radios. And even if the police get there in time, one or two officers can only bust a handful.
"I will be tickled to death and so will everyone of our patrol officers," said Sgt. Clark Wilcox, Renton Police Dept.
He says he is anxious to be armed with a new legal tool that will once again win back his city streets, like the popular stretch of 10th Avenue.
The new ordinance would make it illegal to watch or even be in the vicinity of a street race, starting with the maximum of 90 days in jail and $1,000 fine.
"These are people's sons and daughters out here and we just want to keep them safe," said Randy Corman, Renton city councilman.
"The City Council passes this ordinance. I guarantee you, we in patrol, we're going to make this work," said Sgt. Wilcox.
But that's also what they thought in Kent four years ago and even after hundreds of citations, the sport has only grown in popularity.
"Having the laws on the books is the first step. Giving us the tools to do what needs to be done is a huge help," said Lt. Steve Ohlde, Kent Police Dept.
Kent simply does not have the officers to catch or even slow hundreds of teens scattering in all directions using cellphones to hook up again a few miles away.
Neither does Renton, but with the new ordinance both cities can more easily join forces and keep the racers out.
"This is not just a Renton thing, this is the whole valley, and if everybody can get together, we can curb this and put a dent into it," said Sgt. Wilcox.
Street racing is everybody's problem because when these kids peel out and scrape paint, they claim to their insurance that they were victims of a hit-and-run, and those false claims raise everyone's rates.
And once their cars are fixed, the racers and spectators are back.
Under the new ordinance, second offenses can get participants up to a year in jail and a $5,000 fine.
Kent is the only other municipality in the valley to have a similar ordinance on the books.