California Highway Patrol is cracking down on illegal street racing and dangerous driving in the state this summer.
Officers say the summer months, especially at night, often bring an increase in high-speed activity.
In the Oceanside area in San Diego County, officers say they have been actively looking for drivers participating in illegal street racing and other dangerous behavior on local freeways and roadways.
Body camera footage recently released by CHP Oceanside shows an enforcement effort from July capturing officers stopping suspected racers and making arrests.
The video shows just how quickly an incident can turn into an arrest.
“Your vehicle is going to be towed and then we’re going to figure out what’s going to happen with you,” an officer is seen telling a driver in the footage. “The way you were driving was extremely dangerous. You were cutting it up in lanes. You could have hurt somebody. You could have killed somebody.”
Officer Hunter Gerber of Oceanside CHP told Fox 5 News that those participating in reckless driving are usually young adult males.
“They do it for the thrill. They’re driving in and out lanes at high speed,” he said.
CHP says illegal racing not only puts the drivers’ life at risk, but also that of other motorists who suddenly find themselves sharing the road with others driving at extremely high speeds, leaving no time to react if something happens.
Officers say racing activity is more active during the summer months because people are out and about for other social gatherings later into the night.
To prepare, CHP conducts targeted enforcement actions, meant to identify racers before anyone is hurt or worse killed.
Officers are reminding drivers that illegal racing can lead to citations or arrest and also that in some circumstances, their vehicles can be impounded.
To all those that encounter reckless driver, CHP suggests that driver don’t engage the vehicles in any activity, keep their distance and report the incident to local law enforcement.
