Police gear up for auto show-Plan to put a stop to street-racing by patrolling roads
 

http://torontostar.com/NASApp/cs/Con...=1057270226512

Police gear up for auto show
Plan to put a stop to street-racing by patrolling roads

Cruisers will be equipped with latest technology


BOB MITCHELL
PEEL/HALTON BUREAU CHIEF

Police are bracing for potential street-racing trouble this weekend as more than 40,000 car fans are expected at Markham Fairgrounds for what is being billed as Canada's largest auto and urban lifestyle show.

Concerned that "Darknights Nationals" will attract street racers and young, inexperienced drivers caught up in the high-octane environment, officers with the newly created e-RASE (Eliminate Racing Activities on Streets Everywhere) joint-forces unit will be patrolling roads surrounding the event starting tonight.

The fifth annual event's Web site indicates that more than 1,500 show vehicles will be competing for trophies in various classes. The event also includes a basketball tournament, bikini pageant, and entertainment and music stage shows.

Although the event runs tomorrow and Sunday at the fairgrounds on McCowan Rd. north of Major Mackenzie Dr., between 60 and 80 officers from the Toronto, York, Peel, Durham, Halton and South Simcoe police forces, as well as the Ontario Provincial Police, will begin enforcement tonight.

"Last year we had a lot of problems on Friday night, so we're concerned things could happen before the weekend event," said York Staff Sergeant Doug Hall, head of the e-Rase unit. "We'll be targeting all the arterial roads surrounding the Markham Fairgrounds, including Highway 404 and 407."

Police laid more than 150 charges during last year's event, many for such aggressive driving manoeuvres as improper passing, tailgating and driving in unmarked lanes. They also charged drivers with operating cars where the seat belts and windshields had been removed, the horns disconnected, and the suspensions altered.

This weekend, all marked and unmarked police cruisers will be equipped with state-of-the-art radar detectors, known as Micro Wave Interceptors.

"We don't have any problems with the event itself," Hall said. "Our big concern is the driver behaviour that may (occur) coming in and out of the event.

"There will be a lot of young, inexperienced drivers with G1 and G2 licences, who have modified their cars with higher horsepower. The next thing you know, once their testosterone starts to flow, they decide to go up the road and an impromptu race occurs."

Hall said police are concerned there could be a lot of "erratic driving" and drivers "showing off" in the area.

The unit has been up and running since early last month. In two major blitzes so far, police have investigated more than 1,100 vehicles and laid more than 500 charges, including charging nine drivers with racing. The offence, similar to careless driving, carries six demerit points, a minimum $500 fine and a potential loss of licence.

One of the street races was stopped when a York police helicopter spotted two vehicles in an early-morning incident by using infrared viewing technology. Two 19-year-old Pickering men were charged with racing.

well I hope the other way in that TCC is planning doesn't get Jammed up with cops....

There are speed traps all the way down mccowan so watch out!! Mostly modified cars were pulled over onto a side stretch of road near the fair grounds, about 50 I saw. It will be the same this year

"They also charged drivers with operating cars where the seat belts and windshields had been removed, the horns disconnected, and the suspensions altered."

Why in the hell would you remove your seatbelts and windshield? horns disconnected on purpose? I don't see a purpose for people to do that. But its gonna be fun to drive around tonite lol.

Anyone remember KK lastyear before DKN? They massacred people there with tickets.

Man I'm going to be so peranoid (SP)driving to DKN. I have no problem with cops pulling people over for speeding and such..., but it pisses me off when cops pulls you over cause your car has a certain look, especially HONDAS. Makes me want to bring my van instead to DKN.

<cough> cashgrab <cough> :thumbup:

I always have the worst luck with cops, so i wouldn't be surprised if i get pulled over, for no reason what so ever. I wonder if they're also gonna be checking under the hood, and for illegal things on the car:confused:

I'm thinking of raising my car for the trip and then just lowering it @ the show :shrugs:

yea i read that in the paper...but this is no different than last year...

This isn't surprising... If it wasn't giving tickets for modded cars then it would be for something else :(

I got an idea... don't let Cantonagod lead the pack :D No one will get busted LOL J/K ... did a fine job to Niagara considering you had no way to tell how fast we were going :p I think we do the speed limit all the way up, yes? No passing within the group?


{legal}this is all a dream.... whoooo..... whooooooo..... none of this ever happened{/legal} :D

What about all the female import car drivers?

Where are they getting testosterone from?

Do they grow testicles and produce testosterone when driving an import?

I think not...

:D

:eek: so THAT's what those were :eek: LOL

Perhaps that explains some of the hairy SGR members.

My bad...

:richslap:

I actually just read the article and there is nothing bad or unfair said in it.

They said they dont have a problem with the actual DKN event but with stupid ass punks with G1 and or G2 licences that will bahave stupidly going to and leaving this show. Usually its these immature kids that will act unappropriatly.
And those will be the ones recieving tickets for the things mentioned in this article.

I am sure that if you all drive "NORMALLY" then you wont have any problems.

Regarding the "suspension"...well almost everyones car is lowered so if they plan on handing out tickets to all lowered vehicles then they will have a VERY VERY loooooooong day.

Don't worry !!!


Ohhh and about the testosterone ...uhmmmm how sexest was that guy writing that article. Stupid WANKER! :mad:

I don't think it matters if you have your G1 or G2 or full G for that matter, stupid drivers can have a G already and still do stupid ****, it's not the fact that they don't know how to drive, it's the fact that they choose not to drive properly.... that whole article is a pile of crap...
dang how do you mod your car with higher horsepower, where can i buy this horsepower? :rolleyes: i've seen plenty a ferrari and other exotic cars like that with dumb ass drivers, how come they don't blitz them, or camaro's and cars that are waaaaay faster than our civics from the factory...

I agree with EL_Sport, it's all a cash grab.....

this is why DKN is a waste of time...

Damn I'd be scared to drive if I was going (and if my car worked :lol:)

I agree it is a cash grab but unlike Importfest you can't take the subway or public transport to the show, so they don't really leave you much of a choice.

Maybe this year there wont be morons going 140 in a 60 on the road up to it

Craziness.. Why must the cops target a bunch of people who like their cars a little more than other people? Why don't they go clean up the city streets from sex offenders or something..