Illegal Street Racing

Race Legal

July 17, 2004
You may have recently heard or read that RaceLegal.com, the alternative to Illegal Street racing program at Qualcomm Stadium had run into some financial difficulties. Management of RaceLegal.com has contacted my office for assistance and we are working with them and City officials to assist RaceLegal so they may continue operations at Qualcomm Stadium. My office has been in touch with the Police Chief, the City Manager and others to bring all parties together and resolve the issues.

I remain steadfastly committed to the RaceLegal program and will work hard to keep it a functioning entity. RaceLegal saves lives and it's a very important program for all of us.

San Diego Spectator Ordinance Upheld by Court of Appeal

City Attorney and Councilmember Madaffer Say the Spectator Ordinance Is Saving Lives March 30, 2004
The City's Spectator Ordinance (PDF: 94K) stays on the books. Today, the California Court of Appeal issued an opinion upholding the City's Spectator Ordinance, finding it was not preempted by state law. The ruling stems from a March 23, 2003, San Diego Police undercover operation in the vicinity of Highway 905 in Otay Mesa. The police detail was in response to business owners' complaints of a large group of motorcyclists, known as "905 Racing," performing stunts and exhibitions of speed, and spectators damaging the surrounding property.

Street Racing Alternative Receives National Award

The safer and sanctioned San Diego alternative to illegal street racing, RaceLegal.com, was presented with the prestigious Peter K. O'Rouke Special Achievement Award from the Governors' Highway Safety Association at their annual meeting in New Orleans this past week.

Dr. Stephen Bender, Principal Investigator for the local RaceLegal program, said that, "the fact that we have witnessed a 99% drop in the incidence of local illegal street racing activity combined with a 94% year-to-date reduction in illegal street racing related mortality/morbidity speaks well for the comprehensive San Diego "Closing the Loop" approach to intervening with the illegal street racing problem that has plagued San Diego for years."

"Change of that magnitude in such a short period of time is unprecedented," said Bender.

"San Diego's grass roots community based coalition approach to dealing with this deadly behavior has truly made a difference in terms of saving the needless loss of young lives and we are grateful that the Governors' Highway Safety Association choose to nationally recognize the San Diego based RaceLegal program along with San Diego Police Department's Drag Net team for their combined contribution", he said.

RaceLegal.com conducts the safer and sanctioned drag race alternative to illegal street racing in San Diego's Qualcomm Stadium west parking lot on dual side-by-side race 1/8-mile racetracks most Friday nights. For more information contact RaceLegal at (619) 265-8159 and/or www.RaceLegal.com.

Illegal street racing is becoming an increasingly serious problem in San Diego. Just in 2002, 15 young men and women have been killed in San Diego County. An additional 19 people have been severely injured due to illegal street racing. It is not rare to be driving along the freeway and have a few cars speeding past you at 80, 90 or 100 mph while racing against each other. And it is much more organized on the streets. There are a number of underground clubs and a wealth of information about where to race on the internet. On weekend nights a desolate street can turn into a scene of 500 kids willing to race or be a spectator, all of them risking their lives.

The dangers aside, street racing is also a nuisance to the community. It is disturbing while families try to sleep and it has the likely ability of causing tremendous property damage. Residents are not happy with the noise and the dangerous situations it places them in.

The City of San Diego is taking a couple of approaches to help put an end to illegal street racing. The first is passing a Spectator Ordinance within the City. Spearheaded by City Attorney Casey Gwinn, this ordinance makes it illegal to be a spectator at an illegal street race. If caught offenders will be prosecuted, fined upwards to $1,000 and eligible for up to 6 months in jail time. The Spectator Ordinance passed the City Council in October 2002 by a unanimous vote. Read Gwinn's press release about the Spectator Ordinance (PDF: 94K)

The second approach is finding a legal racing venue for participants. One such venue is the RaceLegal site at Qualcomm Stadium. RaceLegal provides a safe alternative for illegal street racers on Friday nights beginning at 7 pm. For more information call (619) 265-8159 or visit www.racelegal.com. Each night RaceLegal lets kids race lives are likely saved. We need this type of venue offered more often though. At the Natural Resources and Culture Committee, which Councilmember Madaffer chairs, Councilmember directed staff to examine the feasibility of full-time race venues in the City. Also, for a period of one year, Qualcomm hours will be extended to 1:00 a.m. while a new venue is sought. If you have suggestions for a legal race site where a 1/8 mile drag strip could be placed please fill out the form below.

Suggest a Legal Race Site

If you have suggestions for a legal race site where a 1/8 mile drag strip could be placed please fill out the form below: