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100 cars towed in record bust
Emily Bittner, The Arizona Republic  Nov. 3, 2003 12:00 AM

Phoenix police say a weekend raid was the largest known street drag-racing bust in Valley history, with at least 175 adults and teenagers arrested for various crimes associated with the growing problem. Police arrested 10 people for drag racing. More than 165 were booked on a variety of charges, including suspicion of trespassing, violating curfew and underage drinking, police said.

In addition, about 100 cars were ordered towed and 90 tickets were issued to drivers and bystanders around 47th Avenue and Mohave Street, just south of Buckeye Road. Police have long known the area was a drag-racing hotspot with street competitions that sometimes attract 500 cars. Drivers can pay up to $500 to enter races and the winner gets the pot, said Phoenix police Sgt. Scot Gillespie, who coordinated Saturday's effort.

Investigators say they've seen races along various streets throughout the city and suburbs. Phoenix police hope that by booking suspects and towing vehicles, they will send a stronger signal than earlier crackdowns in which police only issued tickets, Gillespie explained. "We want to put a message out that this will not be tolerated," he said. "These just have the potential for 15, 20 people to get killed instantly."

Those arrested for drag racing face fines of $500, a yearlong license suspension and community service, he said. Most of the drivers are in high school and race souped-up Hondas, Toyotas or Saturns. They play loud music, paint graffiti on buildings, drink alcohol and some buy drugs, police said. Spectators line the street and the drivers have about 20 feet of room to maneuver.

Although mostly teenagers participate in the events, bystanders and drivers span several generations. On Saturday, police arrested a 38-year-old man driving his mother's car, Gillespie said. An 18-year-old man baby-sitting for his family brought his 5-year-old brother to the races.

The stretch of Mohave Street, near an Arizona Public Service power plant, is desolate during the day. On the south, there are empty fields and to the north there are warehouses and a few new offices. Along the street, skid marks wind and crisscross as evidence of the weekend contests.

For Saturday's raid, a warehouse owner let police park their patrol cars inside an empty building, said Phoenix police Officer Frank Valenzuela. Early in the evening, the waiting officers got a scare when an ambulance drove by and the crowd scattered.

"Once they hear sirens, they think we're going in," Valenzuela said. But when participants believed the coast was clear, even more bystanders and racers showed up, he said. A little after midnight, officers opened the warehouse doors and more than two dozens patrol cars streamed out, blocking the racers' exits on the west and east sides of the street.

The operation cost $10,000 and involved 34 police officers, several civilians and eight tow trucks. Phoenix Councilman Claude Mattox applauded police efforts to keep the public safe.

"We're just trying to prevent people from getting hurt," Mattox said. "In some cases, you're trying to save them from themselves."

Drag racers cost taxpayers too much money and detract from public safety and services, he said.

"We're just trying to get back to the point of providing people with the services they need and expect."

David Cieslak contributed to this article. Reach the reporter at emily.bittner@arizonarepublic.com or (602) 444-6846.