HCSO Street Racing Initiative Nets Several Citations, Arrests

Harris County Sheriff's Office—August 28th, 2012

Deputies with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) Reserve Command conducted an initiative against street racing this weekend in west Harris County, resulting in the arrest of several drivers.

Marked and unmarked patrol units with the HCSO Reserves – made up of volunteer peace officers — targeted the area near Westheimer and State Highway (SH) 6 and along the Katy Freeway from Kirkwood to the Fort Bend County line.

The effort was in response to numerous complaints from residents in the area. The purpose was to target individuals who continue to break traffic laws by using the streets of Harris County as their race tracks.

During the operation, deputies issued over 40 traffic citations for various violations and arrested 5 drivers for street racing. One of the arrests also yielded charges of possession of a controlled substance.

“Do your auto racing on a video game at home,” Sheriff Adrian Garcia said. “If you’re going to race with each other in real cars on the streets of Harris County, you’ll eventually have to pay the price – in a deadly accident or in the court of law. Then you’ll have a ready-made audience you craved, except it will be at your funeral or in your cell block in the Harris County Jail.”

Street racing is a class B misdemeanor, with maximum punishment of a $2,000 fine, 180 days in jail and driver’s license suspension. Repeat offenders can be charged with a second degree felony, which could result in up to 20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. In street racing, passengers can be punished as severely as the driver. Spectators can also be fined.