DOJ Seal
U.S. Department of Justice 

Office of Community Oriented Policing Services 

COPS logo

Center for Problem-Oriented Policing logo
Center for Problem-Oriented Policing 
Got a Problem? We’ve got answers! 

Log onto the Center for Problem-Oriented Policing website 
at www.popcenter.org for a wealth of information to help 
you deal more effectively with crime and disorder in your 
community, including: 

• Web-enhanced versions of all currently available Guides 
• Interactive training exercises 
• On-line access to research and police practices 
• On-line problem analysis module 


Designed for police and those who work with them to 
address community problems, www.popcenter.org is a great 
resource in problem-oriented policing. 

Supported by the Office of Community Oriented Policing 
Services, U.S. Department of Justice. 


Problem-Oriented Guides for Police 
Problem-Specific Guides Series 
Guide No. 28 

Street Racing 

Kenneth J. Peak
Ronald W. Glensor


This project was supported by cooperative agreement 
#2002CKWX0003 by the Office of Community Oriented Policing 
Services, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions contained herein 
are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official 
position of the U.S. Department of Justice. 

www.cops.usdoj.gov 

ISBN: 1-932582-42-8 

December 2004 


About the Problem-Specific Guides Series 

The Problem-Specific Guides summarize knowledge about 
how police can reduce the harm caused by specific crime 
and disorder problems. They are guides to prevention 
and to improving the overall response to incidents, not 
to investigating offenses or handling specific incidents. 
The guides are written for police–of whatever rank or 
assignment–who must address the specific problem the 
guides cover. The guides will be most useful to officers 
who 

• 
Understand basic problem-oriented policing 
principles and methods. The guides are not primers in 
problem-oriented policing. They deal only briefly with 
the initial decision to focus on a particular problem, 
methods to analyze the problem, and means to assess 
the results of a problem-oriented policing project. They 
are designed to help police decide how best to analyze 
and address a problem they have already identified. (An 
assessment guide has been produced as a companion to 
this series and the COPS Office has also published an 
introductory guide to problem analysis. For those who 
want to learn more about the principles and methods of 
problem-oriented policing, the assessment and analysis 
guides, along with other recommended readings, are 
listed at the back of this guide.) 
• 
Can look at a problem in depth. Depending on the 
complexity of the problem, you should be prepared to 
spend perhaps weeks, or even months, analyzing and 
responding to it. Carefully studying a problem before 
responding helps you design the right strategy, one that 
is most likely to work in your community. You should 
not blindly adopt the responses others have used; you 
must decide whether they are appropriate to your local 
situation. What is true in one place may not be true 



elsewhere; what works in one place may not work 
everywhere. 

• 
Are willing to consider new ways of doing police 
business. The guides describe responses that other 
police departments have used or that researchers 
have tested. While not all of these responses will be 
appropriate to your particular problem, they should help 
give a broader view of the kinds of things you could 
do. You may think you cannot implement some of these 
responses in your jurisdiction, but perhaps you can. 
In many places, when police have discovered a more 
effective response, they have succeeded in having laws 
and policies changed, improving the response to the 
problem. 
• 
Understand the value and the limits of research 
knowledge. For some types of problems, a lot of useful 
research is available to the police; for other problems, 
little is available. Accordingly, some guides in this series 
summarize existing research whereas other guides illustrate 
the need for more research on that particular problem. 
Regardless, research has not provided definitive answers to 
all the questions you might have about the problem. The 
research may help get you started in designing your own 
responses, but it cannot tell you exactly what to do. This 
will depend greatly on the particular nature of your local 
problem. In the interest of keeping the guides readable, 
not every piece of relevant research has been cited, nor has 
every point been attributed to its sources. To have done so 
would have overwhelmed and distracted the reader. The 
references listed at the end of each guide are those drawn 
on most heavily; they are not a complete bibliography of 
research on the subject. 



• 
Are willing to work with other community agencies 
to find effective solutions to the problem. The 
police alone cannot implement many of the responses 
discussed in the guides. They must frequently implement 
them in partnership with other responsible private and 
public entities. An effective problem-solver must know 
how to forge genuine partnerships with others and be 
prepared to invest considerable effort in making these 
partnerships work. 

These guides have drawn on research findings and police 
practices in the United States, the United Kingdom, 
Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, and 
Scandinavia. Even though laws, customs and police 
practices vary from country to country, it is apparent that 
the police everywhere experience common problems. In 
a world that is becoming increasingly interconnected, it is 
important that police be aware of research and successful 
practices beyond the borders of their own countries. 

The COPS Office and the authors encourage you to 
provide feedback on this guide and to report on your 
own agency's experiences dealing with a similar problem. 
Your agency may have effectively addressed a problem 
using responses not considered in these guides and your 
experiences and knowledge could benefit others. This 
information will be used to update the guides. If you wish 
to provide feedback and share your experiences it should 
be sent via e-mail to cops_pubs@usdoj.gov. 


For more information about problem-oriented policing, 
visit the Center for Problem-Oriented Policing online at www. 
popcenter.org or via the COPS website at www.cops.usdoj. 
gov. This website offers free online access to: 

• the Problem-Specific Guides series, 
• the companion Response Guides and Problem-Solving Tools 
series, 
• instructional information about problem-oriented policing 
and related topics, 
• an interactive training exercise, 
• online access to important police research and practices, 
and 
• on-line problem analysis module. 



Acknowledgments 

The Problem-Oriented Guides for Police are very much a 
collaborative effort. While each guide has a primary 
author, other project team members, COPS Office staff 
and anonymous peer reviewers contributed to each guide 
by proposing text, recommending research and offering 
suggestions on matters of format and style. 

The principal project team developing the guide series 
comprised Herman Goldstein, professor emeritus, 
University of Wisconsin Law School; Ronald V. Clarke, 
professor of criminal justice, Rutgers University; John 

E. Eck, professor of criminal justice, University of 
Cincinnati; Michael S. Scott, clinical assistant professor, 
University of Wisconsin Law School; Rana Sampson, 
police consultant, San Diego; and Deborah Lamm 
Weisel, director of police research, North Carolina State 
University. 

Karin Schmerler, Rita Varano and Nancy Leach oversaw 
the project for the COPS Office. Rebecca Kanable edited 
the guide. Research for the guides was conducted at the 
Criminal Justice Library at Rutgers University under the 
direction of Phyllis Schultze. 

The project team also wishes to acknowledge the members 
of the San Diego, National City and Savannah police 
departments who provided feedback on the guides' format 
and style in the early stages of the project, as well as the 
line police officers, police executives and researchers who 
peer reviewed each guide. 


Contents 


About the Problem-Specific Guides Series i 
Acknowledgments v
The Problem of Street Racing 1
Related Problems 1
Factors Contributing to Street Racing 7
Understanding Your Local Problem 9
Asking the Right Questions 9
Data Gathering and Analysis 9
Tracking Racing Websites 11
Incidents 11
Victims 12
Offenders 13
Locations/Times 13
Current Responses 14
Measuring Your Effectiveness 15
Responses to the Problem of Street Racing 17 
General Considerations for an Effective Strategy 17 
Specific Responses to Street Racing 20 
Responses With Limited Effectiveness 27 
Appendix: Summary of Responses to Street Racing 29
Endnotes 33 
References 35
About the Authors 39
Recommended Readings 41
Other Problem-Oriented Guides for Police 45 


The Problem of Street Racing 


The guide begins by describing the problem of street 
racing and reviewing factors that contribute to it. The 
guide then identifies a series of questions that might assist 
you in analyzing your local street racing problem. Finally, 
the guide reviews responses to the problem and what is 
known about these from evaluative research and police 
practice. 

While street racing and cruising share some common 
characteristics, there are important differences between 
the two activities and those who participate in them.† 
Cruising typically involves an older crowd, and is a 
highly public and largely nostalgic event that is often 
confined to downtown areas. Cruising can also provide an 
economic boost to the community.†† Street racing typically 
involves a younger crowd that conducts its activities in 
an underground fashion to avoid police attention and 
presents significant risks of serious personal injury. 

Related Problems 

Police must also address other problems related to street 
racing, which are not directly addressed in this guide. 
Other problems that may call for separate analysis and 
responses include: 

• auto theft††† , 
• assaults (including assaults in retaliation for failure to 
pay racing bets1), 
• cruising, 
• curfew violations, 
• drunken driving and driving under the influence of 
drugs, 


† See the POP Guide on Cruising. 

†† Northern Nevada's "Hot 
August Nights" event, for example, 
generates $132 million for the Reno 
and Sparks economies, and brings 
more than a half million people to 
the area during the weeklong event 
(RRC Associates, 2003). 

††† Hondas, Acuras, and other 
preferred racing vehicles are among 
the top five makes of vehicles stolen 
nationally (Sloan, 2004). 





• gang-related activity, 
• insurance fraud (relating to racers betting on 
outcomes),† 

† For example, a racer wagers his 
car's racing wheels or custom seat 
covers and loses; he then files a 
police report and insurance claim 
stating the items were stolen in order 
to obtain a new set; or, a racer who 
blows an engine will abandon the 
vehicle and then report it stolen, to 
acquire money for a replacement 
(Sloan, 2004).

• illegal vehicle modification (e.g., smog control 
alteration), 
• illicit gambling, 
• noise complaints, 
• public intoxication/urination and other public order 
offenses, 
• theft and fencing of auto parts, 
• thefts from autos, 
• trespassing, and 
• vandalism and littering. 


The American street-racing tradition dates back to the 
1950s, and has long been a staple of Hollywood movies, 
including films such as "Rebel Without a Cause" (1955), 
"American Graffiti" (1973), and "Grease" (1978). But no 
movie did more to boost the popularity of street racing 
than the 2001 surprise hit, "The Fast and the Furious," 
which grossed nearly $80 million in its first 10 days in 
theaters and includes spectacular racing scenes and daring 
stunts (including one where a car swerves back and 
forth beneath a speeding tractor-trailer).2 Although the 
movie studio issued public service announcements that 
encouraged safe and legal driving, the film likely provided 
fresh inspiration to street racers.†† 

†† A 78-year-old man was killed in 
Los Angeles by a speeding driver 
who had just seen the movie, and in 
Redwood City, California, officers 
arrested six men caught racing 
down Interstate 280 at more than 
120 miles per hour; all had ticket 
stubs from the film in their pockets 
(Squatriglia and Nevius, 2003). In 
San Diego County, California, where 
the movie was made, 15 people were 
killed in racing-related incidents in 
the year after the movie's release 
(Reno, 2002). 


The street racing population consists of several distinct 
demographic groupings. One is estimated to be between 
18 and 24 years of age, generally living at home and 
typically having little income.3 Another group involves 
predominantly older (25 to 40 years of age) white males 
who engage in building and racing the older types of 




"muscle cars:" Corvettes, Camaros, Mustangs, and so on. 
Asian and Hispanic males of a wide range of ages and 
driving later model imported cars–such as Hondas, Acuras, 
Mitsubishis, and Nissans–are another group.4 Presently, 
the latter group dominates the street racing scene.5 

Police suspect that many racers engage in illegal activities 
in order to finance their hobby; some agencies report 
that stolen vehicles have been stripped of parts that were 
later recovered from street racing vehicles.6 Whether by 
lawful or unlawful means, many racers feel they must 
devote huge sums of money to "soup up" their race cars; 
a major upgrade, with supercharger blowers, nitrous oxide 
systems, and other high-performance equipment can easily 
exceed $10,000.7 For many racers, getting the maximum 
performance out of their cars is very important to them 
and they will expend a tremendous amount of time, 
money, and effort toward that end.8 

quebecstreetracing.org 
Image of upgraded car engine
Many street racers spend large amounts of money 
upgrading their cars' performance. 


How dangerous is street racing? Data are difficult to 
obtain, because neither the federal government nor the 
insurance industry tracks related casualties, nor is software 
yet available for creating a database of street racing.9 
However, measures are being taken in some jurisdictions 
to address this shortcoming and are discussed below. One 
unofficial estimate, derived from examining news reports 
and police data from 10 major cities and extrapolating 
on the basis of national population figures, is that at 
least 50 people die each year as a result of street racing.10 
Although related deaths are difficult to quantify, media 
reports confirm that street racing takes its toll on innocent 
people as well as street racers, passengers, and onlookers. 

At the root of the problem is the fact that youths have 
always had, according to one scholar, a "profound need 
for speed."11 This love of speed is not restricted to the 
youth of the United States; indeed, the problem has 
reached serious levels in Canada, Australia, Germany, 
England, France, New Zealand, and Turkey.12 In Canada, 
where a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer was 
killed by a racer in 200213 and another 18 people died in 
the Toronto area in street racing incidents during a four-
year period,14 a new law was introduced in which street 
racing is an aggravating factor when sentencing persons 
convicted of dangerously or negligently operating a motor 
vehicle.15 In Vancouver, British Columbia, street racing 
can include an activity known as a "hat race," also known 
as a "kamikaze" or "cannonball run," in which drivers 
put money in a hat; the money is taken to an undisclosed 
location from which a call is made, informing the drivers 
where the cash awaits. The first driver to get there wins 
all the money. Pedestrians have been killed during such 
races.16 



SDStreetracing.com 

Image of street race
Image of street racing
Race starters and observers are often positioned 
very close to the racing vehicles, putting 
themselves at considerable risk of injury. 

Today in the United States, the racing tradition replays 
itself during every weekend in thousands of communities 
in the nation. The primary difference today is that 
street races are extraordinarily brazen and elaborately 
orchestrated functions, involving flaggers; timekeepers; 
lookouts equipped with computers mounted in their cars, 
cell phones, police scanners, two-way radios, and walkietalkies; 
and websites that announce race locations and 
even calculate the odds of getting caught by the police.17 
Some websites even provide recaps of the previous night's 
races, complete with ratings of police presence, crowd 
size, and a link to the police agency so the curious can see 
if a warrant has been issued for their arrest.18 

Street races typically involve racers and spectators meeting 
at a popular gathering place, often on a relatively remote 
street in an industrial area. Here they decide where to 
race; they then convoy to the site, where a one-eighth or 
one-quarter mile track is marked off. Cars line up at the 
starting line, where a starter stands between them and 
drops his or her hands to begin the race. Several hundred 
spectators may be watching. Unlike racetracks that allow 
spectators to observe races in a safe, closed environment, 


these illegal street races encourage spectators to stand 
near possibly inexperienced drivers and poorly maintained 
vehicles–a combination that can be deadly for onlookers 
standing a few feet away from vehicles racing at highway 
speed.19 Other peripheral activities may be involved 
as well. For example, racers and spectators engage in 
what are termed "sideshows," such as using vehicles and 
onlookers to block off an intersection and thus backing 
up regular vehicular traffic for considerable distances and 
preventing the police from arriving at the scene; then the 
racers at the intersection engage in 360° burnouts, races, 
and so on.20 Racers also participate in what is termed 
the "centipede," where they form a convoy of vehicles 
and play follow-the-leader, darting in and around normal 
traffic at high speeds. Or, they may speed around corners 
to see how far they can slide their tires. 


Street racing can also be unorganized and sporadic in 
nature, involving impromptu, one-time races between 
persons who do not know one another; the police 
generally have little means for dealing with these types of 
racers other than utilizing the media to make it very clear 
that, if caught, the violators will be severely prosecuted.21 

The specific harms caused by street racing include: 

• 
vehicle crashes (deaths and injuries to drivers, 
passengers, onlookers, or innocent bystanders; and 
property damage); 
• 
noise (from racing vehicles and crowds); 
• 
vandalism and litter at racing locations (including 
businesses where racers commonly gather); 
• 
loss of commercial revenue (if racing crowds obstruct 
or intimidate potential customers); and 




• 
excess wear and tear on public streets (painted street 
markings commonly are damaged by the burning rubber 
of vehicle tires).22 

Retaliatory offenses may also occur, such as when citizens 
try to deal with the problem themselves by placing nails on 
the ground where racers congregate or vandalizing racers' 
cars, for example. 

Marion (Ind.) Chronicle-Tribune 

Image of wrecked car
Crashes caused by street racing are often spectacular
and cause serious injury and property damage.


Factors Contributing to Street Racing 

Understanding the factors that contribute to your problem 
will help you frame your own local analysis questions, 
determine good effectiveness measures, recognize key 
intervention points, and select appropriate responses. 


There are several reasons why street racing can become, or 
remain over time, a popular pastime in a community: 

• 
It provides an unsupervised activity and environment. 
• 
It attracts people who are too young for bars or other 
adult-only activities (especially in cities having a dearth 
of alternatives for their youth). 
• 
It affords a means of socializing with friends. 
• 
It provides a means of showing off one's motor vehicle 
and driving ability. 
• 
It provides drivers, passengers, and onlookers the 
exhilaration of speed.23 


Roadway location and design can also contribute to 
street racing. For example, a roadway located in a remote, 
perhaps industrial, area that is straight, wide, and close to 
arterial streets (for quick getaways from the police) will 
be favored by street racers.24 The existence of car clubs 
and/or gangs in an area can also create or exacerbate a 
community's street racing problems.25 


Understanding Your Local Problem 

The information provided above is only a generalized 
description of street racing. You must combine the basic 
facts with a more specific understanding of your local 
problem. Analyzing the local problem carefully will help 
you design a more effective response strategy. 

Asking the Right Questions 

Data Gathering and Analysis 

A shortcoming at present is the lack of dedicated coding 
and analysis of street racing data in most police agencies. 
No software presently exists for the identification and 
analysis of racing offenses, and agencies must typically 
hand search their records for higher-level analyses. 
Others have a dedicated calls-for-service code specifically 
for racing issues that the officers can use for reporting 
and communications personnel can query. A problem 
that can arise with such coding, however, is that it may 
fail to include other offenses that flow from, or arise 
out of, illegal racing (auto thefts, other thefts, assaults, 
trespassing, and so on), or to provide information about 
groups that gather at retail parking lots. At a minimum, 
the crime analysis unit or communications section should 
be contacted to determine how many personnel hours are 
spent at racing locations, including days of the week and 
times of day. Furthermore, the agency is advised to create 
at least a rudimentary database or modify existing records 
management systems so that street racing-related activity 
(including crimes, disturbances, traffic and pedestrian 
stops, vehicle and pedestrian traffic congestion, traffic 
crashes, arrests, etc.) can be tracked. If such a database 


does not exist, you may have to manually search through 
individual complaint records and police reports to 
determine which are related to street racing. 


California Agencies' Efforts to Obtain Racing Data 

Police in California have been attempting for years to convince the state 
to alter its accident investigation form to include coding for street racing. 
Once the procedure is developed statewide, agencies will be able to obtain 
reliable data. Until the new form is developed, the California Highway 
Patrol has disseminated a training memo instructing local officers where 
to include a racing-related notation. The key for California agencies, 
and eventually for other agencies nationwide, will be to provide officers 
with necessary training. Most officers are unfamiliar with street racing 
codes, rules, and laws; therefore, as the ability is expanded for agencies 
to track racing incidents, if the responding or investigating officer is not 
properly trained, a concern is that the proper boxes on the form will not 
be completed. The San Diego Police Department presently offers training 
in this regard; thus far, about 2,000 officers have been trained in how to 
determine when a racing relationship exists with a reported incident.26 

In Milpitas, California, each time an officer is either dispatched to any type 
of call for service or initiates any activity (e.g., traffic or pedestrian stops, 
arrests, citation, accepting a report of a crime, etc.), at the conclusion of 
that activity, the officer is required to provide the communications division 
with a classification code that identifies the specific type of activity. As 
with all other offenses, a specific classification was simply developed that 
includes street racing incidents. Race-related traffic enforcement stops; 
disturbances of any kind involving racers; crimes in which racers are listed 
as suspects; or other circumstances in which individuals are actively racing 
at, loitering about, or traversing to and from common racing venues are 
examples of such classifications.27 


Tracking Racing Websites 

Several race-related websites exist that may be used by 
the police to track racers' activities as well as provide 
useful information to racers. For example, Streetracing. 
com provides racing and club news, articles, events, 
calendars, chatrooms, message boards, auctions, and other 
information for many cities and states. The Specialty 
Equipment Market Association (SEMA) is a 5,000member 
trade organization for the aftermarket industry; 
although SEMA often mounts strong opposition to 
police efforts and proposed racing legislation, it may 
offer another avenue to reach racers through the retailers 
who sell parts.28 Others, such as RaceLegal.com and the 
National Hot Rod Association's NHRA.com, focus more 
on encouraging legal racing, and attempt to educate their 
readers about related laws and statistics (e.g., numbers 
of illegal racers who were recently killed, injured, cited, 
arrested, or who had vehicles seized or licenses revoked). 

The following are some critical questions you should ask 
in analyzing your particular street racing problem, even if 
the answers are not always readily available. Your answers 
to these and other questions will help you choose the 
most appropriate set of responses later on. 

Incidents 

• 
What is the level of calls for service and complaints 
attributable to street racing in the area? What, 
specifically, is the nature of these calls and complaints? 
• 
How many vehicle crashes are related to street racing? 
• 
How, specifically, does street racing contribute to 
these crashes? Racing vehicles crash into one another? 
Into stationary objects or pedestrians adjacent to the 
roadway? Into non-participating vehicles? 



• 
What percentage of these crashes involves fatalities, 
personal injuries, and property damage? Hit-and-run 
accidents? 
• 
Are younger, less experienced drivers more likely to be 
involved in vehicle crashes? 
• 
How many passengers are typically in racing vehicles? 
• 
Is traffic congestion caused by street racing impeding 
emergency traffic (e.g., ambulance and fire vehicles)? 
• 
Do business owners report decreasing revenues as a 
direct result of racers and spectators gathering on their 
premises? 
• 
Have there been any local occurrences (e.g., the closure 
of a local legitimate "drag strip") or issues that may 
have resulted in increasing street racing incidents? 
• 
Have there been reports of retaliatory offenses against 
street racers? 


Victims 

• 
Who is harmed by street racing (e.g., street racers, 
passengers, onlookers, innocent motorists, innocent 
bystanders, business owners, residents)? 
• 
What is known about the victims of street racing-
related incidents (e.g., demographics, their involvement 
in street racing)? 
• 
How many people have been killed or injured as a result 
of street racing? What is the nature and seriousness 
of those injuries? (You may want to examine hospital 
emergency room records because not all crash-related 
or assault injuries are reported to police.) 
• 
What is the public's opinion of street racing? Do 
people want street racing stopped or merely controlled 
in a legal setting? (Public opinion may be expressed 
in letters to the editor, surveys, meetings, informal 
conversations, formal complaints, and so forth.) 



Offenders 

• 
What is known about street racers, their passengers, and 
onlookers? (Age, ethnicity, group affiliation?) 
• 
If there are organized groups involved in street 
racing, are they criminal gangs? Are there tensions and 
confrontations between various groups involved in 
street racing? 
• 
Why do street racers say they race (e.g., lack of 
alternative activities, for social reasons, to show off 
their cars, for the thrill of speed, etc.)? 
• 
Do the participants include unsupervised youths who 
are on the streets in violation of a curfew? 
• 
Where do the racers live? Are they local or from out of 
town? 
• 
What percentage of persons cited or arrested for street 
racing are repeat offenders? 
• 
Who are the worst offenders? 
• 
Are street racers operating unsafe vehicles or vehicles 
that have undergone major modifications in order to 
maximize their speed? 


Locations/Times 

• 
What is the nature of the area where street racing 
occurs (commercial, industrial, residential, open 
highway, etc.)? 
• 
How much pedestrian traffic is there in the area where 
street racing occurs? What other special hazards are 
there in the area where street racing occurs? 
• 
Where are traffic crashes occurring that appear to be 
related to street racing? 
• 
Where is the major street racing-related traffic volume 
in the city? 



• 
Where are the hot spots, and how many related 
offenses have occurred (such as disturbances; assaults; 
and weapons, liquor, drug, curfew, noise, vandalism, 
littering, trespassing, graffiti, and traffic violations)? 
• 
Where are the preliminary gathering places for racers 
and spectators? 
• 
In which area(s) does street racing occur? What are the 
means of ingress and egress into the area? Does the 
racing occur in residential or industrial areas? On public 
streets, or state or federal highways? Privately owned 
roadways? 
• 
Is the racing concentrated in business areas, or 
residential areas, or both? 
• 
Why are the most concentrated racing locations 
attractive to street racers? 
• 
Is adequate lighting in these areas? 
• 
When does street racing typically occur (time of day, 
day of week, time of month or year, during certain 
holidays or special events)? 


Current Responses 

• 
Are there adequate state and local laws for meeting 
the needs of the police in addressing street racing 
problems? 
• 
Have stakeholders been identified and partnerships 
forged for dealing with the problem? 
• 
Do adequate resources exist for dealing with the 
problem? 



Measuring Your Effectiveness 

Measurement allows you to determine to what degree 
your efforts have succeeded, and suggests how you 
might modify your responses if they are not producing 
the intended results. You should take measures of your 
problem before you implement responses, to determine 
how serious the problem is, and after you implement 
them, to determine whether they have been effective. 
All measures should be taken in both the target area and 
the surrounding area. (For more detailed guidance on 
measuring effectiveness, see the companion guide to this 
series, Assessing Responses to Problems: An Introductory Guide 
for Police Problem-Solvers.) 

The following are potentially useful measures of the 
effectiveness of responses to street racing: 

• 
reduced numbers of various street racing-related 
offenses; 
• 
reduced numbers of calls for service concerning 
street racing, both in the racing area and across the 
jurisdiction; 
• 
reduced numbers of racers and spectators, if any, who 
are returning to their old racing spots; 
• 
reduced number and severity of injuries attributable to 
street racing; 
• 
reduced numbers of juveniles in violation of existing 
curfew and other laws; 
• 
increased satisfaction of complainants; and 
• 
increased profitability of businesses previously harmed 
by street racing. 



You should be alert to the possibility that your responses 
to street racing might displace racers and related offenses, 
either geographically or to other types of crimes. This 
might not be all bad if the displacement results in less 
overall harm. Crime and call-for-service data as well as 
websites should be monitored both locally and in other 
jurisdictions to determine whether racers are merely taking 
their activities to other venues. 


Responses to the Problem of Street 
Racing 

Your analysis of your local problem should give you 
a better understanding of the factors contributing to 
it. Once you have analyzed your local problem and 
established a baseline for measuring effectiveness, 
you should consider possible responses to address the 
problem. 

The following response strategies provide a foundation 
of ideas for addressing your particular problem. These 
strategies are drawn from a variety of research studies 
and police reports. There is little published research 
about street racing; most of what is known is drawn from 
police practice. Several of these strategies may apply to 
your community's problem. It is critical that you tailor 
responses to local circumstances, and that you can justify 
each response based on reliable analysis. In most cases, 
an effective strategy will involve implementing several 
different responses. Law enforcement responses alone are 
seldom effective in reducing or solving the problem. Do 
not limit yourself to considering what police can do: give 
careful consideration to who in your community shares 
responsibility for the problem and can help police better 
respond to it. 

General Considerations for an Effective Strategy 

1. Enlisting community support for addressing 
the problem. Broad-based coalitions that incorporate 
the interests of the community are recommended. A 
combined effort will maximize the effects of responses 
and enhance the likelihood of success. The involvement 


and support of public officials, citizens, and business 
owners will be essential for the success of most, if not all, 
of the specific responses listed below. 


Enlisting community support might include using 
members of a police Explorer post, citizens' police 
academy, senior citizens' groups, merchant association, and 
so on to report racers' activities to police.29 Community 
support might also come from those who provide racers 
with their equipment, including shops selling high-
performance car parts, and who are at risk for being 
burglarized for these parts. Although these shop owners 
may not wish to cooperate, if so inclined, they can be 
of considerable assistance in informing the police about 
racers' illegal activities. 

2. 
Educating and warning street racers. Street racers 
can be informed about the dangers and legal consequences 
of racing, as well as police enforcement intentions. Among 
the media you can use are street racing websites (on which 
they commonly announce past and future events, host chat 
rooms, and have message boards), police agency websites, 
newspapers, television, radio, and personal contacts with 
street racers. A publicity campaign about the problem and 
enforcement actions has been central to many efforts to 
combat street racing problems. Performance shop owners 
also might be asked to provide customers information 
about existing laws and potential penalties for racing. 
3. 
Conducting surveillance of the street racing 
scene. Street racers can be quite sophisticated in their 
efforts to avoid detection by police. Unmarked police 
vehicles, plainclothes officers, and video equipment 
may be covertly used to observe racers' movements and 
methods and to determine the problems they create, 



where they live, the kinds of cars they drive, license plate 
numbers, and so on. This allows for pre-race intervention, 
access to race areas to be closed off, and participants to 
later be charged. Racers' use of police scanners can be 
thwarted by using radio code words, in-car computers, 
and specially programmed cell phones. For example, one 
police agency programmed some cellular phones with a 
group-talk feature so that the officers and dispatchers 
could communicate effectively without using the police 
radio frequency when dealing with racer issues.30 Marked 
units and uniformed personnel can then be called in to 
assist with any arrests. During undercover surveillances, 
police can videotape illegal street races and participants; 
later, crime reports can be written for each race and 
used to prepare arrest warrants for drivers and court 
orders for vehicle seizures.31 Street racing websites can 
also be monitored for tracking racers' activities and 
communication. 

4. Encouraging others to exercise informal control 
over street racing participants. You may identify 
certain groups, organizations, or individuals who have 
the potential to exert significant influence over the 
behavior of street racing participants. For example, if 
street racing participants are high school students, school 
administrators might be persuaded to suspend or revoke 
the parking privileges of students identified as participants 
in or spectators of street racing incidents. Insurance 
companies, which also have an interest in the problem, 
may be persuaded not to pay claims for damages if the 
claimant was participating in racing.† Parents of street 
racing participants, properly educated about the dangers 
of street racing, may be encouraged to get more involved 
in controlling their children's behavior. 

† The San Diego Police Department 
trains insurance investigators in 
matters concerning racing (Sloan, 
2004). 


Specific Responses to Street Racing 

Enforcement 

5. Enforcing ordinances and statutes. You should 
review existing ordinances and statutes to determine 
whether police have adequate enforcement authority. 
Laws likely to be enforced against drivers include racing/ 
reckless driving, driving under the influence of alcohol 
or drugs, and driving with suspended/revoked licenses. 
In some jurisdictions police officers and vehicle emission 
enforcement agents jointly conduct smog equipment 
inspections on street racing vehicles, issue the owner a 
citation if the equipment was disconnected or modified, 
and even order the vehicle removed from the street until it 
is brought into compliance with the law.32 Officers might 
also attempt to identify people in the emissions testing 
industry who issue fraudulent emission certificates for the 
illegally modified vehicles.33 Drivers should be checked 
for proof of insurance and vehicle registration. Officers 
can work with automotive experts to identify street racing 
vehicles that have been illegally enhanced or altered, 
or have mechanical defects. Enforcement against non-
drivers might include violations for trespassing on private 
property of adjacent businesses, obstructing traffic (if 
standing in the roadway), or aiding in a speed contest (for 
people acting as starters for races). Dedicated race patrol 
teams may be necessary for concentrated enforcement 
during peak racing times.34 Enforcement of curfew laws 
might also reduce the numbers of juveniles present at 
racing venues. 


Following are some examples of how many police 
agencies have been aided with newly enacted ordinances 
and statutes in their attempts to prevent and address street 
racing: 

• 
In California, a conviction for engaging in a "speed 
contest" (defined as a motor vehicle racing against 
another vehicle or being timed by a clock or other 
device) consists of a fine up to $1,000 plus penalty 
assessments, up to 90 days in jail, or both. The 
perpetrator's license may be suspended or restricted for 
up to six months, and a police officer may impound 
a vehicle when the driver is arrested for engaging in a 
speed contest, for reckless driving, or for demonstrating 
exhibit of speed (for example, peeling or screeching 
of tires due to hard acceleration). A vehicle can be 
impounded for up to 30 days, and it costs the offender 
$1,500 to retrieve it. Persons who aid or abet any speed 
contest (such as a person who flags the start of the race 
or places a barricade on the highway) can be charged 
with a misdemeanor.35 
• 
The State of Texas enacted harsher penalties for street 
racing in 2003. The new law made street racing a more 
serious violation, punishable by up to six months in jail 
and a $2,000 fine for both drivers and passengers; and 
up to a $4,000 fine and one year in jail if the driver was 
intoxicated, had an open container of alcohol in the 
vehicle, or had previously been convicted of the same 
offense. Spectators can be cited and fined up to $500 as 
well. 





• 
Street racers can be charged with engaging in a speed 
contest and reckless driving, fined up to $1,000, and 
sentenced to six months in jail in Reno, Nevada. 
Spectators within 200 feet of an illegal street race can 
also be arrested and fined up to $200. The driver's 
vehicle can be impounded and storage fees assessed at 
$50 per day.36 
• 
The City of Fremont, California banned all traffic 
between 10 PM and 6 AM on 10 roads popular with 
street racers and allowed police to impound the vehicles 
of both drivers and spectators.37 
• 
The City of Santee, California made it unlawful for 
any individual to be a spectator (within 200 feet) at an 
illegal speed contest, or where preparations are being 
made for an illegal speed contest; violators are subject 
to fines of up to $1,000 and six months in jail. 


6. Impounding and/or forfeiting vehicles used for 
street racing. Vehicles may be impounded and a fee 
assessed in order for the owner to retrieve the vehicle 
under an ordinance when the driver is arrested for 
engaging in a speed contest, for reckless driving, or for 
demonstrating exhibit of speed (e.g., peeling or screeching 
of tires due to hard acceleration). A vehicle forfeiture 
ordinance may be enacted to declare a vehicle a nuisance 
and it can be permanently seized if it was used in a 
race or exhibition of speed and the driver has a prior 
conviction for certain serious driving offenses (such as 
reckless driving or evading officers). 
• 
The City of San Diego was among the first to pass a 
vehicle forfeiture ordinance, in 2003. A vehicle will be 
declared a nuisance and permanently seized if it was 
used in a race or exhibition of speed and the driver has 
a prior conviction for certain serious driving offenses 
(such as reckless driving or evading officers).38 






• 
The City Council of Los Angeles soon followed San 
Diego's example, also approving vehicle-forfeiture 
legislation. The vehicles are auctioned off and 
the money deposited into the city's general fund. 
Furthermore, police in both the City of Los Angeles 
and Los Angeles County can arrest spectators on 
a misdemeanor. In July 2003, the first man to be 
convicted under the Los Angeles law was sentenced to 
18 months' probation and 10 days community service.39 
The city uses state Bureau of Automotive Repair 
investigators to inspect vehicles suspected of being 
illegally modified by their owners; a city ordinance 
prohibits disconnection, modification, or alteration of 
pollution control devices, and cited drivers must return 
their vehicles to their original factory specifications.40 
• 
The City of Stockton, California, also targeted 
offenders' vehicles rather than the drivers, relying on 
the aforementioned state statute allowing the police 
to seize for 30 days vehicles that were used in reckless 
driving incidents.41 



7. Encouraging private businesses to adopt measures 
that will help address the problem. Owners and 
managers of popular street racing gathering places (where 
street racers meet and plan their activities, show off their 
cars, socialize, and the problems begin to occur) must 
be enlisted in efforts to discourage street racing activity. 
Among the helpful measures are: posting "no trespassing" 
signs and authorizing police to enforce them, limiting 
after-hours access, employing private security during 
weekends, and closing earlier. 


8. Closing streets and/or altering or restricting traffic 
flow and parking. Some jurisdictions have installed speed 
humps, barricades, "k-railing" (concrete barricades), and 
freeway message signs and billboards (both permanent and 
temporary) to control, warn, and inform racers;42 others 
authorize police to erect barricades and close streets when 
racing becomes a problem.43 Such latitude affords police 
the ability to move quickly to deal with problems as they 
develop. Parking can be prohibited on public properties 
and roadways in the race area to discourage spectators 
from congregating along roadsides during prime racing 
hours; offenders' vehicles can be towed. 

Ontario (Calif.) Police Department 
Image of street closure sign
Closing streets during peak racing times can help control street 
racing without unnecessarily disrupting legitimate traffic. 

Providing a Safe Alternative 

9. Creating or encouraging racers' legal alternatives, 
such as relocating to a legal racing area. Several 
cities and counties have successfully addressed their 
illegal street racing problem by creating, either on their 
own or in collaboration with other organizations, a legal 
racing venue. This is intended to divert people to a safer 


racing environment, which allows racers to experience 
some of the positive aspects of legal drag racing–the 
fun, camaraderie, and excitement. Police can either align 
with an existing national program (for example, Beat the 
Heat, Racers Against Street Racing, the National Hot Rod  
Association) that encourages safe, legal, on-track racing, 
or implement their own local program.† Participant rules 
should be in place, such as racers must possess a valid 
driver's license and vehicle insurance, submit to vehicle 
safety inspections, and refrain from any use of alcohol at 
the event.44 

Novato (Calif.) Police Department 

Image of police cruiser as a street racer
Legal, track-based alternatives to street racing are becoming more numerous. 
Among them is "Project X", a program initiated in 1997 to bridge the gap 
between police officers and high school aged street racers. 

† See the Redding (Calif.) Police 
Department street racing web
page at www.reddingpolice.org/
StreetLegalDrags/ 

Following are examples of such efforts: 

• 
Beat the Heat is a national Cops and Kids community 
policing drag race program, which involves police 
officers in 30 states and two Canadian provinces. As 
an example, a police officer in Wewoka, Oklahoma 
(population 4,000) initiated the program. The officer 
races local men and women in his 1972 Chevrolet 
Camaro (with a 545-horsepower engine) at a local 
track. Teens can serve as honorary pit crew members 


for the Camaro.45 The program originated in 1984 with 
the Jacksonville, Florida, Sheriff's Department and 
has grown rapidly; in 1999, more than 1 million young 
people were given the message that they should go to 
tracks to race their cars instead of racing in the street.46 


• 
Concerned about illegal street racing and the dearth 
of legal racing venues, automobile manufacturers, 
police officials, racetrack owners, racers, automobile 
parts manufacturers, and the media met in California 
in early 2001 and formed Racers Against Street Racing 
(RASR); this organization is becoming a countrywide 
phenomenon that is being tested in driver's education 
classrooms and consists of a curriculum and video. 
RASR addresses the realities of street racing, and 
informs students about local street racing laws and legal 
alternatives in local areas.47 
• 
An officer in Redding, California obtained $4,000 from 
local businesses to help start a racing program, "Street 
Legal Drags," at a local drag strip in mid-2002. Soon 
there were more than 200 cars (drivers paying $10 
to race) and more than 2,500 spectators (assessed $5 
per carload). Signs are posted informing racers how 
to register their vehicles, proceed to the starting line, 
and leave the track after the race. The Redding police 
website explains the program and provides detailed 
instructions for participants. Participants must have 
a registered, insured, safety-inspected vehicle and a 
valid driver's license; and no alcohol is allowed on the 
premises.48 
• 
Las Vegas, Nevada has Midnight Mayhem, Friday night 
amateur drag races from 10 PM to 2 AM at the local 
speedway's drag strip. The cost is $10 for drivers and $5 
for spectators, and each night's activities include music, 
car shows, and other events for the 2,500 spectators 
and 400 drivers.49 



Responses With Limited Effectiveness 

10. 
Installing speed bumps. The installation of speed 
bumps can reduce or halt street racing, but they are 
hazardous to emergency vehicles and large trucks. Speed 
humps, on the other hand, which are more gradual than 
speed bumps, permit vehicles to cross them safely at the 
speed limit and create less risk to trucks and emergency 
vehicles. 

11. 
Arresting and charging spectators as race 
participants. Arresting participants for unlawful assembly 
or curfew violations can be ineffective if a local court 
rules that street race spectators are not participants. 

12. 
Citing and releasing racers. Issuing citations 
to racers or spectators may be ineffective and a weak 
deterrent, because many such individuals believe that a 
citation is "just part of doing business." Furthermore, 
some parents disagree with laws intended to curb racing 
and believe that their children should be allowed to 
observe such activities and will simply pay the fine for the 
youth.50 

13. 
Deploying decoy police vehicles. Placing "phantom 
cars"–unoccupied marked police cars–in racing areas to 
create the appearance of a police presence will generally 
not be effective, and the vehicles may be vandalized.51 



Appendix 

Appendix: Summary of Responses to 
Street Racing 

The table below summarizes the responses to street 
racing, the mechanism by which they are intended to 
work, the conditions under which they ought to work 
best, and some factors you should consider before 
implementing a particular response. It is critical that you 
tailor responses to local circumstances, and that you can 
justify each response based on reliable analysis. In most 
cases, an effective strategy will involve implementing 
several different responses. Law enforcement responses 
alone are seldom effective in reducing or solving the 
problem. 

Response 
No. 
Page No. Response How It Works Works Best If… Considerations 
General Considerations for an Effective Response Strategy 
1. 17 Enlisting 
community 
support for 
addressing the 
problem 
Maximizes the 
community 
efforts by 
involving people 
as stakeholders 
…public officials, 
government 
agencies, 
insurance 
companies, 
business owners 
(including car 
parts stores), 
and citizens are 
involved in the 
effort 
Involvement of 
such individuals 
and entities 
are key to the 
success of 
responses that 
are employed 
2. 18 Educating and 
warning street 
racers 
Informs the 
street racers 
about the 
nature and 
extent of the 
problem from 
the community, 
police, legal, 
and safety 
perspectives 
…the racers are 
informed of 
new and existing 
racing laws and 
enforcement 
actions to be 
taken, and then 
begin to fear 
arrest 
Street racing 
and police 
agency websites, 
newspapers, 
television, radio, 
and personal 
contacts with 
street racers may 
be used 


Response 
No. 
Page No. Response How It Works Works Best If… Considerations 
3. 18 Conducting 
surveillance of 
the street racing 
scene 
Allows police to 
take preventive 
action to 
discourage 
street racing and 
to apprehend 
violators by 
providing them 
with knowledge 
about street 
racing times, 
locations, and 
offenders 
…illegal races 
are prevented 
and access to 
race areas are 
blocked 
Officers may 
encounter 
staffing shortages 
for large-scale 
operations; ifracers become 
aware of police 
tactics, it will 
become more 
difficult to 
infiltrate the 
crowds52 
4. 19 Encouraging 
others to 
exercise informal 
control over 
street racing 
participants 
Persuades 
street racing 
participants to 
cease or curtail 
racing activity 
through informal 
social control 
…street racing 
participants 
respect the 
opinions ofthose seeking 
to control 
their behavior 
and/or fear the 
consequences 
of failing to 
heed informal 
warnings 
Street racing 
participants who 
feel marginalized 
from society 
are unlikely 
to respond to 
informal social 
control methods 
Specific Responses to Street Racing 
5. 20 Enforcing 
ordinances and 
statutes 
Deters offenders 
through threat 
of fines, 
incarceration, 
or seizure of 
vehicles 
…enforcement 
is sufficiently 
certain that 
offenders believe 
they are likely to 
be apprehended; 
prosecutors 
are willing to 
prosecute and 
judges impose 
sufficient 
sanctions 
Can be labor 
intensive and 
time consuming; 
creates risks of 
high-speed chases 
6. 22 Impounding 
and/or forfeiting 
vehicles used for 
street racing 
Deters speed 
racers through 
threat of loss 
of valuable 
property and 
means to race 
…the ordinance 
is widely 
publicized to 
deter illegal 
racing, and an 
impound fee is 
assessed in order 
for the driver 
to reclaim the 
vehicle 
Ordinances 
must be enacted 
providing for 
impounding or 
seizing vehicles; 
city prosecutors 
and other public 
officials must 
first support this 
approach 


Append x 

Response 
No. 
Page No. Response How It Works Works Best If… Considerations 
7. 23 Encouraging 
private 
businesses to 
adopt measures 
that will help 
address the 
problem 
Deters racers 
and spectators 
from gathering 
to plan their 
activities and 
engaging in 
crime and 
disorder 
…such measures 
as posting "no 
trespassing" 
signs, controlling 
access to the 
parking lot, 
hiring private 
security, and 
closing the 
business early 
can be used 
Can be costly for 
business owners, 
both in terms of 
outlay (e.g., to hire 
private security 
personnel) and in 
lost revenues if 
closing early 
8. 24 Closing 
streets and/or 
restricting 
traffic flow and 
parking 
Prevents racers 
from using 
preferred roads; 
discourages 
spectators from 
gathering along 
roads 
…there 
are limited 
alternative streets 
on which to race 
May disrupt other 
legitimate use ofthe roadway; may 
displace racing 
to other more 
dangerous roads 
9. 24 Creating and/or 
encouraging 
racers' 
relocation to a 
legal racing area 
Diverts street 
racers to a safe, 
sanctioned 
location 
…street racers 
are willing to 
race at legal 
racing venue; 
private enterprise 
is willing to fund 
and staff the 
racing venue 
Legal liability and 
safety issues must 
be addressed 
Responses With Limited Effectiveness 
10. 27 Installing speed 
bumps 
Speed bumps, 
as opposed to 
speed humps, 
can damage the 
undercarriages 
of large vehicles 
and interfere with 
emergency vehicle 
responses 
11. 27 
Arresting 
and charging 
spectators 
as race 
participants 
Defining 
spectators as 
participants may 
not withstand legal 
challenge 


Response 
No. 
Page No. Response How It Works Works Best If… Considerations 
12. 27 Citing and 
releasing racers 
Fines may be 
inadequate to deter 
persons heavily 
committed to 
racing 
13. 27 Deploying 
decoy police 
vehicles 
Police vehicles 
are vulnerable to 
vandalism 


Endnotes 

Endnotes 

1 
Ontario Police Department (2000). 

2 
Orwall (2001). 

3 
Lau (2002); also see Ontario Police Department 
(2000), where the problem primarily involved "young 
adults." 

4 
Wilkinson (1996). 

5 
Clar (2003); also see San Diego Police Department 
(2003) and Stockton Police Department (2003). 

6 
Lowery (2003). 

7 
Wilkens (2003b). 

8 
Leigh (1995). 

9 
San Diego Police Department (2003). 

10 
Neil (1999). 

11 
Wilkens (2003a), quoting Stephen Bender. 

12 
Wilkens (2003a). 

13 
CBC News (2002). 

14 
Toronto.cbc.ca (2002). 

15 
CBC News (2003). 

16 
Rendon (2001). 

17 
Wilkens (2003a). 

18 
Dobner (2001). 

19 
Lau (2002). 

20 
San Diego Police Department (2003). 

2 
Sloan (2004). 

2 
Ontario Police Department (2000). 

2 
Lau (2002). 

2 
Stockton Police Department (2003). 

2 
Wilkinson (1996). 

2 
Sloan (2004). 

2 
Pangelinan (2004). 

2 
Stokes (2003). 

2 
Milpitas Police Department (2002). 

30 
Pangelinan (2004). 

31 
Stockton Police Department (2003). 


32 
Wilkinson (1996). 

33 
San Diego Police Department (2003). 

34 
Lowery (2003). 

35 
Clar (2003). 

36 
Reno Police Department (2003). 

37 
Squatriglia (2003). 

38 
Velasquez (2003). 

39 
Munoz (2003). 

40 
Los Angeles Police Department (2001). 

41 
Stockton Police Department (2003). 

42 
Ontario Police Department (2000). 

43 
Reno Police Department (2003); also see Ontario 
Police Department (2000) for passage and successful 
use of a new street-closure ordinance. 

44 
See, for example, Wilkens (2003a), concerning a 
university professor who founded a nonprofit group 
that sponsors legal racing at San Diego's Qualcomm 
Stadium. 

45 
Brinsfield (2001). 

46 
Sibley (2001). 

47 
Stokes (2003); PR Newswire Association (2003). 

48 
Redding Police Department (2003). 

49 
Przybys (2003). 

50 
Ontario Police Department (2000). 

51 
Wilkinson (1996). 

52 
San Diego Police Department (2003). 


References 

References 

Brinsfield, S. (2001). "'Beat the Heat' Revs Up Anti-
Drug Programs." www.americanprofile.com/issues 
(Accessed July 14, 2003). 

CBC News, "Street Racing in Canada." www.cbc.ca/news/ 
features/streetracing030205.html (Accessed April 29, 
2004). 

CBC News, "Two Men Charged in Death of a B.C. RCMP 
Officer." www.cbc.ca/stories/2002/09/16/rcmp_ 
crach020916 (Accessed April 29, 2004). 

Clar, J. (2003). "Chapter 411: Putting the Brakes on the 
Dangerous Street Racing Phenomenon in California." 
34 McGeorge L. Rev. 372 (Winter). 

Dobner, J. (2001). "Speed Demons." The San Diego Union-
Tribune, August 5, p. N1. 

Lau, A. (2001). "Tapping the Brakes: Police Sweeps Aim 
to Stop Street Racing Sites for Legal Events Sought." 
The San Diego Union-Tribune, July 7, p. B1. 

Leigh, A. (1995). "Youth and Street Racing." Current Issues 
in Criminal Justice 7 (3) (March):2. 

Los Angeles Police Department, Press Release, "Illegal 
Street Racer Police Sweeps Keep Streets Safer 
in Valley." June 24. www.lapdonline.org.press_ 
releases/2001 (Accessed July 11, 2003). 

Lowery, Jr., P. J. (2003). "Curb Illegal Street Racing." The 
Police Chief 70 (1) (September):51–54. 


Milpitas Police Department (2002). "Street Racer 
Abatement Project." Submission for the Herman 
Goldstein Award for Excellence in Problem-Oriented 
Policing. 

Munoz, H. (2003). "Sun Valley Residents Laud Crackdown 
on Drag Racing." Los Angeles Times, June 21, 2003, p. 
B4. 

Neil, D. (1999). "Heads Up, No Bust, on Asphalt." Car and 
Driver, January 1999, pp. 149–156. 

Ontario Police Department (2000). "Slamming the Brakes 
on Street Racing in Ontario." Submission for the 
Herman Goldstein Award for Excellence in Problem-
Oriented Policing. 

Orwall, B. (2001). "Fearing Copycats, Universal Warns 
Against Mimicking New Action Film." Wall Street 
Journal, June 21, p. B1. 

Pangelinan, S. (2004). City of Milpitas, California, Police 
Department, personal communication, May 21, 2004. 

PR Newswire Association (2003). "SEMA Takes Action to 
Curtail Illegal Street Racing." May 29. web.lexis-nexis. 
com/universe (Accessed July 14, 2003). 

Przybys, J. (2003). "Ready to Roll." Las Vegas Review-
Journal, June 15, p. 1J. 

Redding Police Department, website, www.reddingpolice. 
org/rpdstreet legaldrags.html. (Accessed August 12, 
2003). 


References 

Rendon, P. (2001). "The Thrill That Kills." Maclean's, 
September 17, pp. 36–38. 

Reno Police Department, Press Release (2003). "Illegal 
Street Racing Operation Dragnet." June 29. www. 
cityofreno.com/pub_safety/police/news (Accessed 
July 11, 2003). 

Reno, J. (2002). "Furiously Fast Racing." Newsweek, 
November 4, p. 10. 

RRC Associates (2003). Hot August Nights: 2003 Special 
Event Research and Visitor Profile Study. Boulder, Colo.: 
Author. 

San Diego Police Department (2003). "Drag-Net." 
Submission for the Herman Goldstein Award for 
Excellence in Problem-Oriented Policing. 

Sibley, M. (2001). "'Beat the Heat': A Youth Program 
Races to Keep Kids Off the Street." Law and Order 49 
(2):60–64. 

Sloan, G. (2004). City of San Diego, California, Police 
Department, personal communication, May 21, 2004. 

Squatriglia, C., and C. W. Nevius (2003). "Police Gear 
Up for Summer of Speed and Reckless Driving." San 
Francisco Chronicle, June 11, p. A1. 

Stockton Police Department (2003). "Project Black Flag." 
Submission for the Herman Goldstein Award for 
Excellence in Problem-Oriented Policing. 


Stokes, D. (2003). "Racers Against Street Racing." Law and 
Order 51(1) (January):77–79. 

Toronto.cbc.ca (2002). "Photo-radar Floated as Cure for 
Drag Racing." http://toronto.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/ 
View?filename=race_150702 (Accessed April 29, 
2004). 

Velasquez, M. (2003). City of San Diego, California, 
Press Release, "First City in the State to Pass 'Vehicle 
Forfeiture' Ordinance!" (April 7). 

Wilkens, J. (2003a). "Slamming on the Brakes: Legal 
Alternative, Strict Enforcement Bring Street Racing to 
a Screeching Halt." The San Diego Union-Tribune, March 
23, p. E1. 

(2003b). "Street Racing's Deadly Finish: Legal 
Events, Police Not Slowing Need for Speed." The San 
Diego Union-Tribune, July 27, p. A1. 

Wilkinson, T. (1996). San Diego, California, Police 
Department, Northern Patrol Division. Submission 
for the Herman Goldstein Award for Excellence in 
Problem-Oriented Policing. 


About the Authors 

About the Authors 

Ronald W. Glensor 

Ronald W. Glensor is a deputy chief of the Reno, Nev., Police 
Department. He has more than 26 years of police experience 
and has commanded the department's patrol, administration, 
and detective divisions. Glensor is recognized internationally 
for his work in community policing and has advised more 
than 500 agencies throughout the United States, Canada, 
Australia, and the United Kingdom. He was a research 
fellow at the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) in 
Washington, D.C., where he was responsible for problem-
solving training, and an Atlantic fellow in London, where he 
examined repeat victimization at the British Home Office. 
He received PERF's Gary P. Hayes Award in 1997. He 
coauthored Community Policing and Problem-Solving: Strategies and 
Practices, Police Supervision, and Policing Communities: Understanding 
Crime and Solving Problems. He has a master's in public 
administration and policy and a doctorate in political science 
from the University of Nevada, Reno. 

Kenneth J. Peak 

Ken Peak is professor and former chair of the Department 
of Criminal Justice, University of Nevada, Reno. He entered 
municipal policing in Kansas in 1970 and subsequently held 
positions as a nine-county, LEAA-funded criminal justice 
planner in Kansas; director of the four-state Technical 
Assistance Institute for the Law Enforcement Assistance 
Administration; director of university police at Pittsburg State 
University, Kan.; acting public safety director at the University 
of Nevada, Reno; and assistant criminal justice professor at 
Wichita State University, Kan. He has authored or coauthored 


16 textbooks (on community policing, justice administration, 
police supervision, general policing, and women in 
policing), as well as two historical books on bootlegging and 
temperance and more than 50 journal articles and additional 
book chapters. He is past chairman of the police section of 
the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences and past president 
of the Western and Pacific Association of Criminal Justice 
Educators. He received two gubernatorial appointments to 
statewide criminal justice committees while in Kansas, and 
holds a doctorate from the University of Kansas. 



Recommended Read ngs 

Recommended Readings 

• 
A Police Guide to Surveying Citizens and Their 
Environments, 
Bureau of Justice Assistance, 1993. This 
guide offers a practical introduction for police practitioners 
to two types of surveys that police find useful: surveying 
public opinion and surveying the physical environment. It 
provides guidance on whether and how to conduct cost-
effective surveys. 
• 
Assessing Responses to Problems: An 
Introductory Guide for Police Problem-Solvers, 


by John E. Eck (U.S. Department of Justice, Office of 
Community Oriented Policing Services, 2001). This guide 
is a companion to the Problem-Oriented Guides for Police series. 
It provides basic guidance to measuring and assessing 
problem-oriented policing efforts. 

• 
Conducting Community Surveys, by Deborah Weisel 
(Bureau of Justice Statistics and Office of Community 
Oriented Policing Services, 1999). This guide, along with 
accompanying computer software, provides practical, basic 
pointers for police in conducting community surveys. The 
document is also available at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs. 
• 
Crime Prevention Studies, 
edited by Ronald V. Clarke 
(Criminal Justice Press, 1993, et seq.). This is a series of 
volumes of applied and theoretical research on reducing 
opportunities for crime. Many chapters are evaluations of 
initiatives to reduce specific crime and disorder problems. 



• 
Excellence in Problem-Oriented Policing:The 
1999 Herman Goldstein Award Winners. This 
document produced by the National Institute of Justice 
in collaboration with the Office of Community Oriented 
Policing Services and the Police Executive Research Forum 
provides detailed reports of the best submissions to the 
annual award program that recognizes exemplary problem-
oriented responses to various community problems. A 
similar publication is available for the award winners from 
subsequent years. The documents are also available at www. 
ojp.usdoj.gov/nij. 
• 
Not Rocket Science? Problem-Solving and Crime 
Reduction, 
by Tim Read and Nick Tilley (Home Office 
Crime Reduction Research Series, 2000). Identifies and 
describes the factors that make problem-solving effective 
or ineffective as it is being practiced in police forces in 
England and Wales. 
• 
Opportunity Makes the Thief: Practical Theory 
for Crime Prevention, 
by Marcus Felson and Ronald V. 
Clarke (Home Office Police Research Series, Paper No. 98, 
1998). Explains how crime theories such as routine activity 
theory, rational choice theory and crime pattern theory 
have practical implications for the police in their efforts to 
prevent crime. 
• 
Problem Analysis in Policing, by Rachel Boba (Police 
Foundation, 2003). Introduces and defines problem 
analysis and provides guidance on how problem analysis 
can be integrated and institutionalized into modern 
policing practices. 



Recommended Read ngs 

• 
Problem-Oriented Policing, by Herman Goldstein 
(McGraw-Hill, 1990, and Temple University Press, 1990). 
Explains the principles and methods of problem-oriented 
policing, provides examples of it in practice, and discusses 
how a police agency can implement the concept. 
• 
Problem-Oriented Policing and Crime Prevention, 
by Anthony A. Braga (Criminal Justice Press, 2003). 
Provides a through review of significant policing research 
about problem places, high-activity offenders, and repeat 
victims, with a focus on the applicability of those findings 
to problem-oriented policing. Explains how police 
departments can facilitate problem-oriented policing by 
improving crime analysis, measuring performance, and 
securing productive partnerships. 
• 
Problem-Oriented Policing: Reflections on the 
First 20 Years, by Michael S. Scott (U.S. Department of 
Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, 
2000). Describes how the most critical elements of 
Herman Goldstein's problem-oriented policing model have 
developed in practice over its 20-year history, and proposes 
future directions for problem-oriented policing. The report 
is also available at www.cops.usdoj.gov. 
• 
Problem-Solving: Problem-Oriented Policing in 
Newport News, by John E. Eck and William Spelman 
(Police Executive Research Forum, 1987). Explains the 
rationale behind problem-oriented policing and the 
problem-solving process, and provides examples of 
effective problem-solving in one agency. 



• 
Problem-Solving Tips: A Guide to Reducing 
Crime and Disorder Through Problem-Solving 
Partnerships by Karin Schmerler, Matt Perkins, Scott 
Phillips, Tammy Rinehart and Meg Townsend. (U.S. 
Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented 
Policing Services, 1998) (also available at www.cops.usdoj. 
gov). Provides a brief introduction to problem-solving, 
basic information on the SARA model and detailed 
suggestions about the problem-solving process. 
• 
Situational Crime Prevention: Successful Case 
Studies, 
Second Edition, edited by Ronald V. Clarke 
(Harrow and Heston, 1997). Explains the principles and 
methods of situational crime prevention, and presents over 
20 case studies of effective crime prevention initiatives. 
• 
Tackling Crime and Other Public-Safety Problems: 
Case Studies in Problem-Solving, 
by Rana Sampson 
and Michael S. Scott (U.S. Department of Justice, Office of 
Community Oriented Policing Services, 2000) (also available 
at www.cops.usdoj.gov). Presents case studies of effective 
police problem-solving on 18 types of crime and disorder 
problems. 
• 
Using Analysis for Problem-Solving: A Guidebook 
for Law Enforcement, 
by Timothy S. Bynum (U.S. 
Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented 
Policing Services, 2001). Provides an introduction for 
police to analyzing problems within the context of 
problem-oriented policing. 
• 
Using Research: A Primer for Law Enforcement 
Managers, 
Second Edition, by John E. Eck and Nancy G. 
LaVigne (Police Executive Research Forum, 1994). Explains 
many of the basics of research as it applies to police 
management and problem-solving. 



Other Problem-Oriented Guides for Police 

Problem-Specific Guides series: 

1. 
Assaults in and Around Bars. Michael S. Scott. 2001. 
ISBN: 1-932582-00-2 
2. 
Street Prostitution. Michael S. Scott. 2001. ISBN: 1-932582-01-0 
3. 
Speeding in Residential Areas. Michael S. Scott. 2001. 
ISBN: 1-932582-02-9 
4. 
Drug Dealing in Privately Owned Apartment Complexes. 
Rana Sampson. 2001. ISBN: 1-932582-03-7 
5. 
False Burglar Alarms. Rana Sampson. 2001. ISBN: 1-932582-04-5 
6. 
Disorderly Youth in Public Places. Michael S. Scott. 2001. 
ISBN: 1-932582-05-3 
7. 
Loud Car Stereos. Michael S. Scott. 2001. ISBN: 1-932582-06-1 
8. 
Robbery at Automated Teller Machines. Michael S. Scott. 2001. 
ISBN: 1-932582-07-X 
9. 
Graffiti. Deborah Lamm Weisel. 2002. ISBN: 1-932582-08-8 
10. 
Thefts of and From Cars in Parking Facilities. Ronald V. 
Clarke. 2002. ISBN: 1-932582-09-6 
11. 
Shoplifting. Ronald V. Clarke. 2002. ISBN: 1-932582-10-X 
12. 
Bullying in Schools. Rana Sampson. 2002. ISBN: 1-932582-11-8 
13. 
Panhandling. Michael S. Scott. 2002. ISBN: 1-932582-12-6 
14. 
Rave Parties. Michael S. Scott. 2002. ISBN: 1-932582-13-4 
15. 
Burglary of Retail Establishments. Ronald V. Clarke. 2002. 
ISBN: 1-932582-14-2 
16. 
Clandestine Drug Labs. Michael S. Scott. 2002. 
ISBN: 1-932582-15-0 
17. 
Acquaintance Rape of College Students. Rana Sampson. 2002. 
ISBN: 1-932582-16-9 
18. 
Burglary of Single-Family Houses. Deborah Lamm Weisel. 
2002. ISBN: 1-932582-17-7 
19. 
Misuse and Abuse of 911. Rana Sampson. 2002. 
ISBN: 1-932582-18-5 
20. 
Financial Crimes Against the Elderly. 


Kelly Dedel Johnson. 2003. ISBN: 1-932582-22-3 


21. 
Check and Card Fraud. Graeme R. Newman. 2003. 
ISBN: 1-932582-27-4 
22. 
Stalking. The National Center for Victims of Crime. 2004. 
ISBN: 1-932582-30-4 
23. 
Gun Violence Among Serious Young Offenders. Anthony A. 
Braga. 2004. ISBN: 1-932582-31-2 
24. 
Prescription Fraud. Julie Wartell and Nancy G. La Vigne. 2004. 
ISBN: 1-932582-33-9 
25. 
Identity Theft. Graeme R. Newman. 2004. ISBN: 1-932582-35-3 
26. 
Crimes Against Tourists. Ronald W. Glesnor and Kenneth J. Peak. 
2004. ISBN: 1-932582-36-3 
27. 
Underage Drinking. Kelly Dedel Johnson. 2004. ISBN: 1-932582-39-8 
28. 
Street Racing. Kenneth J. Peak and Ronald W. Glensor. 2004. 
ISBN: 1-932582-42-8 
29. 
Cruising. Kenneth J. Peak and Ronald W. Glensor. 2004. 
ISBN: 1-932582-43-6 
30. 
Disorder at Budget Motels. Karin Schmerler. 2004. 
ISBN: 1-932582-41-X 


Response Guides series: 

• 
The Benefits and Consequences of Police Crackdowns. 

Michael S. Scott. 2003. ISBN: 1-932582-24-X 

• 
Closing Streets and Alleys to Reduce Crime: Should You Go 
Down This Road? Ronald V. Clarke. 2004. ISBN: 1-932582-41-X 
Problem-Solving Tools series: 


• 
Assessing Responses to Problems: An Introductory Guide for 
Police Problem-Solvers. John E. Eck. 2002. ISBN: 1-932582-19-3 



Upcoming Problem-Oriented Guides for Police 

Problem-Specific Guides 
Domestic Violence 
Mentally Ill Persons 
Robbery of Taxi Drivers 
Student Party Disturbances on College Campuses 
Vandalism and Break-Ins at Schools 
Bomb Threats in Schools 
Drug Dealing in Open-Air Markets 
Illicit Sexual Activity in Public Places 
Drunk Driving 
Bank Robbery 
Witness Intimidation 
Drive-by Shootings 
Runaway Juveniles 
Exploitation of Trafficked Women 
Disorderly Day Laborers in Public Places 
Child Pornography 
Crowd Control at Stadiums and Other Entertainment Venues 
Traffic Congestion Around Schools 

Problem-Solving Tools 
Analyzing Repeat Victimization 
Using Offender Interviews to Inform Police Problem-Solving 
Risky Facilities 

Response Guides 
Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design 


Other Related COPS Office Publications 

• 
Using Analysis for Problem-Solving: A Guidebook 
for Law Enforcement. Timothy S. Bynum. 
• 
Problem-Oriented Policing: Reflections on the First 
20 Years. Michael S. Scott. 2001. 
• 
Tackling Crime and Other Public-Safety Problems: 
Case Studies in Problem-Solving. Rana Sampson and 
Michael S. Scott. 2000. 
• 
Community Policing, Community Justice, and 
Restorative Justice: Exploring the Links for the 
Delivery of a Balanced Approach to Public Safety. 


Caroline G. Nicholl. 1999. 

• 
Toolbox for Implementing Restorative Justice and 
Advancing Community Policing. Caroline G. Nicholl. 
2000. 
• 
Problem-Solving Tips: A Guide to Reducing 
Crime and Disorder Through Problem-Solving 
Partnerships. Karin Schmerler, Matt Perkins, Scott 
Phillips, Tammy Rinehart and Meg Townsend. 1998. 
• 
Bringing Victims into Community Policing. The 
National Center for Victims of Crime and the Police 
Foundation. 2002. 
• 
Call Management and Community Policing. Tom 
McEwen, Deborah Spence, Russell Wolff, Julie Wartell 
and Barbara Webster. 2003. 
• 
Crime Analysis in America. Timothy C. O’Shea and 
Keith Nicholls. 2003. 
• 
Problem Analysis in Policing. Rachel Boba. 2003. 
• 
Reducing Theft at Construction Sites: Lessons 
From a Problem-Oriented Project. Ronald V. Clarke 
and Herman Goldstein. 2003. 
• 
The COPS Collaboration Toolkit: How to Build, 
Fix, and Sustain Productive Partnerships. Gwen 


O. Briscoe, Anna T. Laszlo and Tammy A. Rinehart. 
2001. 


Append x 

• 
The Law Enforcement Tech Guide: How to plan, 
purchase and manage technology (successfully!). 

Kelly J. Harris and William H. Romesburg. 2002. 

• 
Theft From Cars in Center City Parking 
Facilities – A Case Study. Ronald V. Clarke and 
Herman Goldstein. 2003. 

For more information about the Problem-Oriented Guides for 
Police series and other COPS Office publications, please call 
the COPS Office Response Center at 800.421.6770 or visit 
COPS Online at www.cops.usdoj.gov. 


For More InForMatIon: 

U.S. Department of Justice 
Office of Community Oriented Policing Services 

1100 Vermont Avenue, N.W. 
Washington, D.C. 20530 

To obtain details on COPS programs, call the 
COPS Office Response Center at 800.421.6770 

Visit COPS Online at the address listed below. 


e10042575 Updated Date: December 9, 2004 
ISBN: 1-932582-42-8