My street racing days are over

[OJE]

Well i thought id make this post cause i know i have joined some of you for some racing in the streets of Philly and i know some of you like RioRed and Adam were looking to get together and check it out this summer, and i know Mike goes down there from time to time too. I just wanted to inform you guys of what im going through now and maybe you should think twice. The cops are really cracking down on it, i mean they arent taking any crap and grabbing cars left and right, and towing them. Now im not gonna sit here and say street racing is bad, dont ever do it again blah blah blah because ive been going down there for about 6 years now and im going to miss it. Well about 2 weeks ago i was pulled over and issued a citation. Best part about it is i really didnt get pulled over, i got pulled up behind. The cop pulled behind me and everyone else fled and i was stuck. He ended up giving me a citation for watching street racing, my car was not on, we were not out of my car or causing a scene, he just stopped behind me and gave me the ticket. Well you wouldnt think watching street racing would be that big of a fine would you? Well a kid from a local racing forum went to court the other day for the same exact thing, but he knew a cop who knew the judge. I wont be so lucky and the judge told him if he wasnt so lucky he was looking at a 3 month license suspension, and $500 for every point and its a 5 point ticket, yea so thats $2,500. And in case you didnt know im pretty sure 6 points suspends your lisence again so even when you get it back your only 1 point away from losing it again. And dont think your safe if you go with your friend, the cop told me he could give everyone in my car a ticket for the same thing but he didnt feel like writing them out. Now if your thinking thats the dumbest thing ive ever heard, a judge will throw that out of court, id laugh in his face or anything like that then your very wrong cause they take it very seriously apparently. The ticket is under 3367B and it states in one part that it is illegal to in any manner participate in a drag race and they consider watching as participating. Ive known for years that it was illegal to watch but i just thought it would be a steep fine like $200 or something, i didnt think it could result in a suspension if you werent racing. So i need to get an attorney to help me out with all of this because i dont stand a chance by myself and i have to meet with him tomorrow. From what he said he seems pretty confident he can get me out of it, or at leat plea it down and they normally give you a $100 fine and no points and no suspension so i would love that. I have no idea how much this lawyer is going to cost, id say a minimun of $500, plus my day off work for court, parking in the city, court costs and a fine if i end up getting one. So basically all im telling you is think about it before you go because the fine is a very serious one. I mean even if my lawyer can get me totally off its still not at a cheap price at all. So if you guys want to still go then go for it, its a great time and any car person would enjoy it. But at the same time keep it in the back of your mind what can happen to you and if its worth it. I dont know about you guys but i love driving, my new car is only 2 months old and i have 6k on it already so i cant imagine not being able to drive for 3 months. This is the worst ive seen the cops down there in the 6 years that i have gone, they are really on top of it and really cracking down. So i guess just a little something for you guys to think about before you go out racing. I learned my lesson because the fun i have is not worth that kind of money and penalty at all. Ill probably update it tomorrow after i talk to my lawyer to let you know what he says and then ill let ya guys know when my court date is and what happens with it. Wish me luck.

[EricF]

You were watching? I'm pretty sure you were on your way home from a late night snack
at wendy's when traffic forced you to stop, and you couldn't get around the people cause they
were all racing... and you didn't know what to do... ;)
Get a lawyer... thats an easy win... unless of course you told the officer anything. ;)

edit: sorry for your misfortune

[OJE]

My excuse was i was on my way to some adult entertainment and my friend was in another car and he got lost from me and i pulled over to use my cell phone. Believe me man, they dont care what your excuse is at all. I know your not from my area but if you knew the area we raced in youd have more of an understanding. Its not one of the nicest parts of the city and basically on a Sunday night at 12:30am if your not down there for racing your down there for drugs because there isnt really much going on at that time. Its pretty much industrial and there are businesses which are closed and other then that there isnt really much else to say you were there for. If i was driving in the traffic and he just got me then your excuse woud be perfect Eric because i used that on a cop about a month ago and got let go because he couldnt prove thats what i was there for. This time i was parked on the side of the road just sitting there, so its kinda obvious.

[cougirllp]

Hey sorry about what happened. Hopefully everything works out ok in the end.

[IH8CIVX]

first of all, u were the one who called the cops and reported the racing... ;-)

in all seriousness, get in touch with dickinson law school here in harrisburg. its penn states law school. they will give u a defense attorney for free, however, they will be a student so they wont be great nor will they have a proven record. im in school to work in music law (the equivelent to a sports agent only in the music buis) we deal with their program all the time. if your interested ill provide you with all the number you need.

[InFRoRedCouGaR]

dude, im real sorry you had to feel the downfall of the races. I got pulled over last night, but they just gave a warning on 61st st. i guess all those warnings add up, huh joe. from reading your story though i think im more hesitant on going down again, and again, and again. you figure since we know what can happen down there we wouldnt go but it kinda just makes ya want to. but if what happened to you happened to me i'd probably quit to. so in lue of your misfortune IM QUITING THE RACE SEEN. there, i've said it.
good luck with your case man, anything i can do to help just give a call.

[OJE]

Thanks for the offer Adam but my girlfriends mom hooked me up with someone and he said he should be able to do something for me. He said basically with this its who you know and who he can "wheel and deal" with. He apparently has friends in the court system and knows judges and cops from Philly. So i think your idea is great but for this particular incident i dont think it would help too much. And im glad to hear you say that Mike and you should take last nights warning as a warning to stay away, i wish i took my warning about a month ago. I figured especially you of all people with those windows of yours i know cops are looking to get you. Its just sad cause it was almost a tradition for me. I mean its a place where you can go on any fri, sat or sun night and know without a doubt that at least 100 people will show up and you didnt have to get in contact with any of them, they just come and hang out. Ill probably be at ATCO more often now, its a lot easier to just pay about $15 and watch cars race all night with no worries. So if anyone wants to get together and go lemme know, ill be up for going pretty much any time and they let street cars run every Friday night.

[IH8CIVX]

come to the scene in carlisle or york sometime, cops come, we run, no one gets pulled over. their pretty cool about it, its cat and mouse the whole time.

[hooven]

hey jow im really sorry to hear that.... ive been pulled over numerous of times in my friends cars and a few of them got warnings and they arent goin down anymore- that really sucks i really enjoyed the races too- but im def takin your advice and not goin down anymore- its not worth it- im really sorry to hear about that again and let us know what happens!

katie

[OJE]

Originally posted by: IH8CIVX
come to the scene in carlisle or york sometime, cops come, we run, no one gets pulled over. their pretty cool about it, its cat and mouse the whole time.

Im done all together in PA as far as street racing goes. I know a lot of kids from Delaware who race, and bring quicker cars out then 90% of what youll see in Philly. Its not that far of a drive for me so im going to take it down there on occasion. I cant get in nearly as much trouble there because points and suspensions dont transfer to PA so all ill have to worry about is paying a fine. Plus its not like Philly at all. A bunch of kids show up and chill in parking lots and then you make races between people and take them to shady backroads by yourselves and then come back and tell everyone who won. Its not 400 kids show up, drink, do burnouts all night and all park on the same street where it obviously causes a scene.

[bensenvill]

rough story. some good defense stories mentioned, but your the one paying the lawyer, let him do the magic.

And the lawyer is the smartest thing you could have done. My last court appearence my lawyer got a recless endangerment charge which held minimum jail time down to a 150 bucks and not put on my record.

those are some harsh laws, maybe you should move somewhere like wisconsin where a DUI is only a mistermeanor.