DRIVERS have been warned cops are destroying cars in a radical new effort to stop street takeovers.
The controversial practice serves as a deterrent to those who break traffic laws, but some question the effectiveness of this approach and its broader impact.
Police are fighting back against street takeovers in the California[/caption]
Street takeovers, which sees groups of drivers block roads to perform dangerous stunts, have become a problem across the state[/caption]
But police are now seizing vehicles and crushing them as a deterrent[/caption]
A recent story by The Auto Wire looked at how the police is fighting back against street takeovers in the California.
Street takeovers, where groups of drivers block roads to perform dangerous stunts, have become a significant problem across the state – often leading to property damage, injuries, fatalities and other illegal activities.
Historically, law enforcement in California has been perceived as lenient towards such activities – but the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) is beginning to adopt a more aggressive stance.
According to reports, cops have begun seizing and destroying vehicles involved in these events, which has sparked debate.
Critics argue that destroying the cars is counterproductive, as the vehicles themselves are not at fault.
Indeed, they suggest alternatives such as auctioning the cars to generate revenue or repurposing them for police use.
On the other hand, proponents believe public displays of destruction send a strong message about the seriousness of these crimes, potentially acting as a deterrent.
The destruction of rare and valuable cars, such as a recent incident involving a Toyota Chaser – a prized Japanese import – has particularly angered car enthusiasts.
However, others argue that drastic measures are necessary to combat the growing problem of street takeovers, which have often been dismissed as harmless fun despite their destructive consequences.
The debate remains over whether this approach will effectively curb street takeovers or whether alternative strategies would be more effective in addressing the issue.
This comes as baffled drivers in San Diego have recently complained of being whacked with 4,200 parking tickets – amid confusion over California’s complex new daylighting law.
The controversial new law makes it illegal for drivers to park their cars within 20 feet of a crosswalk, on the side of the street that faces the crosswalk.
Drivers have been slapped with a hefty $117 fine for parking too close to crosswalks at intersections across the state.
That means, by May this year, the city had raked in nearly half a million dollars, $491,400, in two months alone.
Curbs around certain areas have been painted red to educate unsuspecting drivers about the new parking restrictions.
But many are bamboozled because the law also applies to unmarked crosswalks on the approach side of the road.
In an attempt to ease drivers into the new regime, California gave a generous grace period, issuing blue notices rather than fines from January 1.
But since March 1, seething motorists have been harshly penalised under the new rules.
New ‘daylighting’ law
A new parking law has been introduced in California.
California Assembly Bill 413, also known as the Daylighting to Save Lives Bill, prohibits parking within 20 feet of crosswalks.
The law makes it illegal for drivers to stop, stand, or park within 20 feet of a marked or unmarked crosswalk.
Daylighting is a term for keeping the areas next to intersections as clear as possible to improve visibility on the street and protect pedestrians and bike riders.
The law also prohibits parking personal and commercial vehicles within 20 feet of the left curb on one-way streets or within 15 feet of crosswalks where a curb extension is present.
The law goes into effect on January 1, 2025.
There will be a 60-day grace period for violations until March 1.
