Copied from the TZC list:
Date: Tue, 26 Aug 2003 20:15:31 -0500
From: Aaron Brechko <aabrechko@yahoo.com>
Subject: <all> ARRESTED for STREETRACING Not just for punks from L.A.
We've all done it more times than we could begin to count, and never
think twice about it. Well, start thinking that second time.
At about 9:30pm last Saturday August 23, me and a couple buddies were in Shelby NC on our way back from a trip to the mountains to drive the tail of the dragon (
www.tailofthedragon.com ). We reached a redlight so I pulled
into the left lane in my 1990 Z32 with him in the right in a 97 Grand Prix
GT. As the light turned green we took off, just as a police car, hidden by
the cars behind us, was speeding up to catch the left hand turn yellow
light. We obviously thought that there weren't any officers around, and
then over our two way radios we hear "He's coming for you." The other person
we were with saw everything happen. We only reached a speed of about 55 or
60 mph (in a 55mph zone) and I saw these headlights coming up pretty fast so
I went into the right lane. The officer turned on his lights and pulled
both of us over. He made sure not to let us forget how stupid we were for
doing this and told us that our cars could be impounded on the spot. I was
definately not aware of
that, or the other consequences of the law we both violated. The officer
came back to my car told me to step out and he placed me, along with my
buddy under arrest. We were both taken to the local jail in hand cuffs.
You could only imagine what was running through my head. Would I see my car
again that I bought only a month before? Can I be imprisoned for this? Lose
my license? How much is insurance going to be?........I now have a criminal
record.
We were taken to jail where a bond was placed. And then we were off to have
our mugshots taken(in which you are NOT allowed to smile in),and searched
and prepared for being thrown in the clink. Fortunately, we were able to
make some phone calls but being from Charlotte, who is going to want to
drive an hour at 12:00am to bail
our sorry asses out of jail? Not to mention, prison phones DO NOT allow you
to call cell phones. EVERYBODY ANSWERS CELL PHONES!!
Fortunately, our other buddy saw it all happen. He pulled behind the police
officer and then was told to move on because we were going to be there a
while. He went off on a road and waited for the officers to leave. When he
came back our cars were there but nobody was home. He went back to
charlotte to wait for a call. Seeings how he had a cell phone we could not
reach him. Luckily I did get a hold of someone who I had call him and he
was able to make it down. We finally got bailed out at about 2:00am after
being in a cell which was much like solitary confinement with a light. All
concrete walls a metal toilet and a window about 3" by 8". We were in there
for about an hour and a half but it seemed like four. It is not a place
where two clean cut guys like myself (21) and my buddy (38) belong,
especially
at 1:00 in the morning. If we could not get a hold of anyone we would of
had to pay another $75 to a Bonds Man who probably would not have gotten
around to getting us out until sometime monday. Thats if you are from the
same state as the ticket. What if you are from out of state like me? The
bonds man can name the price.
Today, thanks to that friend, we are "free" men awaiting trial. We have our
cars, licenses, a 75cent pair of standard Shelby Town Jail issue sandals,
but we lost a hell of a lot more.
Willfull Speed Competition Penalty (not prearranged) in NC:
2nd Class Misdemeanor
The maximum penalty we face is 30 days in jail, Drivers license suspension
for 1 year and a $1000 fine. Not to mention the criminal record which we
are pretty much stuck with. How many autocrosses, drag races and track
schools is that? Oh yeah. Lawyers down here cost a min. of $500, court fee
is $100, and because I am out of state and will have to come back to NC from
detroit, figure in a couple hundred for travel expenses. This is just for a
first offense.
Advice:
KEEP THE RACING ON THE TRACKS!!!! Hopefully none of you would need to worry
about this situation, but if you are going to sit back and think this will
not happen to you think about the risks. That little box on applications
that asks if you've ever been arrested, now gets checked yes. If you were
looking at two equallly skilled potential employees, would you hire the one
with the criminal record?
Next time you see that perfect spot to pull a power slide, see how fast your
car can go or see that mustang or tricked out civic sitting at the light
thinking they are hot @#$%. Think about the situation a second time. Is it
worth the risk for just 7 seconds of putting that guy to shame? For about 15
bucks you can drag race till your hearts content with out the risk. Why go
with one $1000+ race when you could do it all night? Keep in mind, we did
not need to be weaving in and out of traffic doing 100mph in a 30 zone to
get this.
What about me?
I have chose to learn from this mistake. When I first got my Z32, I was
bummed out that no other Z's would run with me. I didn't understand why
there would be the perfect straight away and catch a red light with a sports
car next to me and they wouldnt give me the time of day. Now I know. So
next time you rev up your engine and start lurchin' trying to get a Red 90
300ZX 2+2 to burn it up a little with you, it may be me driving like a
grandma on my way to the track were I get a hell of a lot more racing for
the money without the consequences.
- -Aaron
1990 300zx 2+2
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