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Police grab $2 million worth of cars after Canadian street race
This could be the plot for a movie, "Fast and Furious Canada," or maybe "Fast and Furious, the Young and the Rich."
Police in British Columbia say they impounded $2 million worth of high-end vehicles this week after witnesses reported the 13 cars racing on a metro Vancouver highway at speeds of 125 mph (200 kph).
The high-end race cars included a Ferrari, Lamborghinis, Maseratis, an Audi, an Aston Martin, Nissans and a Mercedes, according to a Royal Canadian Mounted Police press release.
Two of the racers would run side-by-side to block other traffic going in their direction on the highway while the others cars would take off in a race, witnesses told the RCMP.
"These drivers seemed to be looking for attention. Well, they definitely got the attention of police," Cpl. Holly Marks, spokesperson for the Lower Mainland District Regional Police Service, said in the press release.
What the racers, who police said are all under age 21, won't get is harsh punishment.
"Each driver will be charged with Driving without Reasonable Consideration and receive a violation ticket with a specified penalty of $196. Additionally, these drivers will be responsible for all associated towing and storage charges," according to the RCMP press release.
That's because police didn't actually catch them in the act and acted only on witness accounts. They weren't caught on radar, video or seen by a police officer, Superintendent Norm Gaumont, RCMP officer in charge of traffic enforcement for the Lower Mainland, told the Surrey Now newspaper.
"I know there's a lot of disappointment, wondering why we only charged them with an offence of $196. They fact of the matter is, we have to look at all the evidence we have and what we're able to prove," Surrey Now quoted Gaumont as saying. "That's why we've charged them with driving without due consideration for the public."
If police were able to charge the 13 drivers with more severe offenses, they could have faced forfeiture of their vehicles, according to a Vancouver Sun report.
The RCMP said most of the drivers were operating their vehicles on "N" class licenses, which means they had not yet attained full driving privileges. Only one of the drivers was the registered owner of the car they were driving, Gaumont told Surrey Now.
The drivers included 12 men and one woman, according to Surrey Now. Gaumont told the paper they were on their way to have a meal when they decided to race.
According to the Sun, the vehicles were:
- 2007 Ferrari 599
- 2010 Lamborghini Gallardo
- 2010 Lamborghini Gallardo
- 2009 Lamborghini Gallardo
- 2009 Audi R8
- 2012 Nissan GT-R
- 2010 Nissan GT-R
- 2010 Nissan GT-R
- 2010 Maserati Turismo
- 2010 Maserati Turismo
- 2011 Mercedes SL63
- 2011 Mercedes SLS
- 2005 Aston Martin DB9
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Doesn't everyone know – speed before meals aids in digestion? Just ask astronauts.
I'll take a lambo. Yes which car was the girl driving?
"Driving without due consideration for the public"
??? That doesn't make any sense to me. It sounds like they had so much consideration for the public, that they had the presence of mind to block the other motorists from being in the way, and getting hurt. I call that "THOUGHTFUL AND CONSIDERATE" street racing!
It's thoughtful and considerate to block a highway for unlawful activity? Very little must make sense to you.
I wonder what car the girl was driving. I want to say either the Audi R8 or one of the Maseratti Turismo's.
I'm almost sure it was the Aston.
awesome. lucky they dont live in america or the industrial prison complex probably would have them put to death!
Dumbest comment I've read all day...they're obviously Rich Kids, if they had been busted here in the States, Mommy and Daddy would have bought them Justice at the hands of some touchie-feelie type "Let 'em Loose Bruce" Judge and they would have spent the next 2 hours icing down their wrists from the slapping they would have received in lieu of the prison sentence they deserve.
I've been on highway 99 and there's no way you can race unless you put everybody in danger. I wonder if there had been a huge accident with people killed? Not very funny or entertaining. These demonstrations of power have to end.
"Driving without Reasonable Consideration" sounds so much more civilized than "Reckless Driving'...
Geeee I wonder if they were all Chinese? Since when are over 10 witness statements not enough to make charges stick. Usual ineffective RCMP policing. Destroy all the cars and lock all the drivers up for a year. When one of these drivers kills someone in the future, how will the victims' families feel about the quality of poling?
"RCMP always get their man" my a$$.
They are indeed exactly that, rich chinese brats, I saw them all on Global TV last night. Most of them had their 'N' novice sticker in the window, which as you know from living Hongcouver, asians leave that sticker in their windows years after they have received their licenses as a fair warning to others that a crash is imminent.
How did the mounties catch them? Were they riding mustangs?
ROFLMAO!
you gotta be joking right 196 dollars for people that drive cars like that LoL they spend more than that for a Cheap dinner.... Get a life and hit them with a real fine ie take there cars and Crush them...
What are nissans doing among that group?? LOL..
the Nissian GTR is worth close to 100k
and the Nissans are the fastest car in that group as well
Was that a serious question Mike? The Nissan GT-R is NOT to be trifled with...it has eaten many a Porsche and Ferrari. The GT-R is a BAMF.
The Nissan GT-R (Skyline) Is one of the fastest production street cars in the world. The GT-R was designed from the ground up to match or beat the Nürburgring times of the Porche.
does Vancouver have any places outside the city where they can race legally?
Yes, they do, there are several tracks which have street racing nights.
When the insurance companies find out, I doubt these kids will be driving again anytime soon. their families may have lots of money but I wonder if any insurance company will take the risk.
There is only ONE state insurance in BC so they could have their cars insured in their parent's names which I would guess is the case anyway, most did not have their full licenses. This particular segment of society has the highest accident level of all drivers in BC....what a surprise, eh.....
It's all part of the game. People with fast cars videotape themselves racing, both for the notoriety and to sell the videos (there are websites dedicated to this). Law Enforcement officers (Rolling Revenue Officers) cash in by seizing cars whenever possible, and collecting kickbacks from the towing companies, who are able to charge many times the normal fees for towing and storing a car when it is the result of a police call. Money money money
Wonder what happened to the racing drag strips? Are there not any around any more?