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:
These idiots have been watching too many movies. The street is not the place for this kind of stuff... take it to the track! All it takes is a few minutes to search the internet to find one.
Yes, feel the adrenaline rush as you race around an elipse 500 times! Exciting! /sarcasm.
TheDude – Umm... there are racing courses. Much safe than running on the street. No matter what, it isn't worth killing someone just to feel a few g-forces and have a little adrenaline rush.
Excuse me... road racing courses.
Apparently I can type faster than the internet.
Were they Asian?
that's more than $2mil worth of cars there
my ford edge does 210 km top end factory lol, let's bring it on...
I didn't realize Canadians knew how to drive.
I didn't realize Americans knew how to spell
How can they even be prosecuted just on witness statements?
What!!! No Porsche? I'd have thought that the Canadians have better taste in cars : – )
I've been to Vancouver a few times and saw lots of nice sports car gathered on a mall parking lot. I bet that these are the same group of yuppies.
No it would be the White Stains of those yuppies who got busted..
How did the RCMP ever catch them on horseback??
LOL The RCMP added roller skates on their horses so they can move faster.
Shiiiiiiiit I wish I had one of these cars at 20.
If the police did not see them, or clock them on radar – how does anyone know they were going 125MPH?
With cars like those they were probably going over 160 MPH. I'm pretty sure they just charged them with reckless driving or whatever the Canadians call it because they only have witness statements as to how fast they were going.
This headline is completely false. It makes you think that Police DID knab 2 million dollars in cars... not "They could of knabbed". I am losing more and more respect for journalist every day.
Could of knabbed? How about "Could have nabbed"? I'm afraid journalists are losing respect for you, too, Andrew.
Zoom Zoom. . . . . .
My Bugaiti Veryon SS Would have taken all of those punk ass kids out!
Yeah, and I'm sure you keep it parked beside your Gulfstream 550 and use it for picking up your supermodel wife, right?
My Aero TT begs to differ !
Hot cars, sounds like fun! So if they werent registered owners of the cars, they were their parents cars I assume? Since when does Canada have a long enough season without snow to make it worth owning these cars?
Hmmm, you must be American. Since you've never been to Vancouver (known to be one of the best places to live in the world), you should know our weather is much like Seattle's (150miles south)......more rain than snow, much better weather than the rest of Canada. Come visit,....you'll like it!
Wait, they were under 21? And driving exotic cars?
drug lords i say, drug lords!
They have obviously well off parents, and obviously STUPID parents for buying them those types of vehicles in the first place.
spoiled rotten by rich parents no doubt. Kids need to spend a month in a slum.
Kids of rich Asian parents. Lots of off shore money planted in Vancouver.
what no civic? this aint fast and the furious
Civics are for nipper lovers.
LOL. good one.
Civics are freakin' lawnmovers!!!