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Mon. May 14, 2007, 07:14am PDT
What Tacoma Shouldn't Do: Stupid Signage Edition
So I saw a stupid sign in Kent the other day. And it was one of those "it's the law" ones 'cause it was white with black letters. What did it say? "NO RACING ZONE BETWEEN 10PM AND 5AM - RACING ATTENDANCE PROHIBITED". Seriously, here it is:
First of all street racing is already illegal in the state of Washington no matter what time of day it is. And, if I remember my driver's training well enough, any kind of competitive racing on public roads now matter what the speed is illegal.
Maybe I just don't know Kent city ordinances well enough but they may have something in the books that states you can indeed street race during the day there. If so, they really should market their town accordingly and bring in some revenue from racing events and related industry (e.g. drugs, chop shops, gang activity, etc.). Rather than "Kent: We got Boeing" it could be "Kent: Yea, we got Boeing but you can fly on our streets as well."
I hope Tacoma never caves to such crappy signage desires from furious locals. I understand street racing kills and parents out there just want to see "something" done. Well a poorly worded and otherwise pointless sign won't do it. If anything, hear citizen feedback and improve upon it by understanding existing law. My bet is that a sign saying "Street Racing and Attendance is Illegal" would do the trick nicely -- that or spending money on our kids themselves rather than signs.
Of course, why listen to me when I think a huge sign that reads "No Skateboarding" on the best skate park in town makes no sense. ;)
Comments (16) | To Top
5/14/2007 @ 1:52pm
I, too, have been dumbfounded by these signs. However, I have found the answer!
According to my research, those convicted of racing inside these zones, are prohibited from even entering them in the future during the posted hours. If caught inside these "zones", racing or not, they are subject to imprisonment.
by Keeper
5/19/2007 @ 6:37pm
street racing was a BIG problem in Kent.. still is in a way. They would have hundreds of cars show up (500+ at times) on a weekly basis. So they've been rather proactive since to try and curb racing. The philosophy is that everyone watching the street races helps encourage the racing itself.. so now being in attendance at a street racing event is a crime as well (besides, it's easier to catch people standing outside their cars than people who are already in their cars ;).
by Joel
8/11/2007 @ 5:10am
street racing should be supported !!!!
by steve
9/1/2007 @ 1:15pm
if they want racers off the road, give them a good enough free alternative.
by josh
9/10/2007 @ 8:29am
Streetracing should not be condoned and signs like this, no matter how futile, reinforce the legal norm which is one of the requirements in the principle of legality.
by Bandit
9/24/2007 @ 11:17am
i support street racing, and i agree with josh. he has a good point. if we can't race on the street, give us somewhere we can. damn i hate racing on the interstate at over 150MPH then passing a cop. it sux
by Street Racer Dan
10/3/2007 @ 3:22pm
i live in canada new brunswick
me my self i live for racing i have been pulled over many times and got away with it but i have also called the right ppl and made many calls and had other ppl from the area make those calls and now they are making us a track
by cory
10/15/2007 @ 7:21pm
Yes that sign doesn't make sence... But why are you equating street racing with drugs and violence you're an ignorant person. I recently spent time watching the street racers in Kent and it was the best time of my life.
by Jason
11/4/2007 @ 12:05pm
thats why theres a track
by John
11/4/2007 @ 12:09pm
if you dont wanna pay ten bux and insure your car then dont race. stoplight racers are idiots. why would you get a ticket for going 10 miles over the speedlimit instead of paying 10 bux to speal out and go as fast as you can at the track. i go to car meets and watch the cars cuz i love them but laugh at the people that get tickets for them.
by John
11/9/2007 @ 7:02pm
Drugs, gaing activity, and other things of that nature have nothing to do with street racing, i lived in the seattle area for a very long time and im not saying its not dangerous but it shouldnt be compared to the things your comparing it to. I street race my trans am, im on a racing team, and i support it. the sign is stupid but for those who complain about street racing should give us more places to do it. i now live in texas and the closest track is 2 hours away. its only obviouse that people are going to do it.
by Sir Not-Appearing-In-This-Flim
2/16/2008 @ 9:56am
Ignorant, stupid, arrogant, illegeal and dangerous passtime by the same type of people. Get a life and do something that DOES NOT kill people. Look at what happened in MD last night, that driver will spend a LONG TIME behind bars and must repay those families for the rest of his life . . . but he'll be flippin' burgers and have to declare bankruptcy every 7 years to alleviate his legal and financial matters . . . smart he was not ! ! ! I feel sorry for you lost souls who believe this is a good way to pass your time. Have fun ! ! !
by Cranston
2/16/2008 @ 10:52am
Why do they list specific times on the sign? Does that mean it's safe to race between 5am and 10pm??
by Justin D.
4/23/2008 @ 1:06am
No its bullshit... The signs dont work trust me im there every weekend. It may not be that main reason but you should thank us or at least not complain about us racing at night because if we raced during the day we would have 20 times more deaths... i have had alot of friends die from street racing but the thing is we carry on there memory by racing. even if a track was built there may be people that go during the day but it just would bring more people around for the night and yes me and all my friends are "suspected street racers" and the signs are made for us... but even if the cops came after us during the races think where going to stop when there will be 200+ people scattering and id like to see them get us all i would give up street racing if this happened
by corey
4/24/2008 @ 7:55am
These signs are in other cities too, not just Kent, such as Tukwila and seatt.e
by Sir Not-Appearing-In-This-Flim
10/6/2008 @ 5:16am
LOOK if i want to race i will race and if you dont like stay the F*ck home live with it your never going to get rid of us
by Street racer steve