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Curb Racing and Achieve Safer Highways (CRASH)
Prepared by Sgt. Pat Lowery
The Kent Police Department has renewed its commitment to curb illegal street racing in the community through the application of CRASH 2002. Capitalizing on the successes of its award winning efforts in 2001, the Kent Police Department will continue it's highly effective enforcement and education program, while continuing to work with racing enthusiasts to promote a safer method and venue in which to enjoy auto racing.
Once again, street racing intervention patrols will be deployed regularly throughout the year. The function of these marked and plain-clothes patrols is to identify the locations and persons involved in illegal street racing. The goal is to intervene before the racing occurs. If however, racing should occur in the presence of officers, any persons participating as racers or spectators will become the subject of rigorous enforcement. Sanctions may include physical arrest, issuance of citations, towing of vehicles, and jail time. The Kent Police Department C.R.A.S.H. program promotes a "zero tolerance" to illegal street racing.
The Kent S.O.A.R. (Stay Out of Area of Racing) ordinance which took effect last year has proven to be another successful tool to discourage illegal street racing. While Washington State law prohibits street racing at any time, the S.O.A.R. ordinance enhances this prohibition by stating that any person participating in a street racing event, whether as a driver or spectator, is subject to arrest. Sentences may include monetary fines and up to one year in jail. Specific locations and defined periods of times are noted within the ordinance, so as to not interfere with otherwise lawful conduct.
The partnership formed between the City of Kent Police Department, the Kent Prosecuting Attorney's Office, and the Kent business community has garnered tremendous results in curtailing illegal street racing locally. In 2001 the C.R.A.S.H. program received recognition from the Washington State Traffic Safety Commission for its results when it was awarded the Law Enforcement Excellence Award. Additionally, the program has become a model for other agencies throughout the region in combating illegal street racing.
Illegal Street Racing Associated Laws (128KB PDF)
CRASH 2006 IACP Boston Conference presentation (1.5MB PPT)