Auto parts stores
support laws
against road racing
Some businesses that soup up motor vehicles say racing should not be done on the roads.
"We have always been a proponent of track racing," said manager Linus Sumbad of Atomic Performance in Makiki.
As of July 31, a total of 227 racing tickets had been issued compared with 205 tickets issued for all of last year, said Capt. Jose Gaytan of the Honolulu Police Department's Traffic Division.
Gaytan said the number of racing citations issued are low compared to the number of speeding citations that have been issued -- about 20,300 for this year as of July 31.
Three men died in two crashes at Salt Lake and Kakaako over the weekend. Speed was a factor in both crashes, and racing was suspected to be a factor in the Kakaako crash.
Under the current state law, those exceeding the posted speed limit by 30 mph face a $2,000 maximum fine, up to a year in prison or both. A motorist's vehicle can be forfeited after three excessive speeding convictions within a five-year period.
Rep. Kirk Caldwell (D, Manoa), vice chairman of the state House Transportation Committee, said earlier he plans to propose that the forfeiture of a vehicle should occur after one conviction. The forfeiture would only apply to racers who own their own vehicle.
Some car enthusiasts supported efforts to stiffen penalties for those who race on Oahu's roadways.
"I'm all for it," said Sumbad. "It's not the (car) part that kills the person. It's the person that kills the person."
"I agree with lawmakers to make it stricter," said a car enthusiast at RadMotorsport Inc. in Waipahu.
"We are not trying to kill people. We are trying to make cars look nice," said the enthusiast who did want to give his name. "A few bad apples is going to make it bad for everybody."
He added that young adults are easily influenced and attempt to try techniques they have seen in movies.
"When they see the movie 'Fast and Furious,' they are pumped up. They want to be Vin Diesel. Take it to the track," he said.
