Speed Contests -- Illegal Street Racing
 Spurred on by news stories reported between 2002 – 2003 about several street racing crashes and fatalities in Colorado Springs , DRIVE SMART Colorado Springs became involved in the issue of illegal street racing as a public safety concern. In Feb. 2004, we put together a coalition/task force dedicating itself to the problem of street racing. Members initially were DRIVE SMART committee members, but soon expanded to other citizens, racing enthusiasts (introduced by a CSP Trooper) and law enforcement. The group met monthly for two years and continues to meet on an as needed basis.
Local data was compiled and it was determined that Colorado Springs does indeed have a serious problem. Not the numbers of racers as in largest cities, but a large number of deaths and injuries (based upon racer population).
- Spring of 2002, officers determined an increased number of calls for service related to street racing.
- Street racing involves primarily juveniles and young adults.
- In 2004, CSPD had 108 summons issued through overtime deployments for both criminal and traffic offenses to members of the street racing community.
- A net total of 610 traffic summons were issued in 2004 by officers from overtime deployments, traffic and motor unit deployments and random patrol traffic enforcement. 2002 – 2004 there were a total of 439 Serious Injury and Fatal traffic crashes in the City of Colorado Springs .
- Out of 439 crashes, street racing and exhibitions of speed accounted for 15 fatalities and 41 serious bodily injury accidents.
 A focus group was conducted on area teens and it was determined that illegal street racing would be an excellent topic to focus on during the 2004 High School Traffic Safety Challenge. DRIVE SMART created a video on street racing that shown to the High Schools that participated in 2004 (two local crashes featured).
DRIVE SMART sponsored a statewide Illegal Street Racing Symposium that occurred on June 2, 2005, inviting speakers from San Diego (original and successful Drag Net Unit). 125 attendees including area city and county attorneys and judges and individuals from 15 state law enforcement agencies.
Key ideas from this symposium (several we have already been involved in):
Form coalition - All pieces must work together
- Plea bargaining must be addressed with DA office
- Must have consistency with DA and City Attorney
- Judges need to be educated
Involve every jurisdiction
Get local law enforcement support/commitment ($, manpower)
- Everyone should be on same page
- Military neighbors, as partners
- They are aware that many of the motorcycle riders are military
Education
- Educate the community. They don't know how serious of a problem it is.
- Cultivate relationship with investigative reporter (to cover situation)
- Must have media piece
Make public believe it is a huge public safety issue—
educate community through media
 Find venue for legal racing—is someplace already existing?
- Former racetracks?
- Old Airports (not existing airport, if planes land, is problem)
- Adjacent roads?
MUST have secure perimeter
- Industrial parks—must protect perimeter
- Stadiums –must protect perimeter
- Create mindset that your community is the LAST place a racer would want to race illegally, so they'd go to track
One outcome of the efforts in Colorado Springs was House Bill 06-1084 that was introduced and passed in 2006 targeting illegal speed contests and exhibitions of speed.
For a copy of this law: www.leg.state.co.us
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