Street racing in Kent: Police bust 80

Kent Police and the Washington State Patrol cited 80 people for investigation of trespassing during a street-racing bust at about 12:10 a.m. Saturday at a parking lot of a business in the 20300 block of 59th Place South.

  • BY Wire Service
  • Tuesday, July 29, 2008 1:31pm
  • News

Kent Police and the Washington State Patrol cited 80 people for investigation of trespassing during a street-racing bust at about 12:10 a.m. Saturday at a parking lot of a business in the 20300 block of 59th Place South.

The drivers of 37 vehicles were stopped by police for being involved in illegal racing or attending illegal races, according to a Kent Police media release.

Eighty people, including seven teens under the age of 18, were cited for trespassing on private property as well as for attendance at illegal racing.

Two people were arrested on investigation of driving under the influence and their vehicles were impounded. Four people were arrested on investigation of reckless driving. Several citations were given for driving with a suspended license.

Kent Police impounded six vehicles and a motorcycle.

None of those involved in the illegal racing were from Kent, according to the media release.

Street racing and attending street races are illegal in Kent. Racers have flocked to the city for several years because of the straight, empty streets in the Kent valley industrial area.

“There are too many examples of injury and death caused by street racing in Western Washington,” said Kent Police Lt. Ken Thomas in the media release. “We must continue to enforce the laws regarding this dangerous activity. Our goal is to make the streets of Kent safe for everyone.”


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