COLLABORATION
IN COMMUNITY POLICING
The
Stockton Police Department received complaints
about street racing and many associated issues
from citizens, merchants, and community groups.
Several commercial establishments experienced
problems with litter in their parking lots,
graffiti painted on buildings, and an overall
loss of business. Investigating officers validated
these concerns by personally observing the
street racing and examine calls for service
in the affected area. They also spoke with
several offenders and went undercover to embed
themselves with the racers, to learn about
their subculture.
An
aggressive and innovative response was necessary
to suppress the racing activity. This response
would emphasize action against the vehicles
used for street racing, rather than the drivers.
The project dubbed "Project Black Flag,"
under the California Government Code, allows
police to seize vehicles used in reckless
driving incidents for a 30-day period. Project
Black Flag's goal is to effectively suppress
illegal street racing in an around the target
area. The major components of the project
are surveillance and court orders, zero-tolerance
enforcement mission, continued search for
target vehicles, effective media and publicity
camping, and enacting new local legislation.
Project
Black Flag attained its goal. Since the enforcement
mission component took place, street racing
in the targeted area has been dormant. Calls
for service for speeding and reckless-driving
incidents have been reduced by 90.2% and disturbance-related
calls associated with street racing fell 80%.
Fifty-two racing vehicles have been sized
pursuant to court order. When surveyed, 99%
of the 52 drivers whose vehicles were impounded
said they would never race again in Stockton,
and 54% said they would stop racing altogether.
The publicity campaign was more effective
than anticipated, reaching much of Northern
California with television and newspaper articles.
Two new local ordinances were presented to
the Stockton City Council that will help prevent
future racing problems. Targeting the offender's
vehicles, rather than the drivers has proven
to be an effective response to stocktons's
street racing problem.
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