CHP going undercover to crackdown on touge drivers

Twitter @thegentracer

The cat and mouse games played between the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and those that like to take spirited drives in the mountains and canyons of Southern California has escalated to a new level. The CHP in coordination with other state and local agencies is using social media and undercover agents to crackdown on canyon racers.

The CHP worked with the California Alcohol Beverage Control Bureau and the U.S. Forestry Service to shut down what they called an alleged "illegal car club" called the Realrunners that was using Social Media to coordinate what the CHP describes as "illegal canyon racing." I have heard of illegal racing, but never an illegal car club...sounds like gang injunctions are next.

It's more like the script of the original Fast & Furious than regular police work.The details are sketchy, but the CHP stated that the investigation, that ended in the arrest of two and the impounding of two vehicles, was the result of a three month undercover investigation. So wait...the CHP is not only using social media to infiltrate and track canyon racers online, but has the resources to conduct an undercover investigation for three months to bust two guys for street racing??? Hummmm...

Sounds a little extreme...members of the Realrunners were “performing burnouts and blocking the roadway” on Bouquet Canyon Road in front of Big Oaks Lodge. This is according to a plain-clothed officers from the CHP’s Investigative Services Unit.

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After the CHP shut down the burnouts and unblocked the road, uniformed officers from the Forestry Service showed up and pointed out “the most egregious offenders” according to KHTS AM 1220 radio. Officials also said that they would be charging several other members of the Realrunners for "previously committed violations," but the story did not elaborate on what those charges are or when they are alleged to have happened. So I guess the forestry service officers pointed out cars or drivers that had been driving up Bouquet Canyon in the past... sounds like a bit of a reach.

There has to be more to this story since after a three month investigation only Armen Laloyan, 37, of Hesperia, and a juvenile, were simply cited and released. Both were charged with a violation of the section of vehicle code known as "Speed Contests." It states: "A person shall not engage in a motor vehicle exhibition of speed on a highway, and a person shall not aid or abet in a motor vehicle exhibition of speed on any highway."

According to the California DMV website:

What Happens if I Speed Race? (the DMV website calls it Speed Race)

The following are some of the penalties you can face if you street race:

Be arrested and have your vehicle impounded for 30 days.
Be imprisoned for up to three months if convicted of street racing, or aiding or abetting a street race.
Be fined for up to $1,000.
Have your driver license revoked.
Have your vehicle's insurance canceled or premiums dramatically increased.
Have equipment violations issued.

NOTE: Spectators are also subject to the same penalties.

So ok you spent three months playing Brian O'Conner to bust a guy and some teenager for street racing that is likely to just result in a $1,000 fine and a 30 day impound?

I have reached out to some people who might be involved and I will update the story as I find out more.

Source: signalscv.com & KHTS AM 1220