11 cars impounded, at least 6 arrested in Salt Lake City street racing bust
SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Eleven drivers will have to get their cars out of a police impound lot after officers busted a street racing event in the Salt Lake Valley over the weekend.
The operation was conducted by the Utah Highway Patrol and Salt Lake City Police. Eleven cars were impounded, and at least six drivers were arrested.
“It’s fast and the furious here in Salt Lake City,” said Cpt. Yvette Zayas with Salt Lake City Police.
“The kids see what’s happening in the movies and think ‘oh, I’m untouchable’," she said.
Police corralled the racers in an industrial area near State Route 201 and Bangerter Highway just after 11 p.m. on Friday.
Officers with the Utah State Bureau of Investigations were observing the organized races and captured video of the racing.
Troopers stopped the vehicles that were involved in the races and allowed the spectators of the event to leave.
“The racing is cool, it’s fun. I know everyone here has a good understanding of their own car and what it can do. It’s hard to do it anywhere else besides streets because they shut down the other race track,” said Troy, one of the drivers who was arrested at the event.
Troy was referring to the closure of Rocky Mountain Raceway, a drag strip in West Valley City that ceased operation in 2018.
Police along the Wasatch Front have been concerned about the organized street races for years. In 2020, Salt Lake City Police reported a 467% increase in calls about illegal street racing.
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2News Investigates profiled the dangers of the illegal street races earlier this year.
“Many people think it’s a victimless crime, I’m here to tell you it’s not. We’re seeing gang activity, guns, drugs, alcohol, fights, shootings," said Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown.
The Utah Legislature passed a new law to address street racing earlier this year. S.B. 53 allows police to seize vehicles that are used in racing if they are not street legal, as well as stiffens fines for racers.
Since the law went into effect, law enforcement have conducted periodic operations at weekend street races, including in July when 15 drivers were arrested.
“It’s all fun until someone winds up dead, and it’s your child and we have to knock on your door and say ‘sir, I’m sorry to tell you this’,” said Cpt. Zayas.
