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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, December 15, 2003

Ideas sought to reduce Hawai'i street racing

By Peter Boylan
Advertiser Staff Writer

Last week's deadly high-speed collision on the Leeward Coast has focused new attention on street racing and revived the debate over what, if anything, can be done to prevent it.

Several ideas have surfaced, from a state-financed public race track to greater police presence on the roadways, increased driver's education and stricter penalties for highway racers.

But one factor seems to leave every potential solution lacking.

"These kids are invincible, right? Speeding means nothing to them," said Fred Nagao, a driver's education teacher at Farrington High School.

Car enthusiasts say that multiple venues, state-created and paid for, would allow racers and high-performance car collectors a place to take their competition. Hawai'i Raceway Park, a privately financed operation at Campbell Industrial Park, is the only legal racetrack on O'ahu.

There are more than 100 car clubs on O'ahu with memberships ranging from five to 50.

Michael Oakland, president of Hawai'i Raceway Park, said more than 300 cars show up to race on any given weekend and that his facilities cannot accommodate everyone.

The park provides a multitude of activities, from drag racing to track racing, but inevitably the lack of space isolates small groups of would-be racers, he said. Oakland said he is trying to negotiate a land swap with the state that would allow him to build a facility twice the size of the park's present 69 acres.

"Some of the teenagers and young kids have this interest (in racing and cars) but don't have the availability of resources," Oakland said. "That (lack of resources) makes kids go out and do things. Testosterone takes over; living on the edge has become a cultural thing."

Heather Yoshida, a 24-year-old legal assistant and co-founder of a local car club, said there is a difference between legitimate racers, those who race on a track, enjoy modifying their cars and driving fast to prove a point, and those who simply like to spend money improving the appearance of their car.

Modified cars usually swap stock parts for streamlined exhaust systems, more powerful engines and heightened suspension.

She said real racers invest considerable time and money in their cars and would not want to see them ruined in a foolish race on a public street. Those who speed on the streets and freeways are giving a bad reputation to real racers who take the time to educate themselves about safe driving techniques and the law, Yoshida said.

"No matter what we do there are going to be some idiots out there who are going to ruin it for us," Yoshida said. "There have been many vehicular tragedies; there is never any attention drawn to the lack of education and enforcement."

Acting assistant police chief Bryan Wauke said police have stepped up enforcement efforts, as evidenced by the 399 racing citations issued between Jan. 1 and Oct. 31 of this year, compared with 204 in all of 2002.

But police cannot be everywhere, Wauke said. He said a more visible police presence would deter street racers, but only temporarily.

"They may not see us as often as they would like, but as evidenced by our citations we are out there," Wauke said. However, he said, "Our presence only works as long as we're there; as soon as we leave conditions will change."

The Nissan Altima that collided with another vehicle in Makaha last week, killing four people, was speeding, police have said. Police are uncertain which of two brothers, ages 20 and 21, was driving the Nissan, but reports from the medical examiner's office indicate that both had been drinking. Witnesses said the Nissan was racing a third vehicle before the crash.

The law designates nonfatal street racing incidents as misdemeanors. According to the city prosecutor's office, only one incident of fatal street racing has resulted in a felony conviction since 1975.

Sen. Cal Kawamoto said he will introduce two bills aimed at bolstering street racing laws when the Legislature convenes in January.

The first would impose stricter penalties, such as felony charges, license suspension, fines and vehicle forfeiture, on anyone convicted of racing on highways at greater than 30 mph above the posted speed limit.

Under the other proposal, a driver guilty of street racing twice within five years would be required to forfeit his or her car.

"We're stiffening up the penalties," said Kawamoto, D-18th (Waipahu, Crestview, Pearl City).

Proving street racing has been the rub, police said. To turn a street racing case over to the prosecutor's office, police must prove that two vehicles were in a timed contest and trying to outmaneuver each another.

State Department of Transportation Director Rodney Haraga said legislation is needed to help police enforce existing laws.

"We're going to have to work with some of the senators on enforcement legislation," Haraga said. "My concern is that the state highways are safe for our drivers."

Haraga said the idea of the state building a legal race track is a good one and he would research the possibility.

Mayor Jeremy Harris said the issue is a high priority but also feels that the city can't have police officers on every corner. He said it is up to parents to take responsibility for their children's actions behind the wheel.

"Government cannot serve as the parent," Harris said in a statement. "Parents must step up and talk with their children about the seriousness of speeding and endangering the lives of their passengers and innocent motorists and pedestrians."

Education is the one suggestion that carries weight with everyone from lawmakers to car enthusiasts. All say that educating young drivers about the dangers of street racing is the best way to make an impact early on.

Nagao, who will begin overseeing the driver's education program statewide for the DOT in January, said he makes it a point to talk to his classes at Farrington High School about the dangers of speeding and highway racing.

Most of his students frown on street racing, he said, but there are always some who disregard the warnings. Nagao said he believes alcohol and drugs induce young drivers to test the limits of their driving ability.

"When they're sober it makes sense to them," he said. "But when they take a couple drinks, maybe use illegal drugs, that's when they get daring."

Reach Peter Boylan at 535-8110 or pboylan@honoluluadvertiser.com.