State Police Struggle To Control Drag Racing On Highways
BOSTON (CBS) - State Police are struggling with what has become an annual problem: Drag racing on some of the commonwealth's busiest highways.
Officials say the problem emerged in its current form during the summer of 2010, though no one is able to point to a specific reason why. Authorities cracked down and were able to stop a lot of the races through 2011, but this year they are back and causing headaches. The mild winter weather has them starting even earlier than normal.
Police have seen what they called "highly organized groups" of racers, numbering anywhere "from 20 to upwards of 100 vehicles", according to State Police Major Edward Amodeo. When the groups are that big, they can fan out over a four-lane highway and actually bring traffic behind them to a complete stop.
Explained Major Amodeo: "They stop traffic to allow the two racers who are designated to race to go in front of the vehicles that are stopped in traffic. And they race to a fixed position or to an exit, and that's extremely dangerous."
The problem is at its worst in the northeastern part of the state, in Essex and Middlesex counties. And though State police are cracking down, they are finding that when they target one stretch of roadway the word travels fast, and the racers just move somewhere else.
The young drag racers who take over the state's highways at night are often so bold, some even record their mayhem and post it online. You can watch some of it in this story, from a series of races on Route 495 in February.
"This year it's a pretty significant problem," says Major Amodeo.
Police are using unmarked cars to hide where the drivers meet up before a race, even trying to bust drivers who have stolen auto parts – anything to stop the races before they begin, knowing they're up against people who thrive on the chase.
And authorities urge anyone who happens to encounter drag racers not to follow them. If it is safe to do so, you are asked to call 911 with as much information as you can, like a license plate or direction of travel.
