Councilwoman Debby Moorhead has noticed “they” are all over town.
They are along Woodward Avenue.
They are along Atherton Drive.
They are on Crestwood Avenue.
They are on Louise Avenue at Pestana.
“They” are brodies made by drivers “burning rubber” and doing “donuts”.
Moorhead brought up the issue at last week’s Manteca City Council meeting.
Manteca Police Chief Jodie Estarziau said her officers are “acutely aware” of the problem.
“Nothing would make us happier than to tow their cars,” the police chief said.
The problem is the police have to catch the culprits in the act.
Estarziau noted the rubber burning that takes place late at night and in the wee hours of the morning tend to be on streets on Manteca’s perimeters.
Police, once they are alerted do respond but by the time they reach the location where callers have reported rubber burning, the culprits are long gone. If an officer is not tied up on a call, they typically can reach areas within three minutes of being dispatched.
Councilman Dave Breitenbucher correctly noted “burning rubber” and doing “donuts” has been going on for generations.
Estarziau indicated the Manteca Police Department along with other agencies is part of an illegal roadshow task force led by the CHP designed to shut down illegal speed contests that they get wind of typically via social media. There have been several over the years in San Joaquin County but none as brazen as in the Oakland area where participants have blocked traffic on major freeways in the early morning hours by a slow moving vehicle roadblock to have an illegal roadshow take place on the freeway.
Punishment for participating in speed contests is fairly severe. It includes a $1,000 fine, 90 days in jail, impoundment of your vehicle for up to 30 day, suspension of your license for six months, and possible community service for up to 40 hours.
The vehicle tow and impoundment can easily cost in excess of $1,400 on top of the fine as well as increased insurance premiums.
Exhibition of speed — essentially what is taking place on Manteca streets — is also a bit expensive.
Two of the various criteria that can get you prosecuted for exhibition of speed in California include speeding or accelerating in an unsafe manner and/or doing so intending to show off and impress someone. It is not required that you exceed the speed limit to be convicted of exhibition of speed. You can get convicted by merely accelerating rapidly from a stopped position.
Get convicted of burning rubber or even revving your engine to impress others and you face a $500 fine, loss of your driver’s license for six months, and possible jail time.
That’s on top of the $1,400 or so you will be out to get your vehicle back after it is towed and impounded for 30 days.
Manteca Police officers
go the extra mile
The Manteca Police Department recently received kudos from a Manteca citizen regarding the conduct of two officers.
The citizen praised two Manteca Police officers for their acts of kindness. The Manteca resident suffers from a physical disability which makes it difficult for him to walk. While walking to a store from his residence, he was contacted by two separate Manteca Police officers 20 plus minutes apart and asked if he needed any assistance.
The man was so moved by this acts of kindness, he contacted the police department to compliment both officers. Through some research it was determined Officer Gallego and Officer Noel were the officers who made contact with the citizen. Each had been unaware of the other’s actions prior to being told.
