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Illicit Circuit Regularly Eludes Police
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For example, the source said, state police helicopters might be called to shine a spotlight on a racing site, which requires coordination between state and local police. The races move not just within Prince George's, but in other counties in Maryland and in Virginia. In Prince George's, the source said, there have been races on routes 197, 450 and 301.
Even if racers are caught in the act, the source said, the most serious charge often would be reckless driving.
Prince George's police Cpl. Clinton Copeland said police are working to improve enforcement.
"We are putting things in place to address the issue," Copeland said. "It's a problem we have dealt with, and we are dealing with."
Maj. Joe Montminy of the Charles County Sheriff's Office said law enforcement officers have had problems with street racing for years. "It's pretty popular. Some of these racing clubs and street racers, we've had trouble with them and had to run them off."
He said racing clubs monitor for police cars to protect their racers. "It's pretty sophisticated," Montminy said. "They have lookouts, and they know we're coming for miles."
But street racing is not as bad as it was decades ago because many racers are opting for legal drag racing tracks, such as one in Budds Creek, instead of the street, said St. Mary's County Sheriff Timothy Cameron.
"We're not getting the complaints we used to . . . and I think a lot of that is thanks to Budds Creek," he said. "There's too many people and too much traffic on these roads now, and some people just want something safe and monitored."
Staff writers Christy Goodman, Rosalind S. Helderman, Philip Rucker, Katherine Shaver and Steve Vogel contributed to this report.
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