Tricked-out Acura RSX hoped to help police prevent street-racing
Last week the police of London, Ontario unveiled their latest weapon to combat illegal street-racing: an Acura RSX coupe with modifications such as tinted windows and $1,500 worth of wheels. In London, nine people have been arrested in recent months due to street racing while 30 deaths in the Toronto area have been attributed to the activity in the past decade. The London police force hopes that the RSX, donated by a local dealership, will make it easier to approach car enthusiasts who often gather to show off their modified vehicles. According to Constable Bernie Martin, who suggested the idea, enthusiasts get nervous and leave at the sight of an approaching police Crown Victoria police cruiser. The London police hope that the RSX, which still bear police stickers, will make it easier for them to approach, then educate enthusiasts on what is legal, like racing on dragstrips, and what is not (the streets).
The RSX donation is temporary; the department will hand it back to the dealership at the end of the summer.
Related post:
Street-racing being driven from misdemeanor to felony
[Source: London Free Press]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Corey W. 1:59PM (5/09/2006)
"The London police hope that the RSX, which still bear police stickers, will make it easier for them to approach, then educate enthusiasts on what is legal, like racing on dragstrips, and what is not"
Don't bet on it... If it has lights and "POLICE" on the side, your still going to get the same response.
Reply
Noah 2:01PM (5/09/2006)
Edmonton Police has a number of tuner cars, although I suspect their all show no go which is fine, they got those mighty crown vics for chasing down the bad guys.
I don't know how well it works but atleast it makes it uncool to drive whatever car they try and get in touche with the youth with hah
--Noah
Reply
Nick Aziz - Leftlane News 2:03PM (5/09/2006)
That's my home town. LOL!
Reply
GrowUp 2:49PM (5/09/2006)
I'm sure this will be just as effective as the D.A.R.E. Camaros.
Yep.
Reply
Andrew 2:49PM (5/09/2006)
When i was going to school in buffalo NY i lived in a town called Amherst. They had the same thing, but with a mercury cougar. It had crazy vinyls on it and looked really flashy with a wing and rims and all, but upod closer inspection the vinyls actually said "amherst police". sneaky sneaky.
Reply
Francis Wu 3:28PM (5/09/2006)
Interesting, although I have a sneaking suspicion that this is a dumbass idea. Won't riceboys be compelled to race against the cops now? Then again, a wolf in sheep's clothes is still a wolf.
If anything, they should look at the skater model. Most cities managed to more or less curb skater shenanigans by giving them a place to play, hence the skater park. They need to do the same thing with tuners. That way, I'll have a place to run my crap-ass Echo to the ground.
Reply
Ted K 3:51PM (5/09/2006)
"The RSX donation is temporary; the department will hand it back to the dealership at the end of the summer."
Oh, yeah, THATS just what I wanted to buy!
An ex-riced RSX from cops!
Reply
Wolf 4:21PM (5/09/2006)
At least we don't have to worry about them in the US. Our government is too stuck up with buying crappy, overrated, ugly, and expensive American cars (made up of mostly imported parts) to ever have a decent ride like that. Seriously, cops around here get a hard on just thinking about the latest police edition Crown Vic.
Reply
TDIMeister Dave Oh 4:33PM (5/09/2006)
AHAHAHA! Props to my hometown! (now saying Hi from Germany).
Reply
bhtooefr 4:42PM (5/09/2006)
Well, this might do something... like increase their ticket revenues...
Why do ricers do it, anyway?
Ted K #7: "Oh, yeah, THATS just what I wanted to buy!
An ex-riced RSX from cops!"
I agree 100%!
TDIMeister Dave Oh #8: Wait, are you the same TDIMeister as on TDIClub? I can't think that there's THAT many TDIMeisters... :P
Reply
Gunnar Heinrich 4:49PM (5/09/2006)
The British police drive everything from BMW 5-Series to Range Rovers. Were I a UK tax payer, I'd be pissed.
http://www.automobilesdeluxe.blogspot.com
Reply
Carl Q. 6:19PM (5/09/2006)
In Quebec city, we already have a Civic SIR since august 15 of 2005
http://clabedan.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/pacer.jpg
Reply
Ted K 1:59AM (5/10/2006)
#9 bhtooefr
Hey I'd certainly buy a police-used abused-in-chases ex-rice RSX before a new VW, so don't get too smug.
Reply
cars 11:00AM (7/29/2006)
With a car like that this cops have a job of dreams.
Reply
Lunes 9:51AM (11/21/2006)
its funny how people get all defensive around the cops. I know from experience that cops like messing around with stuff too. they aren't all out to write you a ticket or arrest you. most of them don't want the hassle of all the paperwork to give your dumb ass a ticket... its nice that they are at least trying to show how people should be responsible with their cars, even if they do want to have "high" powered rice burners...
Reply