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Residents want city leaders to crackdown on illegal street racing

Posted at 5:50 PM, Dec 17, 2018
and last updated 2018-12-17 20:15:49-05

COLORADO SPRINGS- In the days following a deadly shooting in Southeast Colorado Springs, neighbors say the area where the violence broke out is a hot spot for illegal street racing. The shooting on Friday happened near Geiger Boulevard an area known for illegal street racing. People living less than a mile away say every weekend noise and crime associated with this is impacting their lives. Now, the neighbors are starting a petition asking city leaders to do something about it.

Four people shot, one killed in Southeast Colorado Springs. Police announced Monday afternoon two people have been arrested in connection with the crime, but neighbors believe this outbreak of violence is the result of an ongoing problem illegal street racing in the area almost every weekend.

“You can hear it going and going and going. Race down the street and then go back to wherever they start and race again. It’ll go on until 2 o’clock in the morning,” said Colorado Springs resident Gary Fredrickson

Fredrickson leads the neighborhood watch near Wilson Elementary. He says despite months of complaining to law enforcement and city leaders problems continue.

“It is bad enough that you have the racing going on, but now it has come to criminal activity where it is violence and how far is that going to go until it is taken care of?,” said Fredrickson.

Mary has lived in the neighborhood for 46 years and says racers now use her street to avoid police on weekend nights.

“It is really pretty dangerous and when there is activity on our street they are zooming back and forth,” said resident Mary Close.

Law enforcement has partnered with the Pikes Peak International Raceway to provide a safe alternative to illegal street racing, but for the people living in Southeast Colorado Springs continuing without any solutions to this ongoing street racing issue makes them feel forgotten by city leaders.

We are still waiting on an answer from the police department and the city council member for the area about their plan to stop illegal street racing. In the meantime, a petition has started and is being shared between neighbors to demand action on this issue. We will continue to follow this story.

For a safe alternative to illegal street racing visit: http://offthestreetdrags.com/