Hahaha debunker. Do some case searching and u will find that that defense has been used and won. Guess we will just wait and see wat happens won't we.

Crunch crunch crunch...

blkrayne23:"the only thing I see wrong with your statement is about the bikes nit be stolen. The max fine is 2000 for this misdemeanor. So taking the motorycle would be a violation of the eigth amendment against excessive fines."

I suggest you stand clear of legal arguments. You are clearly ill equipped to deal with them.

The Fines imposed for the crime itself is set by the category of the crime (Class A,B,C Misdemeanor, or 1st,2nd,3rd degree felony). Losing the bikes as an instrument of committing that crime is a SEPARATE situation. The value of the bikes is not assessed as part of the fines.
So the "only thing you see wrong" with my statement is not wrong at all but your own mistake in your understanding of law.
Don't give up your day job.

Debunker the only thing I see wrong with your statement is about the bikes nit be stolen. The max fine is 2000 for this misdemeanor. So taking the motorycle would be a violation of the eigth amendment against excessive fines. Which then would violate the 14 amendment of due process. It's all a big legal issue. Oh well it will all be sorted out. I just don't see where anyone has the right to point fingers cuz anytime a person speeds could be considered racing since racing is considered a test of endurance. So let's all drop this and let it all work out before anymore finger pointing or accusations go out

And trixie insurance rates r high because moms and dads buy their kids expensive cars instead of maki.g their kids earn it by having a job and buying their own. Then these inexperienced kids go out and have wrecks in brand new cars. Plus there are losers who scam insurance companies.

Debunker u r correct in wat u said. Also there is a statue of limitations of two years. If tge video was posted let's say march of this year it cant be true since if u watch the caterpillar plant wasn't built at that time. So this video has to be older than march of this year. Tgat video could have been shot years ago. Police would have to get Ahold of the original video and find a way to prove that it was shot within two years to even have a case to start. I'm against street racing but the laws the law and everyone has to go by it

eolsovsky,

The Bikes were seized as instruments of a crime. That is NOT Theft by police. You don't have a dang clue what you are talking about.

Erin Pradia mentioned they were seized as both evidence and instruments of a crime. which is true. But let me try to illustrate the difference between them.

Lets say you legally own a gun. And an intruder breaks into your home and you wind up shooting but not killing the intruder.
Police will take your gun as evidence. Once the charges and trial is all done and over with for the intruder, or at least until they no longer need the gun as physical evidence, it will be returned to you.

Now lets say you still legally own a gun but you now use it to go commit a crime. Robbery for example.
The gun will again be taken as evidence. but it will also be seized as an instrument of the crime itself. and in this case you WILL NOT get it back even though you legally owned it.

Normal traffic violations such as failure to yield or running a red light are generally unintentional. Technically they are crimes but the car is NOT intentionally being used to commit a crime.

Racing on the other hand is an intentional, deliberate act. and the vehicles are INTENTIONALLY being used to commit the crime. It is an INSTRUMENT of the crime itself. Thus the Vehicle is seized and it is no longer yours.
That is NOT theft-by-cop. It is you losing a tool for which you intentionally go commit crimes with.
It is the same for vehicles used to transport drugs.

And as for all motorcycles being seized that's a lie. That group had at least 20 riders and only 4 were taken. One of those had a girl on the back and he was at the back of the group. Remember ppl the media lies. And so do officers. It's their best interrogative technique

Everyone keeps saying these guys put ppl at harm. I've watched several of tgese guys videos and in everyone they put Noone but theirselves at risk. It's obvious if u blind ignorant ppl would pay attention they use roads with no entrance or one entrance and that its blocked off if there is one. Street raccing is wrong but for ppl to keep saying they put innocent lives in danger is wrong too. As for the racing down Navarro I witnessed it. I got in my truck and rode behind them. They did not speed nor did they race. But a Cadillac did try to run them over right in front of the cops nit once but twice and nothing was done about it. If they were racing down Navarro and up Rio Grande how come nothing was done at the start. How come police let them go all the way down to city limits before they put on their lights. Because nothing happened. It's all just a hoax to make the new police chief look good

why do you think are insurance rates are so HIGH??? I have no doubt this is one issue why. We all pay in the long run for stupidity! Those whom do have insurance :) ..

erin thank you very much for info !

"When the cases go to court, the judge will determine what will happen to the motorcycles. One of the options is demolition, the chief said."

WHAT?! WTF does this accomplish?! "I don't like the way you drive, so i'm going to steal and destroy you're vehicle!" ???

Theft by police or government is still theft. So next time someone runs a stop sign or red light, are they going to seize the offender's vehicle? I see it equally, if not more "dangerous." (I can use many more examples that seem ridiculous, because it ALL IS!)

...I viewed the video... Although on a public street, it is obvious they waited for all traffic to be out of the way, and were on a road that is pretty secluded and safe. I am not justifying or condoning racing on public streets, but I just don't see any further action taken past a 'speeding' or 'unsafe driving' ticket at most. Extreme actions that is used to make an example, or scare the public into obeying laws is immoral and wrong! (Even if there is a "law" that allows them to do so, it doesn't make it right!)

-America the free! (yet has the highest incarceration rate and more restrictive laws--in number--compared to any other country!)

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Reply to roberttx:

The bikes were seized as evidence and as instruments of the crime, according to Victoria Police Chief JJ Craig.

Also, what will be done with the bikes is decided by a judge. A judge will determine whether the bikes will be returned, destroyed or otherwise disposed of.

The law the racers were violating is listed under the transportation code Section 545.420. It defines drag racing and what is prohibited. It also explains the different levels of punishment for repeat offenders or if someone is injured or killed by a racer.

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The police are doing their job. These 'people' have no right to put other people in danger while they break the law. Just not having anything else to do is no excuse. Go where the only person at risk is yourself. But don't have your family asking for taxpayers dollars to bury you. Accidents will happen but these people are risking other people's on purpose to have a bit of fun.

@sickandtired- Granny could kill a safe driver on a bike that's only going 40mph....

Victoria is not a perfect town. If your looking for a place with no crime, Victoria....texas.....u.s. .... is not the place to find it

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I don't want someone in my family injured or killed by someone racing on our public streets. I personally am pleased local law enforcement is addressing this matter. More power to them. I would be pleased to serve on a jury if these arrests are contested.

This is still not going to stop anything,they are just bike you can always buy another one.

why were the bikes confiscated and under what law ?

It appears the police department did exactly what they are supposed to do.

There is no justification for willingly risk your life and others solely because it is "fun". "Nothing to do in these town" is also not qualified reason. Bit silly, but not qualified.
This has been an issue with youth for many years- and it is dealt with the same way over the years. Find the culprits and deal with it accordingly. Reviewing the ages listed- it isn't a "teenager thing" instead it is doing something "cool" because some older guys are doing it.

Good work VPD, you may have saved a life or two.

Good job, Victoria PD!!!! Keep it up!! I live off John Stockbauer and know you have more work to do!! Once you've cleaned up the street racers, how about coordinating with the Texas Rangers and get rid of the drug gangs. Please make Victoria a safer place for us natives and the good transplants who just want to live a peaceful productive life and raise good kids!!

For the whiners, if the little old lady going to church pulls out of a side street and these bikers are going 150 mph and crashes into the side of her car, for sure one dead and maybe both. Then who is at fault? IMO, the biker because had he of been going the speed limit, granny would of made her turn just fine. Now you have a grieving family who's young son is dead and a elderly lady who dies to early because of the stress she suffered blaming herself, when in actuality it wasn't her fault. This isn't a hypothetical, but a true story from a central Texas town two years ago. At 150 mph on a crotch rocket you are nothing more than a organ donor.

You people crack me up. You would be the same ones complaining if the police hadn't have done anything. They bikers don't need to be on the streets. Eventually, one of them will be killed or worse, hit someone else. All of you who always think it is okay to break laws as long as it is just fun are idiots.

Some of you are trying to minimize these racers actions. Speeding ticket? Really? How do you plan on stopping them? Roadblock? Spike strips? I've personally seen a 7 year old boy in corpus killed by a "street racer" as he was crossing the street. Racer saw boy too late. Racer ended up in hospital then jail and boys parents planned a funeral. Keep minimalizing this reckless behavior until this happens here then see what happens

Until it happens to you.
Lets see a couple of years ago, guy riding his bike to fast loose control, gets killed when he body slams against a light pole, Sam Houston Drive
Also a couple of years ago guy gets killed when he hits a dog.
A few years back, Guy on bike comes off a side street onto Navarro, doesn't bother to stop, slams onto side of car, gets killed instantly, i knew him too.
Yea your right mismor, nothing to do in Victoria but get killed on a crotch rocket. You give those who just like to ride a bad name.

boostluver, yup! We, as in me too, are paying OUR pd to do a job that people complained about. Want to help, call in the tip line so they, the PD can get the meth, and guns off the street.

very funny and very true Gloria7

If a young man is going 150 mph HE is trying to run away from a girl or trying to impress a girl. LOL

Demolition "really" don't you think that is a little harsh for some kids out having some fun.

So are we paying the police to sit and search for youtube videos now? Thanks, this long on-going investigation has probably cost us tons of money for 7 guys to get class b misdemeanors. How about they publish the cost of this investigation, that might show how many late night pizza parties these investigators were having while surfing youtube. Start worrying about the meth and guns running around. Like the ones that killed my friend for nothing.

Really? Geez Whiz Dad, if we 'da had a race track to race on we wouldn't have done it on the streets! Gosh, can't a guy have any fun in this town?
Wake up Victoria, there is absolutely NOTHING for the youth and young adults to do in this town.

Street racers, mention going to a drag-way and race against the same class of vehicles officially and safely 4 or 5 runs and they turn into the biggest procrastinators. They find out real fast that their daily drivers on 22's are not all that or they break something.

That would be something nice to have in Victoria though, a nice drag-strip for racing on weekends.

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soooooooooooo

a bunch of punks driving fast in the business park ?

speeding ticket and move on ?

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