Over 200 tickets issued during street racing operation

CALGARY (660 NEWS) – Young drivers are going too fast and furious in Calgary’s southeast and police are on to them.

Calgary police are several weeks into Operation Roadhammer, an initiative aimed at stopping illegal street racing and found it’s generally happening on the weekend in the southeast, and those involved are often young and inexperienced.

Police say they’ve handed out more than 280 tickets and towed several vehicles since May 1.

Sgt. Brad Norman said the size of the races in the southeast is staggering.

“Some evenings we’ve had up to a thousand vehicles and in most cases, you can double that.”

Police say industrial areas may seem deserted late at night, but often tractor-trailers and other vehicles are using the streets on a regular basis at all times of day.

Norman said that lives have already been lost due to street racing and doesn’t want to see it happen again.

In April, a 38-year-old man died after being struck by a speeding car while crossing the street along 32 Avenue NE.

READ MORE: Police believe hit and run in NE linked to street racing

“I don’t want to see someone die out here. If these guys keep doing this it’s not if it will happen, it’s when it’s going to happen. I don’t want to see myself or any of my colleagues have to go and do that door knock and tell someone that their loved one’s not coming home.”

Sgt. Norman says if you witness illegal street racing happening, you can report it to Calgary police.

“We also ask friends and family of drivers that might be participating in this activity to encourage them to stop.”