Deputies Aim To Curb Motorcycle Racing

CITRUS PARK - With school out for the summer, the roar of fast motorcycles is expected across northwest Hillsborough County, and law enforcement is ready.

There isn't a big problem with organized car drag racing.

Rather, northwest Hillsborough County is the spot for motorcycle racing, said sheriff's Cpl. Billy Hughes.

Usually, racing here consists of three or four motorcycles barreling down the road, he said. The fear is that they "override their abilities" and crash, injuring or killing someone, he said.

One favorite racing spot is an area of Race Track and Patterson roads, he said. Another is Hoover Road north of Hillsborough Avenue.

Usually, the racing takes place on Saturday nights, Hughes said.

"We use covert motorcycles as well as covert vehicles so we can get into position to see them gathering and setting up a race," he said.

Racing arrests decline during the school year, he said, but with school out for summer, deputies are gearing up for the local illegal racing season. Most of those charged are younger than 20, he said.

Traffic enforcement units from District 1, which covers Carrollwood and Northdale and Lutz east to Thonotosassa, don't see much racing there and have thrown their forces into stemming street racing in Hughes' district.

Keith Morelli