SPOC

I agree that the attention focused on street racing deaths vs impaired driving deaths is disproportional.
The reason for that though is public intrest due to media attention. The media reports on what will get them headlines and grab the public attention to boost ratings. That means high profile impaired driving arrests (ie: celebs, or fatal accidents) and street racing fatalities and high profile incidents. The 'street racers' make up a much smaller cross section of society than impaired drivers do. They are relatively an isolated group and thus to have 35 deaths in such a realitively small group is significant and hence the media attention. The reason street racing gets alot of attention from the media and subsequently the polititians is also because it doesnt face the same social problems or judicial hurdles that impaired drivers do...

That problem with impaired driving is as follows... As much as the public disagrees with drinking and driving a shocking number of people still drive while impaired (I believe I read an article stating that police only catch 3% of the impaired drivers on the road). These people make up all aspects of society: white collar execs, blue collar workers, students, elderly, etc). When these contributing members of society get caught driving under the influence, they dont want the stigma of being known as an 'Impaired Driver' attached to their name, their job depends on their licence, etc. They are not usually 'criminals' in the common sense of the word and the thought of criminal record also motivates them to contest the charges. They will fight and pay huge dollars for the best liars, sorry I meant lawyers, to tie up vaulable court time to get themselves off Impaired driving / Over-80 charges.
Impaired driving cases are some of the most scrutinized trials that come before the courts because of this stigma. Defence lawyers make a mockery out any 'justice' in the justice system, all in an attempt to get a clearly guilty person and dangerous driver back on the road where he can harm or kill others. This coupled with bad case law and the lenient attitude the courts have taken with impaired drivers is the reason why penalties seem so lax. The penalties listed in the Criminal Code are severe, however the courts never give out the maximum penalties.
Its sickening to catch a person driving who is so drunk that they cant stand when they get out of the car. Who's blood alcohol level is so high they have to go to hospital before they can be released from police custody. Then several months later to hear that the Criminal charges of impaired driving and over 80 got plead down to a highway traffic act charge of Careless driving. This is the side of impaired driving trials that the public doesnt see because its boring to the media, and no one is going to sit in a court room and watch a trial unless they have to be there.

That being said, you will be hard pressed to find a police officer who cares more about the street racing aspects of this bill than they do the impaired driving points.

So given the Police's enforcement preference, I wouldnt fret about some massive blitz where every car that is slightly moddified gets yanked from the road and impounded for driving 2 km/hr over the speed limit because the officer suspected them of racing as they passed a slow moving garbage truck.

** A side note: Affilitating with MADD or some other anit-drinking and driving group would be a great idea for car enthusiasts group such as VM to do. **

------------------