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Old 06-02-2004, 08:51 AM   #1 (permalink)
vwguy
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Letter to the news papers

This is the modifed version i sent to the editorials:

Quote:
To whom it may concern.

Vital Motion is a vehicle enthusiast group based in the Waterloo region. Our members span across Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph, Brantford and several other small cities within the area.

Our club has recently become aware of the “blitz” that the Waterloo Regional Police is organizing every Friday night regarding modified cars in the region. We feel that the Highway Traffic Act is too vague on topics regarding modified vehicles. We would appreciate any clarification that the Police could give us on aftermarket exhaust, lowering, air intakes, tinted windows, forced induction, nitrous oxide and other such items that are considered “modifications”.

The members of Vital Motion have taken actions to ensure that their vehicles meet the requirements specified by the department of motor vehicles, insurance companies and other such regulatory mandates. The club does not allow its members to conduct any kind of racing on the streets and we regularly organize Track Days to keep racing where is supposed to be done. We are also organizing a charity car wash called “Tuners Against Street Racers”, (visit http://carwash.vitalmotion.net for more information) in memory of the young kids that were recently killed in our region due to street racing related incidents.

With the increasing amount of young deaths this year, we understand that the police force must take initiative to curb the amount of high speed fatalities. Unfortunately, the majority of these deaths were young teenagers between the ages of 17 and 19, involved with family sedans, mini vans or other non-modified vehicles. These teenagers could not afford to own a vehicle let alone modify one, especially with today’s increasing insurance rates.

Vital Motion does not condone any type of conduct that may be considered illegal, which includes street racing. So essentially, Vital Motion is on the same side as the law in terms of eliminating street racing and any illegal activity on the roads. However, we ask for the Police’s cooperation in doing this as we can only do so much. Targeting modified vehicles is a stereotype, and border line predigest. If they were to stereotype a person because of their ethnicity or clothes and “threaten” them by giving out tickets for something they have not done, they would be called a segregationist. This exactly what they are doing to us. Proof of this can be found in a recent article printed in the Tuesday June 1, 2004 Cambridge Times, written by Victoria McDonald, and entitled, "Safety Blitz on Street Racing." In this article Officer Olaf Heinzel states: “Heinzel said the blitz isn't targeting law abiding car enthusiasts, such as STREET ROD CLUB MEMBERS, WHO MODIFY THEIR CARS SAFELY AND LEGALLY”. We believe we modify our cars just as safely and legally as civilians, who own Muscle Cars and Street Rods, and the Police should either harass them as well or we should be left alone.
Pulling over random cars and handing out tickets at their leisure will probably increase The Waterloo Regional Police’s revenue for the month of June during their upcoming blitz. However, we implore them to follow their “mission statement” on http://www.wrps.on.ca/ regarding traffic road and safety.

“To improve visibility in the community, through community volunteer efforts, interaction with community stakeholders and strategic thinking to raise community awareness and road safety.”

Instead of handing out tickets on Friday nights, we ask that they provide some sort of information sessions that could educate people on what is legal and what is not legal in regards to modifications of their vehicles.

According to their website, last year there were 20 fatal accidents in all Waterloo region in 2003, yet there were 880 drivers tested for DUI. How many fatal accidents were caused by a street race compare to a DUI Driver. How many street races that involved fatalities were in a car with modifications? These are statistics that they neglect to tell the public or media.

Instead of increasing their revenue this Friday, why don’t they setup a ride program outside of some local bars, such as Revolution or Philthy McNasty’s so that they can save someone’s life.

We believe a program such as P.A.C.E.R. would be much more effective then the program they have initiated now, but again we understand that P.A.C.E.R. cannot generate any revenue for them, as it just save peoples lives. We have already contacted personnel from P.A.C.E.R. asking them to come to this region several times, without any response.

On behalf of the Vital Motion community and its 300+ members, I want to thank you for taking the time to read and publish this letter and any responses can be sent to nick@vitalmotion.net

Sincerely,
Nick Anghel – Vital Motion Administrator
Vital Motion Community
http://www.vitalmotion.net

Is essential the same letter except is written to the third person regarding POLICE and is signed at the bottom and i added the bit that is BOLDED.


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Old 06-02-2004, 08:57 AM   #2 (permalink)
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Here are the local Newspapers editorial E-mail Addy's

Record
letters@therecord.com

Cambridge Times
jhurst@cambridgetimes.ca

Guelph
cclark@guelphtribune.ca
dhallet@guelphtribune.ca
vmcdonald@guelphtribune.ca

Brantford
opinion@theexpositor.com
expnews@theexpositor.com

Waterloo
editorial@waterloochronicle.ca


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Old 06-02-2004, 09:09 AM   #3 (permalink)
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Quote:
as it just save peoples lives.
grammar error


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Old 06-02-2004, 09:12 AM   #4 (permalink)
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looks pretty good man.


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Old 06-02-2004, 01:04 PM   #5 (permalink)
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Quote:
This exactly what they are doing to us
I believe there should be "is" in there after "this"


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