Police: Over 100 vehicles involved in illegal street racing in Yaphank

<p>Police issued dozens of summonses to drivers accused of racing overnight on the Long Island Expressway&rsquo;s north service road in Yaphank.</p>

News 12 Staff

Sep 23, 2018, 10:23 AM

Updated 2,061 days ago

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Police issued dozens of summonses to drivers accused of racing overnight on the Long Island Expressway’s north service road in Yaphank.
They say more than 100 vehicles were involved in illegal street races just steps away from homes.

News 12 was told that when officers arrived at the scene around 1:30 a.m., they found cars blocking the LIE service road --Express Drive North – in an effort to guard the area to create a makeshift drag strip.
Neighbors in the area say it’s an ongoing issue.
"I've lived here since 1998 and it's been going on since 1998,” said one neighbor.
News 12 was told that 27 summonses were issued as a result of the alleged racing.
Some people say that drivers who want to race need a safe place to do so, including John Cozzali, president of the advocacy group, Long Island Needs A Drag Strip.
"That's what we're trying to curtail is illegal street racing. It's inevitable, we're not going to stop it, but if we have a racetrack, a drag strip back on Long Island, it will curtail all of that. It will slow the street racing down,” says Cozzali.
People who News 12 talked to say they hope more is done to keep the homeowners safe in the area.


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