By Lee Hyo-sik
Nearly 150 street racers, including a professional baseball player, have been booked without physical detention on charges of violating traffic laws by participating in illegal motor races on the streets of Seoul and adjacent areas, police said Monday.
Police are also seeking an arrest warrant for a 28-year-old man, identified only by his surname Lee, and another man for organizing the races and threatening the safety of ordinary drivers on roads where the races were held.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said that a total of 146 individuals, including the baseball player, a professional golfer, a cosmetic surgeon and other professionals, organized and participated in drag races, from 2008 through December 2010 on a number of roads in Seoul and nearby areas at night.
The races were competitions among two drivers on a 400-meter stretch of straight road. Besides drag races, they also engaged in drift races and other incidents of reckless driving on main roads in cities, endangering the well-being of other drivers.
The police said not only vehicles manufactured by domestic carmakers, but also Porsches, Ferraris and other pricey foreign-made cars were used in the races.
``We had previously only levied fines on those caught for holding and engaging in car racing. But this time, we decided to book them on charges of interrupting traffic. We will revoke their drivers’ licenses and keep the offenders from regaining them for two years,’’ a police officer said.