By Danielle Samaniego, Inland Valley Voice

Police arrested 42 people, including six juveniles, and impounded 18 vehicles during a sweep of illegal street racing Saturday, the second in just four months.

Undercover officers observed several street races taking place on the newly paved Commerce Street in an industrial area north of Valley Boulevard in Fontana early Saturday morning. Officers blocked off the street and made the arrests about 3:30 a.m., Ontario Police Sgt. John Evans said.

Those arrested were taken to Ontario International Airport and issued citations and subsequently released. Eight law enforcement agencies were involved in the sweep, including Ontario, Fontana and airport police.

Evans said the latest sweep indicates that street racing is heading east.

"We're finding that during surveillances of the street races, they're moving farther to the east," Evans said. "Now that the new buildings are going up in Fontana, the streets are smooth, they're new and slick. The way that street [Commerce Street] is right now, it's just an ideal racetrack."

Evans said the races may also be changing venues because of an Ontario ordinance passed last year that makes it a misdemeanor to be a spectator at illegal street races. Saturday's Fontana location did not allow officers to arrest anyone for watching the races.

The number of arrests was relatively low this weekend compared with a May sweep in which 336 people were arrested and 113 vehicles impounded. Those races were taking place on Airport Avenue near Etiwanda Avenue in Ontario.

Evans said fines for participating in illegal street racing are going up. Someone arrested for racing may be looking at a $1,800 fine that includes impound fees and possibly five days in jail, Evans said. Spectators caught in Ontario may be fined up to $1,200.

http://www.latimes.com/tcn/ontario/news/la-ivo-racing02sep02.story