Orange County cracking down on street racing

Orange County deputies are looking to take the fast and furious off the streets. They’re looking to crack down on the illegal street car racing that’s revved up in recent months, but some Orange County residents told Fox 35 they haven’t noticed. 

Street car racers flooring it have those who live in Orange County floored this is still even happening.

“I’m here 28 years. It’s been going on all that time,” said one woman who did not want to be named in this report. “It’s just maddening. The sound is maddening.”

“I hear it at night when I go out on the porch,” said Diana Lopez, of Orlando.

Illegal street car racing has revved up in recent months. 

“The number of vehicles can range from the dozens up to sometimes up to 100,” said Orange County Sheriff’s Captain Bruce McMullen.

Now Orange County deputies are putting the brakes on the whole late-night racing operation.

“We have to do everything that we can do to make as strong of an impact as quickly as possible,” said Capt. McMullen.

Since March, deputies have given out 622 citations and made 75 arrests.

“That’s great because it’s dangerous for the racers and for the other people,” said Lopez.

Deputies say since they got involved, the number of races in the county has started to drag, but for neighbors near Orange Blossom Trail in South Orlando “they haven’t done anything because it keeps going.”

“I don’t know what to tell you because there’s 600 citations and arrests and they still… that’s scary,” said Lopez. 

These neighbors say the drag racing happens near them along OBT every Thursday night and say it’s worse in the fall and winter when it’s dryer outside.