Yuma Police Department is cracking down on street racing

13 on your side's Vanessa Gongora spoke with YPD about the consequences racers can face

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Drivers, Do not start your engines.

The Yuma Police Department (YPD) says officers will be out during specific days and times, mostly throughout the weekend to stop any race before it begins.

YPD's Sgt. Lori Franklin says if caught, racers can receive a fine of up to $2,500 and a 90-day driver's license suspension ordered by the judge.

Though the consequences could get worse.

"It is a misdemeanor, we will impound your car. If you get caught a second time within two years, it's an automatic minimum of a $500 fine. You will receive jail time of a minimum of ten days," continues Franklin.

Offenders will not be eligible for probation, pardon, suspension of sentence or release on any other basis until the minimum 10-day sentence is served.

Offenders can also receive community service hours and/or the Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) is likely to assess eight points against your driver's license.

If the second conviction occurs within two years of the first conviction, the driver is guilty of a Class 6 felony.

If convicted and sentenced to jail for your offense, a judge has the discretion to allow you to attend school or work at your job for not more than 12 hours per day or more than five days per week.

Franklin says they hope this will take hazardous drivers off the streets and keep the community safe.

"When you're going that speed, you can hit gravel in the road. I mean the wind blows a lot so you can get sand on the road and lose control very easily which can hurt pedestrians, can hurt property, other vehicles," says Franklin.

Illegal street racing could even kill someone.

"We have had accidents caused from the high speeds that have been fatality accidents," Franklin said.

Franklin says races happen every week, though locations vary but officers are on top of it.