Deputies in ongoing battle to stop street racing in Orange County

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Tire marks along Presidents Drive in Orange County indicate that it is a hot spot for illegal street racing.

It has become such a danger that Orange County deputies work every weekend to try and stop it.

Six people have been arrested in the past few weeks for allegedly racing on the roadway.

Tom Johnson lives in the area.

"It sounds like I'm at the race track," said Johnson.  "It's just making a real racket."

There have been roughly two-dozen arrests since WFTV first investigated why drivers are flocking to Orange County to race.

County deputies are discouraged from chasing the racers, because of safety concerns.

The Sheriff's Office has started using undercover deputies to infiltrate the crowds and bust the drivers.

"We take this so seriously back at the Sheriff's Office because street racing can maim or kill," said Jane Watrel of the Orange County Sheriff's Office.

In August, a driver slammed into a crowd and injured several spectators a few miles away in the same part of town.

President's Drive is in an industrial area so there is plenty of room for 200 or so people who show up to pack the parking lots on both sides of the road.

Although deputies are arresting some drivers, illegal racing continues to be a problem on this street.   

"You would think it would stop. You would think they wouldn't have the stupidity to keep coming back," said Johnson.

Deputies said, when the drivers do come back, they'll be waiting.

"They are popular, and they are dangerous, and our message to street racers is that we are going to keep busting you until this disperses," said Watrel.

Not only are the drivers out here being charged with unlawful racing, but some of the spectators have been given citations.

WFTV