---
title: "California Police Use Helicopter, 5-Car Squad to Catch Kid Doing Donuts on Rural Road"
description: "Aerial video shows CHP units mount a massive operation to catch a kid doing donuts at the end of a cul-de-sac."
date: "2019-02-08"
modified: "2019-02-08"
authors:
  - name: "Kyle Cheromcha"
    job_title: "Editor-in-Chief"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/kyle-cheromcha"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/26409/california-police-use-helicopter-five-car-squad-to-catch-kid-doing-donuts-on-rural-road"
categories:
  - "News"
tags:
  - "California"
  - "Crime"
  - "donuts"
  - "police"
  - "Sideshow"
---

# California Police Use Helicopter, 5-Car Squad to Catch Kid Doing Donuts on Rural Road

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2019/02/chp-donut-arrest.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Sideshows remain [a persistent and growing problem](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/23023/mustang-driver-arrested-after-losing-wheel-during-illegal-drifting-show-on-major-sf-bridge>) in California, leaving local authorities to figure out how to best handle idiots briefly taking over roads and intersections for their illegal and highly dumb antics. But we have to ask: Is using [California Highway Patrol](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/25799/california-is-so-tired-of-your-cars-loud-fartcan-that-they-will-now-fine-you-for-it>) air and ground units to bust a 21-year-old kid doing donuts at the end of a rural cul-de-sac the best use of resources?

The CHP [triumphantly uploaded aerial video](<https://www.facebook.com/CHPGoldenGateAirOps/videos/2069257939787197/>) of the operation to one of its Facebook pages last week, presenting it as proof the department is cracking down on sideshows, street racing, and general automotive hooliganism. The infrared footage shows a small group of people watching a single car spin in a nice controlled circle in the middle of the night. Honestly, it makes the donut look pretty cool, as any infrared footage of burning rubber tends to do.

After a few minutes, the doomed driver heads back down to the end of the road, only to be swarmed by five patrol cars and arrested while the helicopter crew continues to observe. So for those counting along at home, that's at least 8 police officers working to catch one 21-year-old doing donuts in as safe a location as you can find. He *was* breaking the law, of course. But does this really make any sense?

It all went down at the end of Lynch Road, a stub of a street that terminates at the edge of a large park north of San Francisco. It's way out in the middle of undeveloped land; the closest house is miles away. It's the exact opposite of [the urban areas usually targeted by sideshows](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/2271/sideshow-idiots-now-shutting-down-the-bay-bridge>), and you can see [on the Google Maps satellite view](<https://goo.gl/maps/c1rbyH9xMDS2>) that it bears the skidmarks of many a donut prior.

Does that make it excusable? As much as any victimless crime. Let's acknowledge that while it's easy to tell people to save it for the track, the opportunities for many enthusiasts to do so are extremely limited—and that's doubly true for someone interested in drifting. The bottom line is there was simply no way any innocent drivers could have possibly been endangered or inconvenienced here, making the extreme police response more than a little questionable.

Reaction to the video on Facebook is pretty split, with an equal number backing the driver and the police. But here's another way to look at it. The incident in question was actually recorded last July, while the driver was finally convicted of "participating in a speed contest" last week, the final punishment being a 30-day license suspension and an $850 fine.

Think of the time and money spent on this, between the police operation and court costs, all to yank one man's license for a month. Is there any way it was actually worth it?

*Got a tip? Email the author: kyle@thedrive.com*

## Author
Overseeing an expert staff of writers and editors from his lair in Los Angeles, Kyle shapes The Drive’s singular approach to covering the automotive industry and car culture. He’s been with the site as a writer since 2017, taking over as editor in 2019. On a daily basis, Kyle is responsible for directing The Drive's editorial news and car review content strategies, setting special coverage priorities, managing complex reporting projects, and ensuring what you read on the page meets our high internal standards for quality and trustworthiness. He is also the executive producer of The Drive's YouTube channel, which was relaunched in February 2024 to great acclaim and has accumulated over 14M new views in its first year back on the scene. He hosts a biweekly series on the channel where he breaks down fascinating and complicated stories from the automotive world.

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/kylecheromcha.bsky.social>)  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/kylecheromcha>)  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-cheromcha-1550248a/>)