speed contest california

can a police officer impound a vehicle for speed contest without making an arrest?

the car was being driven by a 16 year old minor with a passenger
the car is registered to the father
no arrest was ever made
the police also did not contact the minors parents at any point
let the minor walk home

You WANTED the cop to arrest your kid??

No, there is no law that says the police HAVE to arrest the driver of a car in that situation. Cops use discretion all the time in giving tickets--and in not giving them, arresting, not arresting. Sounds like he gave the kid a break.

The parents have no responsibility to know where their kid is and what he is doing, but the cops have a responsibility to REPORT to them when the kid does something bad? I don't think so. Maybe he assumed since the kid was out on the street breaking the law the parents didn't care so why bother?

Its hard to speculate what the police were thinking, but I cannot think of any law that was broken by them NOT arresting the minor. They could have arrested him and had the parents charged for his behavior--it happens all the time. Parents often are found guilty of neglect, or some other such related issue when kids get run afoul of the law. Seems like the police cut the kid a break. He is lucky this foray into racing didn't end his life, or God forbid, the life of an innocent person.

Maybe this would be an eye opener. As a widow with seven kids, I assure you this happens daily and sadly, innocent people pay with their lives. I know. My husband was one who paid. Nick Bollea's Horrific Crash Photos Released - TMZ.com

Info on Speeding: Speeding and Moving Violations Lawyers

Actually, I think the kid should have been arrested... jailed... and then forced to view bodies from car wrecks for at least an hour. As a parent, I can tell you that watching the teens at a funeral for their friend who was killed while walking across an intersection while drunk, at night, wearing dark clothes, was instructive to all who came. Imagining what kind of damage was beneath the made up bruises and swellings in the open casket was just graphic enough to save a few that year.

Surprisingly enough, I agree.