A driver who lost control of his car at 75 mph during a street race in 2001 hit and killed Annette Warburton's 13-year-old son.

On Thursday, at a news conference held by several Salt Lake Valley law enforcement agencies, she pleaded for an end to street racing.

"It's not harmless" she said. "It isn't a game. It isn't a thrill or a so-called right of passage."

Warburton joined the Salt Lake City Police Department, Utah Highway Patrol and six other law enforcement agencies to announce a crackdown on drag racing beginning this weekend.

Valley officers will conduct extra patrols in areas where drag racing occurs, including the international center west of the Salt Lake City International Airport, 700 East, California Avenue and areas on Redwood Road, said Salt Lake City police Lt. Lamar Ewell.

"We want the street racers to know that we'll be out and about," he said.

Street racing has been an ongoing problem for years and it increases during the summer months, said Salt Lake City Police Chief Chris Burbank. The Utah Highway Safety Office recently issued the department a $25,000 grant to help fight street racing and to better coordinate with other valley agencies.

Burbank said Craig Warburton is the only death he is aware of related to street racing, but the races can cause significant injuries during a crash, as well as destruction of cars and other property. Litter and noise violations also occur.

Races take place just about every day of the week and especially on weekends when larger races are organized in rural areas of the county, UHP spokesman Jeff Nigbur said.

Salt Lake City police responded to 300 complaints of street racing last year between May and September.

"This is a significant issue that requires a significant effort of all involved," Burbank said.