Right now at a tow lot somewhere in Vancouver, four high-end sports cars are sitting idle.

The cars found their way into the pound after their drivers were caught street racing Tuesday morning along Highway 1 near the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge.

The drivers were clocked at speeds in excess of 160 km/h in a posted 70-km/h zone.

In all, four drivers from Coquitlam and Burnaby - police would not clarify how many are from each city - ranging from 21 to 23, were issued excessive speeding tickets for $483 and had their vehicles impounded.

And all the drivers have extensive driving histories, with three of the four having been prohibited from driving in the past.

The cars involved included a 2011 BMW M3, a 2010 Nissan 370Z, a 2008 Porsche Cayman and a 2009 Subaru Impreza.

The names of the drivers were not released, as police don't typically identify people involved in motor vehicle offences.

The incident is a concern to Lower Mainland police.

"It appears all four have little regard for their own

safety, let alone the public's safety," said RCMP spokesman Sgt. Peter Thiessen.

Just as alarming for police was the fact that three of the four were novice drivers, or carrying a Class 7 licence.

Thiessen suggested street racing is nothing new in the Lower Mainland, adding it appears young men - like the ones involved in Tuesday morning's incident - don't seem to understand the responsibility that goes along with owning a highpowered sports car.

The incident is also concerning police for another reason. Thiessen suggested street racing has been somewhat on the increase in the last year, noting traffic services has been getting complaints about the dangerous practice on the freeway system in the Lower Mainland.

"It appears to be occurring again here, and that's [Tuesday's incident] an example," he said.

On the same day, two drivers were caught street racing on a winding road near Whistler, while a man allegedly speeding along a Vancouver Island on a motorcycle at 299 km/h earlier this year turned himself in to Kelowna RCMP.

jdeutsch@thenownews.com