REDMOND, Wash. - It's a rolling dance party where the beat is the only thing that's driving. It's called "ghost riding the whip." A whip is slang for a car, and ghost riding refers to the fact that whoever was driving ends up disappearing from behind the wheel.

Ghostriding's all about going crazy and just hopping out of your ride and just doing whatever," said Jordan Shafapay.

Ghost riders perform all sorts of automotive acrobatics, otherwise known as "going dumb," standing atop the driver's side door, hanging out the back door, all with the car in gear. And when someone does steer, it's often with his feet.

"And just when you get up on top of the car you never know what could happen, but that's just the thrill of it," said John Bailey.

A group of Eastside teens area started ghost riding earlier this year, inspired by Bay Area rapper E-40 and his video.

KING

A group of Eastside teens area started ghost riding earlier this year.

The underground beats of Oakland and Stockton are brought to the mean streets of Bellevue.

"We got pulled over 3 times in the same night in Bellevue, Kirkland and Redmond," said Bailey.

"We did it in our school parking lots. Once we even did it through a fast food drive through place, and they got a kick out of it," said Shafapay.

Police say they're seeing more and more ghost riding as it makes its way up the West Coast from the Bay Area.  And they say not only is it illegal but it can be deadly.

Last year an 18-year-old man died while ghost riding in Stockton, Calif. Also last year, a 36-year-old man died after falling off a car during a similar stunt in Canada.

"It's a recipe for disaster," said Sean Whitcomb of the Seattle Police Dept.

Seattle police warn that ghost riding could have some very frightening consequences.

"A moving object, a very heavy moving object that is traveling down the street, possibly into someone's house, someone's child, into another car…" said Whitcomb.

But ghost riders downplay the dangers.

"I believe I'm in full control of the car. I know where it's going. I know when to turn," said Mike Darbinyan.

Fueling the fad is Youtube.com, with countless video clips posted for the world to see. The Eastside riders have proudly posted their own video.

Still to be seen is whether the ghost riding trend vanishes before their luck does.

Bailey admits that he worries about getting hurt.

"But nothing's happened so far so I guess we're all lucky," he said.

If caught ghost riding, both the driver and passengers could be charged with reckless driving, have the car impounded, face up to a up to a year in jail and pay up to a $5,000 fine.