Hillis spearheads legislation to crackdown on street racing in Atlanta
The Atlanta City Council on Monday approved legislation setting penalties for people who actively participate in street racing events and exhibitions in the city. Introduced by District 9 Council member Dustin Hillis, the ordinance aims to give the Atlanta Police Department (APD) an additional enforcement mechanism to penalize individuals who actively participate in these events, such as passengers and organizers. Drivers and bystanders already face penalties under established state laws.
If convicted, violators could face a minimum fine of $1,000, spend up to six months in jail, have their vehicle impounded, or any combination of those. Illegal street racing occurs when drivers engage in burnouts, drifting exhibitions, and races on public roads in areas not designated for an official race.
“I am proud that the City Council passed the street racing legislation unanimously at today’s meeting in order to provide APD with another important tool to combat this dangerous activity that has plagued every Council district in the city,” Hillis said following the adoption of the legislation. “My colleagues and I have continually received concerns and pleas from our residents about this dangerous activity that has seemed to grow this year. After much debate and fine-tuning, Atlanta will now have an ordinance that supplements already enforced state laws to hopefully deter this activity and provide more severe penalties for those who continue to engage in this reckless behavior.”
Street racing has forced public streets in Atlanta to be shut down multiple times and caused to damage to private property. Law enforcement has also reported an uptick in racing events in recent months due to the coronavirus pandemic that has left streets more open.
Across the country, several cities, including San Diego, Kansas City, and Milwaukee, have enacted ordinances to prohibit street racing exhibitions. With the high speeds that are involved and with the races taking place in residential areas or on highways, street races can be particularly dangerous. The speed and location also increase the risk of a crash that can cause injuries to bystanders and other drivers. Residents of Atlanta have also stated that they can hear cars burning circles in the streets outside their homes, especially at night.
The legislation adopted by the Council aims to help law enforcement eliminate street races by proactively addressing them, putting penalties in place, and helping to improve safety for other drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists.
