Street racing legislation aims to stop participation in dangerous car stunts
The Atlanta City Council will consider legislation during Monday’s remote meeting to prohibit street racing exhibitions and set penalties for violations (Legislative Reference №20-O-1361).
Introduced by District 9 Council member Dustin Hillis, the legislation aims to give law enforcement a new tool in their toolkit to seek action not only against the drivers, but also to target and penalize individuals who are spectators. Georgia law prohibits drivers from participating in such drag races, but the proposal by Hillis would allow organizers and bystanders to also be in line to receive a maximum of $1,000 in fines, in addition to six months in jail.
“This is kind of a spectator sport so we what we need to do is go after the organizers who plan these events because 300 to 500 people don’t just happen to show up in a place without a street race. These are organized on social media and get thousands of likes,” Hillis said, noting the Atlanta Police Department’s intelligence unit can identify the organizers of the events, take action, and hopefully stop the events before they even occur.
The issue of street racing has caused multiple occurrences of public streets in Atlanta to be shut down and made impassable, in addition to damage to private properties. Illegal street racing occurs when drivers engage in burnouts, drifting exhibitions, and races on public roads in areas not designated for an official race.
Due to the high speeds involved and the fact that they often take place in residential areas or highways, street races can be particularly dangerous. The speed and location also increase the likelihood of property damage and escalate the risk of a crash that can cause injuries to bystanders and other drivers.
These types of street races and driving exhibitions have been on the rise in cities across the country and present a threat to public safety. Such events have clogged and blocked off major thoroughfares of various cities. Across the country, several cities, including San Diego, Kansas City, and Milwaukee, have enacted ordinances to prohibit street racing exhibitions.
Also, as streets around the country have emptied out because of the COVID-19 pandemic, some drivers have taken the opportunity of deserted highways as an invitation to drag race, leading to an uptick in street racing and residents raising red flags about the dangerous activity. The legislation introduced by Hillis aims to help law enforcement crack down on the street races, proactively address them, and improve safety for other drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists.
