Racing Crackdown in NYC

[ULYCYC]

This was sent to me from our local Buick group.

BY FRANK LOMBARDI
DAILY NEWS CITY HALL BUREAU
Tuesday, September 28th, 2004

Spectators who egg on drag racers could land in jail for up to 15 days under a bill expected to be approved today by the City Council.

The bill, which has the backing of Mayor Bloomberg, also increases the penalties for drag racing within the city limits to as much as one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Police officials said yesterday that measure will become "a significant tool" in helping them intensify their crackdown on drag racing and preventing potentially deadly accidents.

The measure will become city law as soon as the mayor signs it. Measures like this usually take about a month after being passed by the Council.

The bill was passed unanimously yesterday by the Public Safety Committee.

It's aimed at both "the fast and the curious," said Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. (D-Astoria), paraphrasing the title of the action film "The Fast and the Furious" that dealt with Los Angeles road racers.

The city law will supplement state laws that prosecutors have used to try to stem drag racing. Sponsors believe the measure will make it easier for undercover cops to gather evidence that can send offenders to jail.

Under the city measure, drag racing would be a misdemeanor crime punishable by a maximum of six months in jail and a fine of $600 for the first offense.

A second violation within 10 years of the first would be punishable by up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Under the bill, would-be drag racers could receive the same penalties if merely caught in acts demonstrating that a race "is imminent."

That includes having equipment in vehicles for injecting speed-boosting nitrous oxide; making an explicit invitation to race; wagering on the race's outcome; raising a vehicle vertically, and/or spinning a vehicle rapidly in a circle.

Ostensibly, that section would allow an undercover cop to move in before a race got started.

A section of the bill is also aimed at spectators who "participate" in drag racing by acts "that reasonably appear to support such a race," such as "wagering on the outcome or actively encouraging the participants to the race."

Besides the 15-day jail penalty, the bill also provides for fines of up to $250.

[firebird_1252]

nooooooo longisland dont need a dragstrip this is only the start...

[Zap]

Spectators who egg on drag racers could land in jail for up to 15 days under a bill expected to be approved today by the City Council.

That an interesting one to try to enforce.

[straycat990]

That includes having equipment in vehicles for injecting speed boosting nitrous oxide; making an explicit invitation to race; wagering on the race's outcome

Ok .. speed boosting thats an interesting way to describe nitrous

Explicit invitation ... is that sorta like asking "You want to run that f*ckin piece of sh*t or what?"

raising a vehicle vertically, and/or spinning a vehicle rapidly in a circle

Vertically WTF???? someone needs to leave the alone

spinning rapidly in a circle ... what the heck does doing a donut have to do with drag racing

[Just a Six??]

Dont yell at me but I think Drag Racing is for the track where its safe!! Fine Everyone!!! Screw em! Go to the track & play there not on my street or where my kids are! I have never lost a family member to a car related accident (Thank God!) but if someone gets run over & killed thats 1 too many for me!! At the track there are at least rules & minimal deaths due to racing! Let them ALL PAY HEAVY for Street Racing! F them!! I hate that crap! Take it where it belongs & keep it off the streets!

[Grumpy]

Originally posted by straycat990
Ok .. speed boosting thats an interesting way to describe nitrous

Explicit invitation ... is that sorta like asking "You want to run that f*ckin piece of sh*t or what?"



Vertically WTF???? spinning rapidly in a circle ... what the heck does doing a donut have to do with drag racing

Dave they do donuts to get the cars wound up

[Vyse]

Amen brother, that's why there are drag strips. I hate street racers and the whole perception that it's something okay. It's just dangerous and irresponsible.

[Just a Six??]

Especially when 80% of em are kids in Rice Rockets that think they are Formula 1 drivers! Take their licence, then fine em all Big Time! Let Daddy pay for that crap just once & see what happens! They will all have Yugo's! Idiots!!

[1FASTV6]

We use to confiscate the autos from a local race area in Queens (Laurel Hill and Review Avenue). These cars were vouchered and safeguarded while the racers went to jail. All ricers!

Artie