[I]Tough law means street racers could lose their wheels

By Beth Kassab
Orlando Sentinel
Posted May 4 2005, 12:25 PM EDT

TALLAHASSEE -- Alarmed by four deaths in Central Florida last year, the Legislature on Tuesday approved tougher penalties for motorists who race their souped-up cars on public streets.

Under the bill sent to Gov. Jeb Bush, racers could face up to five years in prison and lose their cars -- often the objects of expensive upgrades and fancy indulgences by teenage boys.

Rep. John Qui

 

Ya Jeff....you better cut that shit out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

IMO street racing will never go away so instead of being hardasses about it state and local gov't should open public race tracks. In the 80's when teen pregnancy skyrocketed the gov't didn't arrest teenage mothers take away their babies and throw them in jail, they just gave them Condoms and opened abortion clinics. With more strict laws the problem isn't going to go away people are just going to find better ways not to get caught. More over people in jail cost Florida taxpayers an average of $12,000 a year...... just a quick idea Why don't we put real criminals behinde Bars and let the damn kids be Kids?

 

Of course, a pregnant chick doesn't kill innocent bystanders when she careens out of control.... unless her hormones are REALLY raging.

 

true, but if they had public tracks, no bystanders would be killed.

 

I agree with Willy. Racing will never go away, and a more passive aggressive approach would propbably be better for everyone in the long run. With these new laws, kids would probably try their luck at out running a cop rather than being pulled over for jail time and losing thier car. What's the worst that could happen at that point. How does that serve the public trust? I'm so glad our wonderful legislation has so much time and money on thier hands to pass stupid laws while we have other crisis on our hands. FOUR DEATHS LAST YEAR prompted this? How many people don't check their tire pressures or balance and rotate their tires and have enough tread and lose control of their car on the highway often killing innocent bystanders? Shouldn't these people get arrested too? I think more accidents/deaths occur from people falling asleep behind the wheel. Shouldn't these people get arrested too? Ofcourse not, because they want to discriminate against a certain group of offenders and continue playing the bully part of the system. I understand the need for safety; I just think there's better ways to get around it. I've often thought that there should be different licenses where you can only buy certain cars (graded by speed/power) and in order to upgrade licenses, you have to pay from your own pocket for driving/racing school. That way people who want to go faster have a better education and determination to do so safely. Motorcycle schools in such a case works in the same way. Statistics show that almost 80% of motorcycle accident/death victims did not take an instructive motorcyle course. In any event, keep this crap in mind next time you're at the polls.

 

i wonder how many "kids" would avail themselves of a public race track?
i suspect that part of the thrill of putting theirs and other people's lives at risk is the public nature of the race.

besides, the streets are a free ride if you don't get caught, and these kids with their "objects of expensive upgrades and fancy indulgences" might be unwilling to spend a few more dollars to go legal/safer.

 

I think autocrossing should be better advertised, so these kids can see that there is a fun and safe way to drive fast. Additionally, if will make them better drivers on the street.
The legislators should spend some money showing these kids where they can use there modded machines safely
.


Mitch

 

Exactly... just because the tracks are available doesn't mean the kids are going to use them. What kid is going to spend $10 several nights a week (money that could go towards a Tornadoe or a 5' wing) when he can do it for free on the streets and in plain view of all of his adoring fans.

Condoms have been available for decades, but how many high schoolers use those?! And the consequences to their lives of having a child are a bit more permanent than losing your car for a year.

 

Its ironic because the few cop friends I have, they've all told me that late at night, when they are bored, they play "cops and robbers". Meaning a group of them get together, pick someone who will be "it" and simulate a chase on public roads for fun.

They also street race their cruisers and personal cars against each other and friends. I've raced a FHP Camaro before and another cop friend offered to race his Mustang against my S2000. I didn't want to embarrass him so I graciously declinded his offer.

Yeah street racing is bad, but its also an established cultural icon. Our fathers did it, we did/do it and our sons will do it.