I am not sure if this is the best section to put this and I hope it gets made a sticky. There is a new bill trying to get passed about street racing in Tennessee. The bill seems fair until it gets to the section regarding nitrous oxide. I have talked to some of the other shops in the area and we are having a discussion night on Tues. Dec 6 starting at 5:00 pm. The location is at Millennium park in Johnson City from 5:00pm to 8:00pm on Dec. 6. The address is 2001 Millennium place, Johnson City TN 37604. Phone Number is 423-232-2001. Anyone who is interested in joining us and trying to plan out legitimate arguments for this amendment is welcome to come. Time is of the essence here because they are going to try to get the bill passed by the first of Jan. I hope to see all of you there. I will post a summary of the bill as soon as I get it hosted.

 

Summary of Proposed Drag Racing Bill


This proposal makes several changes to the law regarding drag racing, all of which are designed to modernize the offense to better reflect the very serious risk to other motorists and innocent bystanders caused by drag racing and to increase the punishment for this dangerous conduct to make it more proportional to its risk of harm to the public.
SECTIONS I and 2 provide that a death occurring as the proximate result of the offense of drag racing will be punished as the Class B felony offense of "vehicular homicide by drag racing" and carry a sentence of between 8-30 years. This would punish a death caused by drag racing in the same manner as vehicular homicides caused by drunk drivers.
SECTION 3. Increases the present punishment for the offense of drag racing if the offense results in the serious bodily injury of a participant, bystander or other person. This section would increase the punishment from a Class B misdemeanor to a Class D felony punishable by 2-12 years if seriously bodily injury results.
SECTION 3. Also provides that upon conviction, the vehicle used to commit the offense of drag racing is subject to seizure and forfeiture to the state in the same manner as vehicles used to carry drugs are now.
SECTION 4. Permanently revokes the driver license of any person who is convicted of drag racing that results in the serious bodily-injury of another. This is currently
done to anyone convicted of drag racing for a second time within 10 years.
SECTION 5 Creates the felony offense of operating a motor vehicle or motorcycle that is equipped to supply the engine with nitrous oxide unless the line is disconnecting or the nitrous oxide container is removed. A violation of this new section is a Class E felony punishable by 1-6 years imprisonment unless the operation of the motor vehicle using the nitrous oxide results in serious bodily injury to another in which case it is a Class D felony punishable by 2-12 years imprisonment. The wording of this offense is based on a similar law in Arkansas although Virginia also prohibits the use of nitrous oxide in a motor vehicle on public roads.

This is word for word from the representatives office.

 

Could everyone that can attend please let me know so I can have a rough estimate of how many to expect. By the way, there will be a petition there to sign as well.

 

What exactly is the problem with this law?

If Street racing (referred to as Drag Racing in this context) is illegal, why do you need your nitrous bottle in the car and hooked up? Most people that keep the bottle in the car, and connected are looking for an illegal street race anyway.

If you're on the way to a real race track, where drag racing is legal, then all you have to do to comply with the law is to leave the main feed line disconnected from the bottle.

So what is so wrong with this?

 

I called the number and spoke with the convention center but they had no record of this meeting taking place. I called at 6:17pm December 6th so the meeting should have been in progress but the front desk informed me there were only two "social" functions happening at this time. So I tried......

Anyway. I have no problem with banning the active use of nitrous on public roads as it basically serves no purpose on the street except as a means of showing reasonable intent to break the law.

The imnportant thing is to be able to allow the transport of nitrous in a ready state as long as the connections are not complete. That is not too much to ask and I am a drag racer.

The BIG problem is the wording. Drag Racing is a sport performed at a drag strip. Street Racing is what the lawmakers are talking about and the references to the safest and fastest of professional motor sports should be eliminated from this bill. It is insulting to think that politicians creating laws are completely ignorant of the differences between drag racing and street racing and downright scary to think that people with this lack of knowledge could in any way be passing laws concerning public safety. Our government, like our law enforcement is supposed to serve and protect and not use their power of appointment as an excuse to cover up a lack of the most basic facts at their disposal.

In any case... I see nothing inherently wrong with disallowing the use of nitrous on a public way or with high fines and penalties as a deterrant. I do know from experience that a "stick" is far more effective when temperred with a "carrot" so perhaps some public promotion of the local drag strips as the proper place to have fun with cars could be done as a way to make the streets safer for all of us.

This probably isn't what you want to hear but the way the world is going I think it is the proper argument and will help automotie enthusiasts gain credibility and approval from their towns rather than be written up in the tragic news section of the local paper.

 

I appreciate any comments because that means people are actually paying attention. My problem wit hthis is that weather you like nitrous or not and weather you agree with having it hooked up on the street or not, there is an underlying problem. If this gets passed, it will open the doors to other and eventually all aftermarket modifications. Would you want to loose your supercharger if it didn't come from the factory with it? What about your cd player because your vehicle came with a tape player. I know that is an extreme case, but my point is that we as auto enthusiasts need to stick together weather we use or like the product under fire. Think of it like the seatbelt law. It escalated to were they can pull you over just for that without any other reason. It should be up to the individual to decide.

 

We also promote the local dragstrip( Bristol Dragway) All of the time. We even sponsor an event there that opens the track on tuesdays and thursdays for about six months out of the year to anyone who wants to race.

 

I share an office with a State Representative here at my job. This is his "day job" I guess.

I asked him about this bill this morning. He researched it for me.

He found no actual bill in the system yet.

But his people in Nashville have sent me some information on the proposed bills. Yes, there are 2 of them.

The first, makes the penalties stiffer for illegal drag racing.
The second, bans nitrous oxide use except for legal drag racing.

I've seen several bills that have been introduced to consideration, as the Representative I work for values my opinion on things (thankfully), and there is ALWAYS a definition section at the start of the bill that explains what the terms mean in this case. So I'm sure that they will draft it so that it specifies LEGAL drag racing at the proper type of facility, etc...

I don't believe that this is an attempt to gain control of the mods that we make to our cars, I believe that this is an effort to cut down on the illegal side of the racing scene.

I notice that even Bristol Motor Speedway endorses these measures.

I have a PDF copy of the stuff that my Rep's office sent me, if you'd like to read it yourself,Click HERE.

Granted, it's still early, and I'm sure you all know, things change as stuff progresses through the system.

My Rep's office is still researching the matter for me, and will report back what they find.

 

As far as opening the door for further legislation, states tend to follow other states, in general. Nobody wants to be the first but everybody wants to pile on if something is successful.

In Maine, despite not having any sniffer tests for emissions, we have been lobbying (successfully), to repeal tire size laws that made it illegal to install tires that are two sizes larger or smaller than stock. We have been lobbying (successfully), to allow people to modify the lighting systems on their cars while preserving the laws that outlaw the use of blue and flashing lights while on public roads. The end result is that people with lighting systems can hang out in parking lots and meeting areas and use their custom lights, but they cannot do so while on a public road which could create confusion for other drivers who might mistake a custom ride for an emergency vehicle.

We implemented an exhust noise ordinence that repeals the law that says we can't have an exhaust louder than to to a new law that specifies 95db max while on the street.

We modified a law that outlawed nitrous to a law that allows nitrous as long as it is not hooked up while on a puiblic road.

I have been finding that the majority of people actually creating the laws are willing to listen and consider suggestions that make sense. These lawmakers have to answer to their electorate to be able to say they are making the streets safer, while also implementing laws that have enough detail to be enforceable by the police, and anough flexibility so car enthusiasts can continue to build up their cars.

It is a difficult balance to maintain and negotiation is part of the process. You need to understand the motivations of all parties involved in order to impelement regulations that make sense for all concerned.

I am currently trying to implement a process where we can offer a tax incxentive to people who implement modifications to make their cars more fuel efficient. I am focusing only on cold air intakes and header exhaust systems currently as I think that offers the best bang for the buck and can be fit to most older vehicles as the components have already been manufactured that meet carb compliancy standards.

 

The definition of a drag race is: "A race between cars [vehicles] to determine which can accelerate faster from a standstill." This is even a little vague because it does not include motorcycles, trucks, etc., but it is clear that it is not location specific. It is even performed on water - sanctioned or not, just like at a legitimate track or on the street.

Yes, the wording could be better, but it is drag racing they are concerned about being done on the street.

 

Anyone that is against section 5 of the proposed bill, PLEASE email either or both of these representatives. rep.matthew.hill@legislature.state.tn.us rep.david.davis@legislature.state.tn.us. I was told by the representatives that the number of emails they recieved is the reason for this section, so we need to let them know that there are just as many or more against this section.

 

bristol dragway stated that they supported laws that had stiffer punishments for street racing when death or serious injury occur. They never supported the whole bill.

 

I understand the outdate webster level definition. The point that I believe is culturally important is to educate the lawmakers, press, and citizens as to the dangers of street racing as part of this process. The use of street racing will garner far more support from the performance and automotive community than using "drag racing".

I have a difficult enough time as it is trying to explain to people that not only do I not take corners but that I do not street race when I am described as a drag racer.

To change the wording is asking very little and the benefit of separating drag racing from street racing will not only save lives in the long run but also facilitate a broader base of support, less complaints, as well as more accurately describe the activity which is offensive to the community.

If changing the words from drag racing to street racing makes it more likely that even one teenager adheres to the "take it to the track" slogan then maybe your community can bury one less child.

 

Well, you know what they say ASSuming something. Sorry to disappoint you, but that definition did not come from an outdated Webster's dictionary. It came from an NHRA track website. Sorry again, the old brain doesn't remember which one or I would point you to it. But I have seen it on more than one so I'm sure if you search enough of them you will find it.

You are certainly entitled to your viewpoint on the matter, regardless of how subjective your agenda may be. But I have a big problem with changing long-held definitions just to suit someone's agenda, purpose or a particular situation at the expense of changing the meaning of the English language. If you really want to educate people, teach them the correct definition of words and their applied uses such as the difference between lawful drag racing and unlawful drag racing and stop trying to make us more of a special interest group society by pleasing a few people rather than the majority. Education is the key and always has been (our failed outcome based education system is a good example of lack of education), but that does not happen effectively by changing the meaning of things for one particular situation just so someone can get their point across.

 

Sure I have an agenda and I have no problem admitting it.

I would like street racing to stop. I would like people who want to race in a straight line to go to a drag strip, sanctioned or not, where they receive at least some sort of technical inspection of their vehicle, have an ambulance service and fire equipment, have a clean lane, and realistically do not need to be concerned with wild animals pr people being close enough to the race to cause an accident. Thats about it.

If that is an "agenda", then I don't think it is too oriented toward special interests... If that is what you are driving at.

In regards to the definition of drag race, then fine and so be it.

I would wager you a pretty penny that educating the public to the difference between legal racing at the strip and illegal racing on the street will take more work, more money, and more time than simply using the language necessary to point out the risks and perils of street racing. This sin't about legitimizing street racing or about filling the stands at the local track, in my opinion. It is about saving lives, protecting the public, and helping people who have an interest in automotive contests learn how to have fun in an environment that is safer than the public road.

Sure I have an agenda. I lost a very close friend who was street racing in 1974 and I do not wish that experience on anyone.

I never set foot myself on the starting line until 1998. The reason why I didn't was becasue I was unaware that bracket or handicapped drag racing existed until then at a local level. I did not know that just about anyone with a license (and if underage, their parents written permission), could go to a track and compete. I didn't know because in the sporting world the focus is on the professionals, drag strips generally are not well known compared to their circle track counterparts, and there seems to be a general association between drag racing and street racing and so many people "assume" that one is the other.

If the goal is to save lives, make our communities safer, and allow folks a place to compete with additional goals of minimizing taxpayer dollars while providing a community benefit I believe my approach is a better approach and will yield quicker results. Thats my opinion.

BTW: Here is the NHRA definition of Drag Racing:

A drag race is an acceleration contest from a standing start between two vehicles over a measured distance. The accepted standard for that distance is either a quarter-mile (1,320 feet) or an eighth-mile (660 feet). A drag racing event is a series of such two-vehicle, tournament-style eliminations. The losing driver in each race is eliminated, and the winning drivers progress until one driver remains.

These contests are started by means of an electronic device commonly called a Christmas Tree because of its multicolored starting lights. On each side of the Tree are seven lights: two small amber lights at the top of the fixture, followed in descending order by three larger LED lights, a green bulb, and a red bulb.

http://www.nhra.com/basics/basics.html