Bush Signs New Law To Sideline Street Racers
Law Takes Effect In October

POSTED: 10:24 pm EDT June 14, 2005
UPDATED: 10:52 pm EDT June 14, 2005

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Racing on public streets could cost drivers their cars under a new law signed on Tuesday by Gov. Jeb Bush.

The measure gives police the authority to seize the cars of owners who commit repeat offenses within five years.

Racing side-by-side or speeding alone around a set course becomes a first-degree misdemeanor under the new law. The law takes effect in October. Offenders can be punished by a year in jail and fined $100,000, up from 60 days in jail with a $500 fine.

Drag racing has been a rising problem in Florida, law enforcement officials report.

 

Yeah,

leftoverchinese even wrote to some legislators and got a response. Stupid law, real stupid. So anyone speeding is now racing.

 

I don't see what the big deal is...

Don't be a dumbass and race your car on the street...thats what the drag strip is for. Maybe I'm turning into a grandpa at my very old age of 23, but I think its a great law. Keep that **** off the road...bring it to the track where it belongs!

 

I don't totally agree with speeding = racing, but the tougher consequences on street racing are needed.

It's not worth having your car impounded, getting fined and risking jailtime for street racing. It's as simple as that.

 

The only issue is that the determination is left to the cop.

 

... and usually the cops are extremists. So for playing around a little bit you can get busted for "racing". I don't condone street racing by any means. That's why I autocross. That's why some go the the dragstrip. I agree that there should be tough consequences. But there should be a set definition of what is and IS NOT street racing. If you goose it leaving a stop light with your buddy in his Mustang next to you and you never even exceed the posted speed limit before you let off, it's racing. That aint right.

 

Excellent point Chuck! However, how often does a scenario like that ever end up stopping at 45 mph...or even 55 mph for that matter. I can't even count the number of times I've had my doors blown off by these ***-clowns going down University Blvd or Alafaya doing 90 or 100 mph weaving in and out of traffic...That ain't right either.

It seems that few times I've taken my car out lately for a drive, I have some retard at every traffic light trying to race me...I usually just give them the 1 phrase I know how to say in sign language. This street racing nonsense has gotten out of hand already...something has gotta be done to cut down on it.

 

The other day I was in the wife's Vette (black 77 with no 3rd gear in the TH350) on the way back from Ace hardware. I had some a55clown pull up next me in an older S-10 start revving and jumping while stopped at a light. Even though it sounded like he was missing 1 of 6 cylinders with an exhaust leak and had numerous cars directly in front of us, I was able to regain my vision after severe eye rolling to continue down the road. If I would have been in the SS and had nobody ahead of me I would have hit it leaving the light just to distance myself and let off before 45 MPH (1st gear). This is usually followed by them flying past you about 10 seconds later thinking they are now "winning". If you don't do this they still sit there and taunt you as you drive down the road. If a cop saw that they'd call it racing. Hardly!
Don't worry Dan. I'm on your side. And, yes, the UCF area is terrible for that kind of thing. I avoid the area at all costs.
The other d

 

bingo.

 

Agreed.....


I admit the street racing is getting a little rediculous. Especially UCF area. But I do hate how if you enjoy your car a little bit, you can be lumped into street racing which looks to be a world of hell.


I do agree keep it to the track, besides, you can avoid the excuses that way. Same lights, same track, same weather. Jsut leaves it down to car and driver.

Unfortuneately I spend too much money on the tracks.

 

"Speeding alone around a set course"... sounds a little like auto-crossing to me, not that you ever really get any faster than highway speeds. Is this how the law actually reads?

 

There was supposed to be a provision in the law that allowed for closed course activities that were approved by the owner/administration of the site.

What they were going after there was if a group was to compete one person at a time racing from UCF to Sanford and back on the greenway. That sort of thing. Autocrossing is still legal. Otherwise we wouldn't be doing it at the police training compound in Lake County. lol That would also affect NASCAR qualifying if it were the case.

 

Eh. Street racing is more fun, u dont always know who u will race or what they got. When its on its on, unlike at the track no thrill, and you have to pay to get in(which I do agree paying entry is cheaper than 500 fine) but I think its more of an adrenaline rush on the road

 

The $500 will be the least of your worries. I'm trying hard to be civil here so don't get my tone wrong. That was up to 60 days in the hole PLUS up to $500. And now it will be up to a year PLUS up to $100,000. But that's ony if you get caught without crashing into somebody.

How are you gonna feel for the rest of your life knowing that you wasted it to see if a 94 A4 LT1 was faster than the car next to you? That's what'll happen when my grandma doesn't see that you're going faster than you should and only makes sure there's 300ft open before she pulls out in front of you. Whoops.

There's a whole lot more at stake than $500. The roads are not for racing. Period! And if you're needing a shot of adrenalin, there's far better sources than that. It's not adrenalin. It's ego.

I wasn't gonna respond to your post because I figured you were just trying to get a rise from people but I guess you got me. You win.

 

I race on the street and at the track, I like both. I am not the dumbass you see flying past you doing 100. I race some one from a dead stop or a slow roll to about the end of the 2nd(70mph) If I am not winning then, I wont win, if I am its over, there is no point and no reason to do 90~100mph down Alafaya and Univ. I dont do it in traffic if there are any cars ahead then I wont do it. I am responsable(sp) about, well as much as I can be, I still am street racing. Some people do take it way to far and thats the people that are ruining it.

And I would be POed if I got a ticket for "racing" if I left a light and decided to get on my car and spin the tires. I would take it to court and tell the judge that my intentions were to spin my tires, not to race the minivan next to me and if he wanted to give me ticket for excessive tire speed or whatever than fine.