that is exactly it. There were like 5 officers there when I was arrested and one of them told me that is it was any other officer I would have gotten off with a warning but I was arrested by the lieutenant, and they said they he was not the guy to mess with. It is completely on whether or not they feel like busting you. But regardless, I learned my lesson the hard way and no longer race on the street, I only race at the track. I have been trying to get the message across to as many people as will listen, dont race on the street. I know you may think, as I did, "well I wont get caught", but you will, it is only a matter of time. You will slip up on night when you are just out to have some fun, and it will cost you dearly. They are only doing this because all the dumb ricer kids dont know how to drive and they kill themselves or others. I disagree with some of the punishments for this law, but they are there for a reason to make sure you won't want to do it again. If you come up to a light and someone is calling you out for a race, I dont care if they insult you and call your car crap, just say "meet me at the track if you want to race". I know I sound like I am preaching about this but I just dont want to see anyone else busted for racing. Race at the track , by no circumstances race on the street.

What was the final outcome in your case?

Yeah where you guys are comming from about the track and all but as far as that goes. The track some cases is an easy hour to two hours away depending on where you are. There are only 5 or so throughout teh state of florida. Not kind of ANTI-streetracing events like they have out in california. And most of all there are age limits at most big tracks (18 and up usually) SCCA are for thoughs who like auto ( my car + corner = bad ). And Orlando Speed World has more pot holes then I4. Not making excuses but why can't the law makers at leas help out stopping this by doing what they can't not just tell people "not to do it"

~BB~

Petition the lawmakers so they have the full names and addresses of all of you who go out and illegally street race.... Listen, you may be able to voice an opinon but that is it. Who do you think has more credibility in the eyes of the state congress, a 16yr old kid who sneaks out and races the car daddy bought him at an industrial park in Taft or a mother who lost her only kid to someone else who lost control while racing illegally on the street? Think about it.
Given I do disagree with the point about officer discretion, but aren't two-thirds of the tickets written done so on officer discretion? (Besides speeding, ie reckless, writing for FTY?) So thath leaves you with you can fight it in court but a experinced LEO has again a bit more credibility than a kid.
Bottom line is check the egos and think resonsibly and obey the traffic laws. If your gonna forget resonsibility and race somebody on the street because you are so badass then maybe you need to trade in your car for something a little more resonsible, like a Geo. The laws are there for a reason.
Take the **** to the track. So maybe you have to drive to a racetrack.... big deal. At least there are strips here, some states dont have any. And do you actually think that any track is going to be perfect?? Thats part of racing, track conditions.
Once you see people die from stupid decisons in cars by racing illegally it changes your view, well at least to somebody with a conscience it would. Good luck with your petition, but if you break the law don't cry when you do the time.

Joe: Werd! Those who can't deal with the inconvenience's have found the wrong hobby and life will be dealing them rude awakening's with that general attitude.

The petition needs to come from a group who is interested in more than their criminal record and how much gas it takes to do it legally.

Damnnnn...

ok I strongly agree with lethal, if you wanna street race take it to the track. People die everyday because they make stupid decisions with their egos. And I would hate to be a mom or a girlfriend who has to go through a loss because he or she made a stupid mistake, and it won't always be your fault, their are people who could make wrong turns or pull out to fast and since your racing, you smack into them at a fast speed. And for the people out there, who haven't gotten a slap in the face yet, meaning haven't got caught, you have no room to talk about a petition because once you get caught or you hurt or kill someone you'll change your mind.

having seen people die personally, its not the best thing to do, but then again either is drinking.....






im not sure where i was going with this

Some of us don't need a slap in the face to know right from wrong.

Whenever I got a speeding ticket, I didn't whine to the officer for pulling me over because I knew I was speeding and did wrong.

No one holds a gun to your head and tells you to street race, that's up to you. If you're stupid to act on impulses alone, maybe some will feel sorry for you, but if you know it's wrong and do it anyway, then you should suffer the consequences.

I don't streetrace on any huge basis... but just something that crossed my mind, and shoudl be considered.

If I was streetracing and a cop flashed his lights and came up, I would say I would be more inclined to try my luck running then face the penalties, especially if I had a much faster, car.

Not saying I would, but just a thought that crossed my mind and a thought I know lots of peopel in the world would do.

I'm sure the first thing the officer will do is radio in your tag number.

I am in no way a proponent of street racing, but I think the punishment should fit the crime. Because of this, I think Law Enforcement personnel should have guidelines. For example, street racing in peak traffic, school zones, neighborhoods, etc. is a whole lot more dangerious and should have a higher penalty than getting caught out in a rural areas or other "semi-controlled" locations. The whole idea of some of these fixed laws bugs me. For example, which is more of a threat to others; cruising up I95 in light traffic at 85 mph or "legally" doing 40 mph up I95 in peak traffic? I sure as heck know which one has more potential for a major accident and it is the one that is perfectly legal!

That's where officer discretion comes into play. They are supposed to be trained in order to be able to make informed decisions with all factors taken into account. Unfortunately that doesn't always happen.

The one instance that I have first hand knowledge of, the officer wrote the ticket, showed up in court and didn't realize that it was a criminal offense when she wrote the citation. It was for a BMW and a certain yellow Z06 leaving a light and running up through first gear never exceding the speed limit. The charges were dropped but lawyers still had to be paid.

Still waiting on that link to the petition - BTW.

Man there are definitely some good opinions to either side of this. I can't argue that street racing is and should be illegal.

The ONLY part I agree about is the "power of the officer" part. Everyone thinks it's no big deal until you get dealt a racing ticket simply because you drive a fast and/or loud car.

In my case I was in a group of cars that was going 44 in a 35 over in the UCF area. The cop gave me a speeding ticket, racing on the highway, not obeying the traffic signs and signals, and illegal exhaust ticket. The cop stated loud enough for the camera mic to hear that the ONLY reason he pulled me over out of the group was that I stuck out due to my "hot car."

Luckily an honest judge recognized the potential for a discrimination lawsuit and dropped everything but the exhaust ticket.

Point being. Because the cop doesn't like "fast cars" or fast-looking cars he decided I was street racing. As it is defined "racing against another or against time." Under that description that means that what used to be simply speeding now can be a felony offense. That part of the law MUST be changed

Might as well add this one to the list:

316.2024 Coasting prohibited.--The driver of any motor vehicle, when traveling upon a downgrade, shall not coast with the gears or transmission of such vehicle in neutral or the clutch disengaged. A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a moving violation as provided in chapter 318.

BTW - here is the FLA statute: It says it's non-criminal - maybe there's another one too.

316.191 Racing on highways.--

(1) No person shall drive any vehicle in any race, speed competition or contest, drag race or acceleration contest, test of physical endurance, exhibition of speed or acceleration, or for the purpose of making a speed record, and no person shall in any manner participate in any such race, competition, contest, test, or exhibition.

(2) "Drag race" is defined as the operation of two or more vehicles from a point side by side at accelerating speeds in a competitive attempt to outdistance each other, or the operation of one or more vehicles over a common selected course, from the same point to the same point, for the purpose of comparing the relative speeds or power of acceleration of such vehicle or vehicles within a certain distance or time limit.

(3) "Racing" is defined as the use of one or more vehicles in an attempt to outgain, outdistance, or prevent another vehicle from passing, to arrive at a given destination ahead of another vehicle or vehicles, or to test the physical stamina or endurance of drivers over long-distance driving routes.

(4) This section does not apply to licensed or duly authorized racetracks, drag strips or other designated areas set aside by proper authorities for such purposes.

(5) A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable pursuant to chapter 318 as either a pedestrian violation or, if the infraction resulted from the operation of a vehicle, as a moving violation.