Street racers in Md. could be jailed if bill passes

[merc]

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Race on the streets of Maryland and you may go to jail, even if nobody's hurt, under a bill now in the General Assembly.

The State Police have requested state lawmakers consider legislation that would authorize up to 60 days imprisonment and a maximum fine of $500 for anybody caught participating in a vehicle race or speed contest. The House of Delegates Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on the measure Friday.

Current law says street racing is a misdemeanor offense that carries a fine of up to $500, according to Maryland legislative staff documents.

In February 2008, eight people were killed during a Prince George's County street racing incident

[Zack]

Dont fight Charles Darwin, he always wins.... :rolleyes:

[Haggis]

In Maryland it is still legal to marry your first cousin.

[ctrlraven]

Hope it passes.

[vkirkend]

I like this law in theory but wonder how it would apply. If they catch you do you go directly to jail or is it only after conviction? By participating do they mean racing or just watching?:confused:

[Big Black Beast]

Another "solution" to a "problem" that will be poorly written, and overzealously/inconsistently enforced put in place as a knee jerk reaction by politicians/legislators so they can make themselves feel/look good. If we make a law everytime something BAD happens, what's this country going to be like in 40 years. Think of what it was like in 1970 compared to now.

Somebody I went to school with got a "speed racing ticket for supposedly "racing" me. I was in the next lane, and I was just talking to my friend in the passenger seat, and we weren't even paying attention to the car next to us until the cop pulled it over. What if you step on it to get ahead of the car in the right lane? What if you drive a Toyota and your pedal sticks, lol.

We have millions of cars on the road. S**t happens. You can make all the laws in the word, and people are still going to get killed. Hey, let's make it illegal to shoot people. That's working...

[Mr. Man]

Should we start the Soap-on-a-Rope fund for Doomie?

[DOOM]

Should we start the Soap-on-a-Rope fund for Doomie?

Don't drag my name into this muffin head.
I don't go to street races.

I have crushed several cars on the street. But I do not go to or participate in organized street racing.

Don't put my name in this s#¡+.

[LeoVampire]

In the old days kids went to remote areas to race and had a great spot picked out with no one around the area to call the cops.

Since the Fast and the Furious movies came out that has all changed because everyone wants to beef up their cars and race around like they are in the movies.

And also there are very little remote places anymore with the expansions that have been made for housing and business.

So for the very few that would like to play it safe and go to a more remote location it isn't easy to do. Race tracks are not open 24/7 for the kids to go to and they are far few and inbetween and a ways to get to them.

Also @ one time the Airforce use to let kids in the area to race on them from time to time on weekends but that is no longer allowed so that killed another avenue as well. For instance I use to be able to go to Westover Air Base in Chicopee Mass when I was young to race but it is no longer an option.

Do I think kids should be punished for being stupid hell yes. But sending them to jail for racing and giving them a fellony record isn't the right thing to do unless someone gets hurt.

Yes fine them and or take the license away for a period of time and impound the car till the license is reinstated. If that isn't an incentive to keep them from racing around the streets I don't know what is?!

If the cop's and city's set up a place in let's say a business district when they are closed on the weekends and supervised it I think it would be a more viable option to everyone involved.

[ImpalaSlayer]

Don't drag my name into this muffin head.
I don't go to street races.

I have crushed several cars on the street. But I do not go to or participate in organized street racing.

Don't put my name in this s#¡+.

according to what merc posted, the difference between the 2 is irrelevant.


i to hope it passes!

[DOOM]

according to what merc posted, the difference between the 2 is irrelevant.


i to hope it passes!

Hope it passes as well.

Just don't care for having my name dragged in the middle of it!

[Glenn]

How I remember the days in Philly when the cops would pull up to you in their new police intercepter 440 Magum Furys and want to race you to see how fast their car was. In that way they would know who they could beat and they couldn't. They also used it as a reference point to their speed versus other fast cars. Those days are long gone. My Hipo '64 Failane with 3:89 gears beat them up to 120 then the big block mopars started to pull on me. So I knew no long runs were possible - it was get lost as quickly as you could.

The biggest shock to me was the code of conduct we had with the police. It you out ran them fair and square they would not arrest you after the chase even if they knew you and they knew most of us. But, if they got right behind you then you HAD to pull over. Boy, those days are long gone.

Glenn Ford :burnout:

[Blackened300a]

HMy Hipo '64 Failane with shorty headers and 3:89 gears beat them up to 120 then the big block mopars started to pull on me. So I knew no long runs were possible - it was get lost as quickly as you could.

Fixed it for ya.

[ImpalaSlayer]

Fixed it for ya.

:rofl: :laugh:

[Glenn]

How I remember the days in Philly when the cops would pull up to you in their new police intercepter 440 Magum Furys and want to race you to see how fast their car was. In that way they would know who they could beat and they couldn't. They also used it as a reference point to their speed versus other fast cars. Those days are long gone. My Hipo '64 Failane with 3:89 gears beat them up to 120 then the big block mopars started to pull on me. So I knew no long runs were possible - it was get lost as quickly as you could.

The biggest shock to me was the code of conduct we had with the police. It you out ran them fair and square they would not arrest you after the chase even if they knew you and they knew most of us. But, if they got right behind you then you HAD to pull over. Boy, those days are long gone.

Glenn Ford :burnout:

Fairlane had LT Hookers on it. Shorties were not available in those days. Engine had plenty of room to install LTs - not difficult and not very expensive.

When you run even close to 11.80 - then you can laugh! Overwise it is Man the Lifeboat - pure BS!!

http://www.modularpowerhouse.com/forums/images/smilies/BSmeter.gif

Glenn

[BUCKWHEAT]

Don't drag my name into this muffin head.
I don't go to street races.

I have crushed several cars on the street. But I do not go to or participate in organized street racing.

Don't put my name in this s#¡+.

If the law is implemented, no one on the prosecution side will differentiate "crushing cars on the street" from "organized street racing". As a pragmatic, this is a judgmental situation where you will be guilty until proven innocent.

[BizTerp]

It seems that between all of the NASA and SCCA chapters + all of the 1/4 mile tracks and road courses across the country, there are tons of availble low-cost opportunities for enthusiasts to run their cars. There's really no excuse for street racing.

The only problem I see with trying to legislate street racing is defining what a "race" or "speed competition" is. Seems like there needs to be a start/finish line to be a race and some sort of agreed upon speed between the drivers (0-60, 50-100) to be a speed competition. Most of the "street racing" that occurs is a spontaneous decision by both drivers to put the pedal down and see who has the biggest balls before they back off. Not sure how you prove that there is a race going on there. By the way, I'm not a lawyer or a cop. Just trying to think like one :)

[SILVERSURFER03]

Tru e the term speed contest was used ... Im surpized the fine isn't more

[DEFYANT]

The biggest part of the problem is the drivers lack of ability to control their high HP cars.

Racing induces stresses most people are not accustom too. Typically, the younger the driver, the more potential for disaster. And most of the time, the street racers are under 25.

[Phrog_gunner]

pure BS!!

Glenn

That's what she said.