DALLAS (1080 KRLD)- Dallas Police and the City Attorney's Office have prepared a new city ordinance designed to crack down on illegal street racing. The proposed ordinance would make it illegal to watch a street race and would give the city the authority to seize the cars used by the participants.
"The street racing events in Dallas thrive on the attendance of the spectators from across the Metroplex. Typically, we see about 50 percent of spectators from the City of Dallas and about outside of the City of Dallas," Assistant Police Chief Lonzo Anderson told the Dallas City Council's Public Safety Committee. "In the last three weeks, we're starting to get groups that are coming in from other cities - the Houston area, the Oklahoma area and different states - to join in the groups some of the racing groups here in the local Dallas area."
The proposed ordinance would make it illegal for spectators to be "knowingly present at a street race, reckless driving exhibition, or site of preparations for either event" and would include a $500 fine. The ordinance would also set up a process for the City to declare cars used by street races as "nuisance vehicles". The City would be able to seize those vehicles and sell them at auction.
"I support this and appreciate the direction you're going with basically drawing a line...saying 'we're going to take people's cars' if they keep doing this," said Council Member Cara Mendelsohn.
Officials from DPD told the Public Safety Committee they intended to bring the proposed ordinance forward for approval by the full Dallas City Council in June. Some Council Members indicated they would support posting the item on their agenda later this month.
Council Member David Blewitt supported adopting the new penalties, but also wanted to make sure people know about their enforcement.
"We're going to have to get out there and tell people...'look, I understand that you're trying to have some fun'. But they need to understand the serious of this. It's dangerous for them. It's dangerous for us. So it's going to be on us to present the fact that we're going to be raising the penalties on these guys," he said.
