Videos of cars racing down the street, screeching tires, and doing donuts in the intersection have become popular trends throughout recent years.
A Minnesota Court of Appeals decision could help crack down on those who take part in “street racing,” which has plagued the metro area in recent years.
In the court’s ruling, it was decided that a car can be considered a “dangerous weapon” which will allow for felony charges.
“The consequences for a felony are much bigger than the consequences for a misdemeanor,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said.
Throughout the last few years, numerous individuals have lost their lives in accidents stemming from street racing.
Now people who organize and take part in street racing could be charged with second-degree riot, a felony because they can be legally considered to be “armed with a dangerous weapon,” namely, their cars, thanks to the court’s ruling.
Moriarty says the felony charges come with a possible sentence of up to a five-year prison term and a $10,000 fine.
“Ultimately we want everybody to be safe. We don’t want anybody participating in these events to be injured or anybody watching these events to be injured,” Moriarty said. “And so we want to deter this kind of conduct, particularly in busy intersections in Minneapolis.
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