Well guys I heard a rumor that if you are caught street Racing in FL that now it is a Felony! I am in the Petty Officer in the Coast Guard and I work alot with local cops on the water. One of them told me that they are trying to pass a law in the state of FL to make Street Racing a Felony. I just want to give you guys a heads up and I will keep you posted on any changes or info that I pick up. I would hate for one of you to go to jail because of a dumb street race. :mad:

So boys I am asking you to leave the Honda's alone until I get more info on this matter!!!!

It is no rumor, all that is needed for this law to go into effect is the signature of the Gov. of Florida (Mr. Bush). All the paperwork is done and is just sitting waiting for him to sign it.

Its true no need to work on seeing if its true or not *** it is. Its going to be really, really strict. What you could do for me..lol, is find the proposal law. I am friends with some local attornies and I want them to take a look at it. What we should do is get every hooked up car in the start to merg onto the capitol and do a parking protest that would be powerful. the main argument is that the law is more harsh than DUI laws. The other problem is that they are going to majorly profile our asses, red light races will have to be treated the same. Whats funny is that they have no official numbers on race related deaths or crashes because there is no form for them. ie like DUI.

Just some info.

Carlos

Saw this on the news last week. They want it to be a SECOND DEGREE FELONY. "Punishable by up to 15 YEARS IN PRISON" That is the stupid thing I have ever heard of. Street racing has being around since car took to the streets, but the news said the law is to stop the "Sudden Rash" of street racing and the deaths caused by it. (not trying to sound indiferent to those who have lost a love one do to this) While I am not advocate of street racing, (I never street race anymore, although I used to take part in an occational stop light run) I just can't understand why it needs to be punishable by 15 years. If someone hurts someone else in a stupid race then by all means charge that person with reckless driving or even vehiclular manslaughter, (if someone is so stupid to take masive chances just to edge the other guy out then he should definitly be charged). For the stop light racers give them some big ol' tickets, for those that engage in the Midnight gathering, inpound their car, for good, but 15 years in jail is way too excessive IMHO.

impouding someone's car forever is way to crazy too. Vechicular manslaughter sounds good. The main problem is that the older guy that does a redlight race is going to be tolerable, but the young guy who does it is not going to be as lucky. This is another piece of legislature that gives to much freedom to cops, and has these punishment limits. Its dumb. Why should I be in the same catagory as a drug offender OR a 3 time DUI offender. Thats were inlies the bullshit my friend. Street Racer or not this state tends to be F-ed up with its laws (ie 3 strike law)

Carlos

Yeah I agree car inpound forever is too excessive, but I could not off hand think of something that would get the persons attention (sp?) without 15 freakin years in jail. Maybe car inpounded and having to pay X% of cars value to get it out, maybe that would be better. Anyway it really does not matter what I or WE (for that matter) think since unfortuantly we don't really have much say.

:mad: I hope they don't pass that law, and we all know that it won't stop street racing, its just gonna make people flee much, much more dangerously. I know I would. I'm not a hard core every weekend street racer but if I happen to be at the wrong place at the wrong time then I'm gonna earn the felony;) And on that note I pass through street racing "areas" to get home which means they'll snag me when I'm just driving home on a late weekend night. But Oh well..........So I guess they'll call street racing an organized crime if we organize ourselves to avoid the cops.
I see many problems in the future for everyone with a nice import. We'll get slapped with a sentence just for speeding.

Nismo

( I was pulled over for speeding once and the cop swore I was drag racing "by myself". Ironically he didn't give me a ticket for going 120 in a 55 down 275 in Tampa )

Originally posted by 93BlackBird
What you could do for me..lol, is find the proposal law. I am friends with some local attornies and I want them to take a look at it.
Carlos

Heres the link to the proposed bill. :(
Shitty Bill (http://www.leg.state.fl.us/cgi-bin/view_page.pl?Tab=session&Submenu=1&FT=D&File=sb1738c2.html&Directory=session/2002/Senate/bills/billtext/html/)

Okay I feel better after reading the law. No where doe it state that it is a felony. The highest it states it a first degree misdememor (sp?) and that is for someone who got caught street racing less than 5 years prior. In all actuality this law really does not look much different than the one arleady on the books. The punishment is as follows.

1st offence- Second degree misdemenor, fine not to exceed $500 possible jail not to exceed 60 days, car impounded, pay to get it out, license suspended for 1 year.

2nd offence (or more)- first degree misdemenor, fine not to exceed $1000, possible jail not to exceed 1 year (hey better than 15), license suspended for 2 years. ( I am sure car impounded again it was just not stated)

So there you go, no felony, I guess the leg. just wanted to try and make a impact and said they would try for second degree felony, either that or their press guy got misdemenor confused with felony.

Ah man!!!

There goes my great ride to and from work. :(
I always look forward to the 20 mile trip.

Thanks for the heads up everyone.

ok after reading this part:

The court may enter an order of

7 impoundment or immobilization as a condition of incarceration

8 or probation.

Immobilization, doesn't that mean destroy it? Just wondering

Damn man this suck ass

Before i use to go to the races every Friday and Saturday and now i have nothing to do beside hanging around with bunch of shit talker

no immobilize means they go to your house and boot the bitch. The problem with the law is towards th bottom. under "exhibition of speed". This gives the cop WAY WAY to much judgement here. Was the kid in the loud import just speeding or was he exhibiting his speed in some kind of demonstration for others. Now if you are like 45 your jsut speeding. IF you are like 21 would be demonstrating. SCCA peeps are going crazy because the law actually recognizes the term "Parking Lots"=not cool. They are in a up rise because some events are held in parking lots and the way the bill is worded it could mean big trouble. It only allows car events to be held in recognized tracks and drag strips.... This thing sucks big shit

This law is ridiculous, it will give the cops another excuse to pull somebody over. I have no problem with the fine of being caught street racing, but imprisonment and impounding the car is way too extreme, violation of the 8th amendment in my opinion :D Anyways, what really gets me heated is when cops break up spots like tower shopps, redline, atlantic, or whereever car enthusiasts gather. People wanna chill, i feel cops should let us chill.

In Japan street racers can chill without any harrasment from the cops, but I guess this goes to show we can only try to be JDM, but we will never make it... :D

Carlos

Originally posted by 93BlackBird
In Japan street racers can chill without any harrasment from the cops, but I guess this goes to show we can only try to be JDM, but we will never make it... :D

Carlos
Yeah the law sucks, but I would much rather be here then Japan. Half of the people that drive here couldn't even afford to drive in Japan.

well they can they jsut drive all the time. More of a weekend thing. If you have ever seen some of the cars over there you would no they could not be driving it everyday. Plus I like the japanese subway system then driving here everyday in the morining *** I can space out on the train(everyone does) and I can't do it has much(LOL) in my car

Carlos

I personally have NO problem with this law and look forward to it passing. Maybe it's because I keep racing to the track and am sick of people revving on me. Maybe It'd cause I live off gandy and am sick of people racing and looking at normal passerby's as an annoyance to their "right" to illegally street race. Oh well, too bad. You want to street race and you get caught, you will pay for it. Just like any other crime.

And SCCA people shouldn't worry (I don't) with this inclusion:
"25 (4) This section does not apply to licensed or duly

26 authorized racetracks, drag strips, or other designated areas

27 set aside by proper authorities for such purposes."

That includes parking lots with agreements between your SCCA region and the owners of said parking lot. Not like SCCA people just pic an empty parking lot, set up cones and goes at it.

Just my .02

Ive been cought at the races in Okeechobee last december, they are really getting serious with street racing in Florida!! It sucks!