as a former cop,, do you want to buy some crack?

 

Kaasp you seem to grasp very well that street racing is illegal, the point that you appear to be missing is that under Florida statues it is also illegal to be a spectator at such an event. In fact here is the exact law.



316.191 Racing on highways.--
(1) As used in this section, the term:
(a) "Conviction" means a determination of guilt that is the result of a plea or trial, regardless of whether adjudication is withheld.
(b) "Drag race" means the operation of two or more motor 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 motor 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 motor vehicle or motor vehicles within a certain distance or time limit.
(c) "Racing" means the use of one or more motor vehicles in an attempt to outgain or outdistance another motor vehicle, to prevent another motor vehicle from passing, to arrive at a given destination ahead of another motor vehicle or motor vehicles, or to test the physical stamina or endurance of drivers over long-distance driving routes.
(d) "Spectator" means any person who is knowingly present at and views a drag race, when such presence is the result of an affirmative choice to attend or participate in the race. For purposes of determining whether or not an individual is a spectator, finders of fact shall consider the relationship between the racer and the individual, evidence of gambling or betting on the outcome of the race, and any other factor that would tend to show knowing attendance or participation.
(2)(a) A person may not:
1. Drive any motor vehicle, including any motorcycle, in any race, speed competition or contest, drag race or acceleration contest, test of physical endurance, or exhibition of speed or acceleration or for the purpose of making a speed record on any highway, roadway, or parking lot;
2. In any manner participate in, coordinate, facilitate, or collect moneys at any location for any such race, competition, contest, test, or exhibition;
3. Knowingly ride as a passenger in any such race, competition, contest, test, or exhibition; or 4. Purposefully cause the movement of traffic to slow or stop for any such race, competition, contest, test, or exhibition.

Your comparison of crime occuring at the mall vs attending/particpating in a street race event is wrong for a very simple reason. When you attend a street racing event you are knowingly violating the law. On the other hand when you go to the mall there is no guarantee that someone will violate the law.

drewbroo...glad that you were able to get out of the tickest...especially if your circumstance is, as you describe, a matter of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Cops aren't omniscient folks. There job is to enforce the law and protect the innocent. Most nights every officer on the force is so busy responding to 911 calls that they don't have time to even contemplate harrassing a person not violating the law. That doesn't mean that every officer is a nice guy it doesn't mean there all pricks either. What it means is that if your doing nothing wrong then you usually have nothing to worry about (most of the time). Dont get mad at the cop when he/she writes you a ticket for violating the law, its not there fault you couldn't remain within societies definition of legal behavior.

 

Here is the rest of the statue

Any person who violates any provision of this paragraph commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. Any person who violates any provision of this paragraph shall pay a fine of not less than $500 and not more than $1,000, and the department shall revoke the driver license of a person so convicted for 1 year. A hearing may be requested pursuant to s. 322.271.

(b) Any person who violates paragraph (a) within 5 years after the date of a prior violation that resulted in a conviction for a violation of this subsection commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083, and shall pay a fine of not less than $500 and not more than $1,000. The department shall also revoke the driver license of that person for 2 years. A hearing may be requested pursuant to s. 322.271.
(c) In any case charging a violation of paragraph (a), the court shall be provided a copy of the driving record of the person charged and may obtain any records from any other source to determine if one or more prior convictions of the person for violation of paragraph (a) have occurred within 5 years prior to the charged offense.
(3)(a) A person may not be a spectator at any drag race prohibited under subsection (2).
(b) A person who violates the provisions of paragraph (a) commits a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a moving violation as provided in chapter 318.
(4) Whenever a law enforcement officer determines that a person was engaged in a drag race or race, as described in subsection (1), the officer may immediately arrest and take such person into custody. The court may enter an order of impoundment or immobilization as a condition of incarceration or probation. Within 7 business days after the date the court issues the order of impoundment or immobilization, the clerk of the court must send notice by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the registered owner of the motor vehicle, if the registered owner is a person other than the defendant, and to each person of record claiming a lien against the motor vehicle.
(a) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the impounding agency shall release a motor vehicle under the conditions provided in s. 316.193(6)(e), (f), (g), and (h), if the owner or agent presents a valid driver license at the time of pickup of the motor vehicle.
(b) All costs and fees for the impoundment or immobilization, including the cost of notification, must be paid by the owner of the motor vehicle or, if the motor vehicle is leased or rented, by the person leasing or renting the motor vehicle, unless the impoundment or immobilization order is dismissed. All provisions of s. 713.78 shall apply.
(c) Any motor vehicle used in violation of subsection (2) may be impounded for a period of 10 business days if a law enforcement officer has arrested and taken a person into custody pursuant to this subsection and the person being arrested is the registered owner or coowner of the motor vehicle. If the arresting officer finds that the criteria of this paragraph are met, the officer may immediately impound the motor vehicle. The law enforcement officer shall notify the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles of any impoundment for violation of this subsection in accordance with procedures established by the department. The provisions of paragraphs (a) and (b) shall be applicable to such impoundment.
(5) Any motor vehicle used in violation of subsection (2) by any person within 5 years after the date of a prior conviction of that person for a violation under subsection (2) may be seized and forfeited as provided by the Florida Contraband Forfeiture Act. This subsection shall only be applicable if the owner of the motor vehicle is the person charged with violation of subsection (2). (6) 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.

 

Anyone can spin the wording of the law.

I've already heard that a few have lawyers who are going to have fun with this. I don't condone street racing but sucks if your only intention is to stop and bullshit with a friend or two. I don't see the cops waiting for the drunks leaving Biff Burger on their Harleys every weekend, the tons of people leaving Clearwater beach at 3 am swerving all over the place(i see it 6 out of 7 nights a week at work), or the long list where people seem to just get away with murder.

http://www.flhsmv.gov/hsmvdocs/CS2007.pdf

In 2007 Florida had 1,244 alcohol related fatalities, I'm sure that number has grown.

In the same year we had 256,206 traffic crashes, 3,221 leading to traffic fatalities, sounds more like instead of a street racing problem we have a driving problem.

Current street racing laws allow you to get a ticket for street racing when you are the only driver. Isn't that speeding? Or reckless driving? So it's left up to some cop to individually interpret the law. I'd like to see some statistics that show how many of theses street racing citations have been dropped or lowered. Further more some real statistics on how many actual fatalities are from street racing, not the trumped up figures the media puts out.

Note that the Drag Racing penalties are far more severe than DUI penalties, despite the fact that DUI's kill roughly 1500 people a year here, whereas street racing claims about 1% of that figure. The fight against street racing is just sensationalism and an easy way to get laws passed for revenue bottom line. If it was to "save lives", why do we have 4 or 5 time repeat DUI offenders still on the street driving legally? The little blow machine that you have to pay the state to use(more revenue) installed on the vehicle is simply circumvented by having some one else in the car.

The simple answer is take it to the track, but what track is available? If the police, public and local government really wanted a solution they could surely find the time to speak with track owners (hey doesn't the State own Sunshine lol) and create times for a venue that would keep the kids off the street.

 

Graves....you'll have to explain to me how a copy and paste from the Florida State Statue's is spinning the wording of the law. As for DUI's I believe that the punishment should be an immediate execution of the perpatrator on the side of the road, and send the bill for the bullet to the family of the drunk (I admit I'm a little extreme when it comes to DUI's).

But to argue that the innocent killed by a drunk was somehow more greviously harmed than the innocent killed by a street racer is ludacris. A death is a death no matter how it occurs, but you don't see 200 kids lining up on the side of the road at "Biffs Burger" to cheer on the drunks leaving the bar on a Saturday night. I am in 100% agreement that the penalties for DUI need to be much more harsh and I would love to see more cops hanging out in front of the local watering holes to nail these drunks when they leave. All I'm stating in this forum is that participating in street racing in any form or fashion is illegal.

As far as the concept of locating a track in/near tampa simple google florida drag strips. And if you live in an area that doesn't have a drag strip with which to legally race, then don't race...its illegal.

 

Laws are written really vague. Either the law enforcement officer or the lawyer defending someone can word it into an interpretation that suits their needs.


Mere numbers of drunk driving deaths vs. numbers of those who are said street racing deaths(since there is no real statistics from the state or even the NTHSA), then look at the enforcement of both. As many deaths as DUI creates the lack of prevention is amazing.

I'm 33, I know by now that there are a few:

SunShine Dragstrip We Make Racing Fun For Everyone!

1/8 mile. Sunshine is garbage and very poorly maintained. Last time I was there I would have felt better drag racing on a gravel road. Closes at 10:30 and test and tune is on a weeknight.

Lakeland Motorsports Park » Home

1/8 mile. Lakeland is about the same. Never went there due to distance and what I had heard about the places upkeep. Closes at 11 and only T&T is a weeknight and on the weekends but also other races take place which get more time than street cars.

Bradenton Motorsports Park Bradenton, Florida

Bradenton is the only 1/4 mile track near here. Fine establishment. Quick look on their website they have on weekend night/day per month open to street cars.


Those who want to enforce the laws to clear the streets should also look into alternatives to prevent these activities. "Do a google search," is a nice answer from someone who more than likely doesn't go to these paces. Local leaders should look towards what California and a few other states have done to lower the street racing. Open the tracks for the kids when they will be racing as apposed to having them open at the times when they won't.

I'd love to see it but our local government are too busy trying to make budget cuts to keep their pockets fat.

 

THe local gov. would rather make money off of fines, than cutting taxes on a death prevention service such as a track. Hence why almost all ambulance services are privatized.

 

"Do a google search," is a nice answer from someone who more than likely doesn't go to these paces.

You mean to tell me you haven't seen me at Bradenton running my grandmothers station wagon down the track. Sheesh

 

Totally bypass the fact they have no outlet for these kids. If you aren't part of the solution you are part of the problem. Open the tracks up more and see what happens to the racing on the streets.

Or take my option and keep it on a private road where the cops can't say shit.

 

I have a funny feeling about cops. I'm not sure if I like them or I hate them.

Encounters with them always start off bad, but then they find out the situation that I am in, and they change up their attitude. I'm not sure how to take this. So I just keep my guard up.....