MIAMI -- State Rep. Carlos Lopez-Cantera recently went on an eye opening ride-along with the Florida Highway Patrol, following speeding motorcyclists.
"This guy did a wheelie," Lopez-Cantera said of one motorcyclist. "It's unbelievable. These motorcycles passed us like we were standing still."
Lopez-Cantera witnessed racers speeding at 120 mph on the Dolphin Expressway
"They're just blatantly riding in excessive speeds, putting themselves in danger and putting other motorists in danger," Lopez-Cantera said. "It's just too much."
He watched as the racers were arrested for reckless driving, and he came upon another racer who was injured on the side of MacArthur Causeway.
"We saw so much blatant disregard for the laws tonight that it doesn't surprise me to see someone injured," Lopez-Cantera said.
Two years ago, NBC 6 investigated the brazen and dangerous stunts of the thrill riders.
"When you're young you like all the adrenaline stuff," one motorcyclist said.
"It's another form of getting high," another rider said. "Instead of smoking, you take it to the bike."
Law enforcement officers said they are powerless to pursue them and are frustrated as they watch their tactics, like flipping the bike's license plates so they can't be traced.
"That tag needs to be permanently attached to that motorcycle," one FHP trooper said. "The problem has gotten worse. The laws need to be changed. The penalties need to be stiffer."
Lopez-Cantera is trying to do that.
"Something has to be done. They have to actually fear the law because right now they don't," he said.
After the ride-along, Lopez-Cantera filed a bill in Tallahassee that would toughen penalties on speeding, stunt driving and hiding or flipping tags.
"They'll lose their bike," Lopez-Cantera said. "Their motorcycle license will be revoked for 10 years, and it's a mandatory arrest so they will go to jail."
He said he hopes to get a law passed that will keep the racers in line.
"Once the word starts getting out that the courts are starting to throw the book at them, hopefully it'll change their behavior," Lopez-Cantera said.
The bill could be heard in a committee as soon as December and may come up for a vote next year.
all i can say is "its about fucking time they did somthing".
State Rep. Files Bill Targeting Motorcycle 'Thrill Riders' - Local News Story - WTVJ | Miami