New bill aimed at cracking down on out-of-control, dangerous Atlanta street racing scene (Columbus: public schools, activity)

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by rstevens62

I like how the terms, 'out of control, dangerous' are used to describe the street racing that is going on. LOL


Kids have been 'street racing' since the 1950s, its not a new problem, but typically, just like back then, some people are under the impression this needs to be stopped immediately...and not so surprisingly, they try to go the worried about safety route, in trying to convince others. LOL

Back in the day, young folks took their racing out to the edge of town and went toe to toe, instead of spinning around in donuts on city streets.

[Born 2 Roll]

Originally Posted by rstevens62

I like how the terms, 'out of control, dangerous' are used to describe the street racing that is going on. LOL


Kids have been 'street racing' since the 1950s, its not a new problem, but typically, just like back then, some people are under the impression this needs to be stopped immediately...and not so surprisingly, they try to go the worried about safety route, in trying to convince others. LOL

That is a good point that street racing is not a new problem, but the rise of social media and the ability for street racers to communicate and coordinate on social media, often without the ability for law enforcement to immediately see those communications and coordinations between street racers, has put a new twist on an old problem that has returned with a vengeance since the start of the pandemic.

And street racing does need to be stopped immediately because public streets and roads are not places that are intended for street racing and other assorted associated acts (including doing donuts, burning rubber, stunts, etc.) which are illegal for a reason... That reason being that those illegal acts can kill and maim people.

How would you like it if a friend (or friends) or family member(s) were minding their own business and were physically harmed by someone doing a dangerous illegal act with a vehicle on a public road where dangerous acts are illegal for good reason?

I know that I would not like it if one or more of my friends or family were killed or maimed by someone driving recklessly while doing illegal stunts on a public road.

But innocent people being killed and maimed by reckless drivers engaging in illegal racing and stunt driving acts on public streets and roads does happen, has happened and continues to happen.

That’s including in a recent case where two teenagers and one teenager were killed while returning home from Six Flags Over Texas amusement park when a reckless driver rear-ended the SUV they were riding in causing it to instantly explode into flames upon impact. The reckless driver who rear-ended them was doing 157 miles-per-hour in his Camero when he rear-ended them in a 70 mph speed limit zone on I-20 in Fort Worth, Texas.

FORT WORTH, Texas - Fort Worth police say a driver was going more than twice the speed limit when he caused a deadly crash on a highway last month.

The innocent driver and two of his friends were on their way home from Six Flags. Two weeks after the crash, the man who crashed into their SUV was taken into custody and charged.

On March 15, police said Bryce Abernathy, 22, was driving recklessly at 157 miles an hour when he crashed into the back of an SUV on I-20, causing it to burst into flames.

The impact killed 19-year-old Kyree Shaundi Smallwood. Two people in the SUV were left hurt.

Man was driving 157 mph at time of deadly crash on I-20, Fort Worth police say (FOX 4 News)


One of the most publicized cases of a reckless driver killing an innocent bystander was the case of former Las Vegas Raiders player Henry Ruggs III being charged with Felony DUI and Vehicular Manslaughter after killing a motorist and her dog while crashing into the rear of her vehicle while driving the under the influence of alcohol at about 156 miles-per-hour in a 45 mph speed limit zone on a surface street in Las Vegas.

Judge postpones preliminary hearing in DUI case of former Las Vegas Raiders WR Henry Ruggs III (ESPN)


Closer to home here in the Atlanta area, reckless drivers also cause numerous deadly crashes, including in this case where a reckless driver killed an innocent motorist after losing control of his vehicle while illegally racing another black sports car (either a Dodge Charger or a Challenger) at 120 miles-per-hour on Roosevelt Highway in the City of South Fulton in South Fulton County.

Atlanta man charged with vehicular homicide following multi-vehicle crash (FOX 5 Atlanta)


Here also is a case I posted about earlier in this thread where an innocent bystander whose vehicle had broken down on the I-85 expressway in Northeast Atlanta was severely injured after being launched more than 30 feet off of an overpass onto the ground below after being hit by a motorist who was illegally racing along I-85 Southbound during the afternoon rush hour.

Georgia State Patrol blames street racing for woman being ‘launched’ and falling more than 30 feet off overpass after being hit by an illegal drag racer on I-85 (City-Data Atlanta Forum)

[Columbus1984]

This crap is getting so old. Thugs in POS Chargers and Challengers thinking they are actually cool cars lol. Severe punishment needs to happen. Felony charges and lengthy jail time.

[cparker73]

Originally Posted by arjay57

Are these characters racing or just cutting donuts?

They're doing both. In the city, it's mostly stunts performed for clout on social media. Actual street racing isn't done in Midtown, but I've seen reports where roads behind warehouses on Fulton Industrial were being used. The sound of those cars racing could be heard miles away down the Cascade Road corridor where several city and county officials lived, so the racers were dealt with.

I echo the sentiment behind Challengers and Chargers. Before they got their bad wrap because of street racing, I just think they're ugly cars that look like they smell of stale cigarettes, Axe body spray and toxic testosterone.

[Born 2 Roll]

Police bust nearly 90 street racers in Gwinnett County

It’s very heartening to see law enforcement making some serious inroads into dealing with a serious public safety and nuisance issue as Gwinnett County police arrested nearly 90 illegal street racing participants as part of a special multi-agency operation early Sunday morning in Peachtree Corners...

The Gwinnett County Police Department says GCPD officers responded to a call regarding illegal street racing activities early Sunday at Peachtree Corners Circle and Spalding Drive. Officers say they were able to block in 26 vehicles and their occupants successfully.

Numerous officers from Lilburn, Norcross, off-duty officers, officers from surrounding patrol districts, and other specialized units all responded to assist.

GCPD says approximately 68 adults were arrested and transported to the Gwinnett Detention Center with assistance from the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office using a large transport bus and two smaller van-style transport vehicles. Twenty juveniles were arrested and released to parents/guardians, 26 cars were impounded, and five handguns were recovered.

Illegal street racing leads to over 80 arrests overnight in Gwinnett County (CBS46 Atlanta)


Police bust more than 80 street racers in Gwinnett County (YouTube/CBS46 Atlanta VIDEO)

[Born 2 Roll]

Originally Posted by Born 2 Roll

Police bust nearly 90 street racers in Gwinnett County

It’s very heartening to see law enforcement making some serious inroads into dealing with a serious public safety and nuisance issue as Gwinnett County police arrested nearly 90 illegal street racing participants as part of a special multi-agency operation early Sunday morning in Peachtree Corners...


Illegal street racing leads to over 80 arrests overnight in Gwinnett County (CBS46 Atlanta)


Police bust more than 80 street racers in Gwinnett County (YouTube/CBS46 Atlanta VIDEO)

Police also said that street racers surrounded and damaged a pizza delivery driver’s vehicle who was attempting to escape the chaos.

[Born 2 Roll]

ROSWELL, Ga. — Roswell police have charged 12 people after an illegal street racing incident last month.

Crowds and cars doing donuts, spinning tires and driving reckless shut down the intersection of Houze Road and Rucker Road on April 17 around 7 p.m.

Police say the first officer to arrive on the scene had her SUV surrounded by spectators and participants who kicked the SUV and damaged it.

Several suspects were stopped and arrested immediately, but others escaped the scene.

11 arrested, 1 wanted after street racing sting in Roswell (WSB-TV Atlanta)

[arjay57]

Sounds like the cops are starting to get a handle on this.

[Atlanta-Native]

Originally Posted by arjay57

Sounds like the cops are starting to get a handle on this.

Great to hear. Hope they stay all over it and enforce stiff penalties.

[Columbus1984]

Originally Posted by arjay57

Sounds like the cops are starting to get a handle on this.

Harsh punishments, license suspension and massive fines will do the trick. No mercy on these people.