Baltimore City Council addressed the issue of stunt driving or racing in the city. It’s something they said has become a nuisance and is downright dangerous. Council members said they’ve been getting complaints from their constituents about the issue, so they’ve proposed a new bill to address it. Stunt driving is shutting down intersections all over Baltimore. Council members said it’s happening more and more. “It’s extremely dangerous behavior. You see people hanging out of car windows at high rates of speed, they’re shutting down traffic, they’re running red lights and they’re creating a huge distraction keeping people up late at night,” said Councilman Isaac “Yitzy” Schleifer, D-District 5.Councilwoman Phylicia Porter, D-District 10, explained what constituents are saying.”Neighbors and constituents are letting us know it’s a real concern — that its impacting neighborhood revitalization, public safety and it’s really a nuisance,” Porter said.At Monday’s council meeting, council members Schleifer and Porter introduced a bill that would increase penalties for those responsible and to help police enforce this specific type of traffic violation. “Right now, if a car runs a red light or is doing donuts in the middle of the intersection, it’s reckless driving — there’s small traffic penalties to that. The fines in this situation will be $1,000 each and there’s also other criminal charges that can be brought for this reckless behavior,” Schleifer said. Schleifer said it also expands the reach of the violation, making anyone participating liable, not just the drivers. “We clarify in the law that it’s not just for people who happen to be passing by or people who just happen to be stuck behind a situation like this, it’s those who are actively participating. So, if you’re in the car of one of these cars doing this behavior, you too are going to be held liable,” he said.The bill now heads to committee for discussion and public comment.
Baltimore City Council addressed the issue of stunt driving or racing in the city. It’s something they said has become a nuisance and is downright dangerous.
Council members said they’ve been getting complaints from their constituents about the issue, so they’ve proposed a new bill to address it.
Stunt driving is shutting down intersections all over Baltimore. Council members said it’s happening more and more.
“It’s extremely dangerous behavior. You see people hanging out of car windows at high rates of speed, they’re shutting down traffic, they’re running red lights and they’re creating a huge distraction keeping people up late at night,” said Councilman Isaac “Yitzy” Schleifer, D-District 5.
Councilwoman Phylicia Porter, D-District 10, explained what constituents are saying.
“Neighbors and constituents are letting us know it’s a real concern — that its impacting neighborhood revitalization, public safety and it’s really a nuisance,” Porter said.
At Monday’s council meeting, council members Schleifer and Porter introduced a bill that would increase penalties for those responsible and to help police enforce this specific type of traffic violation.
“Right now, if a car runs a red light or is doing donuts in the middle of the intersection, it’s reckless driving — there’s small traffic penalties to that. The fines in this situation will be $1,000 each and there’s also other criminal charges that can be brought for this reckless behavior,” Schleifer said.
Schleifer said it also expands the reach of the violation, making anyone participating liable, not just the drivers.
“We clarify in the law that it’s not just for people who happen to be passing by or people who just happen to be stuck behind a situation like this, it’s those who are actively participating. So, if you’re in the car of one of these cars doing this behavior, you too are going to be held liable,” he said.
The bill now heads to committee for discussion and public comment.
