CLEVELAND — After a series of "street takeovers" last month impacted multiple locations in Cleveland as suspects stopped traffic, pointed guns at people, lit fireworks and attempted to start fires -- Cleveland City Council has introduced legislation to "toughen street racing laws."
According to council, the new ordinance would "amend the city's street racing laws to prohibit additional actions and behaviors." The new prohibitions would include:
- Blocking intersections
- Burnouts
- Doughnuts
- Drifting (a sideways skid)
- Stunt driving
- Wheelies
“We need to get the attention of these street outlaws, who think this is the wild, wild west and they can do anything they like on our Cleveland roads and parking lots,” said Ward 8 Councilman Mike Polensek, a sponsor of the new legislation, in a statement. Ward 3 Councilman Kerry McCormack is also a co-sponsor of the legislation.
City council adds that the new legislation "would also make vehicle components subject to seizure and forfeiture, including but not limited to steering wheels, wheels and tires and mufflers, or any part of the vehicle or component that was adapted for use in street takeovers, stunt driving or racing."
“This behavior is unacceptable and has put our citizens, visitors and businesses at risk,” added Cleveland City Council President Blaine A. Griffin. “The morale of the city has been shaken. We want action and that’s why we’re are taking this important step. We have to hold people accountable.”
In its release, Cleveland City Council noted that the new ordinance "will conform to changes in state law," which become effective later this month. "The penalty for violation has not been changed from the current city code and is the same as state law: a 1st degree misdemeanor and at least a 30 day suspension of the driver’s license as well as the same penalty for anyone who assists them."
Cleveland City Council's Safety Committee held a hearing on the street takeover problem last week. Chief of Police Annie Todd gave an in-depth explanation regarding the various incidents, the investigation and what's next.
Among the steps the Cleveland Division of Police has taken since the most recent street takeovers on Sept. 28-29 is assembling a task force to gather data from all street incidents and work to make arrests. Police are also looking at milling portions of intersections which would disable vehicles that attempt stunt driving.