Florida’s New Illegal Street Takeover Laws Now In Effect
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As GM Authority has covered in the past, General Motors high-performance machines like Corvettes and Camaros appear to be a popular choice for those who participate in dangerous street takeover events. In an effort to curb this type of unlawful activity, Florida lawmakers have created new legislation with harsher repercussions.
Signed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis two months ago and going into effect today, this new law will levy much sharper consequences for street takeovers, also known as sideshows, including up to $4,000 in fines and a bump from a misdemeanor charge to a felony.
In regard to specifics, this new legislature stipulates that:
- Those who participate in a street takeover involving 10 or more cars (also known as a “coordinated street takeover”), will be charged with a felony and fined between $2,500 to $4,000.
- Those who obstruct a police or fire vehicle responding to an emergency while racing, taking over a street or stunt driving, will be charged with a felony and have their driver’s license revoked for four years for any second or subsequent violation.
- Police can seize vehicles for forfeiture when the violation is a felony and the license will be revoked for two years. Spectators will also be charged with non-criminal traffic infractions and fined $400.
- Any car used in a misdemeanor violation can be impounded for 30 business days, whether or not the person arrested is the registered owner of the vehicle.
Essentially, lawmakers are targeting larger events with 10 or more participants, and giving them tougher repercussions for their dangerous actions.
“Before, it was a misdemeanor, so we would likely charge them with reckless driving or something to that effect and they wouldn’t lose their vehicles,” a spokesperson familiar with the new law claimed. “Now with these harder penalties, it becomes a felony and they have to pay a fine of up to $4,000 plus they’re going to lose their driver’s license for two to four years.”
This should go without being said, but please save the vehicle antics for the race track.
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Common sense has left the building.
Forfeiture of the vehicle, large fines & jail time would send a message to these FOOLS!
The “Usual Suspects” .
The ads on the site make it almost impossible to read the contents. Plus the constant videos and music are just too distracting!
Use a different broswer, such as Brave, to block all ads and videos.
Street racing huh the moron drivers I see every day are the problem late night racing isn’t
They are both problems. Driving on I-94 during the day with moderate traffic going 75-80 mph only to be passed by BMW, Benz, Vets, etc. going 100++ mph & weaving across 5 lanes needs to be a felony also. I say 5 lanes since they use the shoulders also. In 6 years of driving on I-94 I have never seen a State trooper
Night racing that has hampered Emergency Services response and cost human lives, isn’t the problem? What’s it take to qualify as a problem, Nick?
I LOVE this song! Finally! Laws with some balls and not a slap on the wrist. I can’t stand those street takeovers!
I don’t see how they can charge spectators. With what? Standing on a public sidewalk? This will not stand up to even the slightest scrutiny.
obviously you’re not looking at the same thing everyone else is… the spectators form a ring of people 6-10 deep around an entire intersection, cheering on the cars, even getting in the middle to video them… there won’t be any issue with this standing up to even the heaviest scrutiny…
Ron DeSantis is a great governor. I wish we had a president like him. This country needs to hold people accountable for all actions. Happy we bought a home in florida and retiring there eventually. We love florida.
Soon hopefully cars would be speed limited to 60 mph ! Save fuel save lives lower ins.premuims for all !
Doesnt matter what new laws take effect as you need law enforemennt to do their jobs. Here in Citrus County Florida the Sheriff doesnt like charging anyone breaking traffic or trespassing- ATVs‐OHVs run roads an private posted property like their private playgrounds an some Sheriff duputies do the same illegal activity..thats why Citrus County is called CIRCUS COUNTY
It’s street racing also, these clowns never heard of a drag strip.
Maybe some counties should make a safe place
Where these awesome events can take place once or twice a month and have the ones who want to play pay to enter and have police an ambulance, fire truck on hand. The county makes all the money. I believe this will work for the young people that are in these events this takes place because there isn’t a safe place.
I agree with saving the racing kind of driving for the racetrack, but I think there is a problem where racetracks keep getting taken down or sold, which then forces car enthusiasts to look to the streets. However, I don’t think takeover kids care about going to a racetrack in the first place