Protecting Our Streets from Dangerous Street Racing

Central Florida has experienced a rise of a fatal epidemic that has swept our community over the past year. Street racing has quickly become a popular, but fatal, hobby in Orlando. Many of the participants are young and inexperienced drivers. Several fatalities have occurred due to this activity. Those who participate in these dangerous events are not the only people who have been victims. On January 1, 2008, Luis Rivera-Ortega (age 15) was tragically struck by a vehicle involved in a street race on Forsyth Street.

Law enforcement officers have had trouble fighting this increasingly popular culture. Last year Florida’s street racing law was declared unconstitutional. After that State Representative Darren Soto met with local law enforcement officials to try to find ways to assist them in putting an end to deadly street races. A tool that the officers asked for was to be able to write a non-criminal citation to anyone who watches illegal races.

On April 29th, State Representative Darren Soto presented an amendment to Senate Bill 1992 on the House Floor that would give law enforcement the authority to write a citation to any spectator of an illegal street race. Those charged with violating this law could receive a non-criminal traffic infraction, punishable as a moving violation. There were no objections to the amendment. Senate Bill 1992 overwhelmingly passed both the Florida House and Senate, and is expected to be signed into law very soon.

Representative Darren Soto said, “Our local leaders and the family of Luis Rivera-Ortega implored us to enact greater protections against illegal street racing this legislative session. The creation of spectator fines will enable law enforcement to better police these well-attended illegal races and serves as a first to step serious confrontation of the problem. I remain committed to pursuing further reforms such as enhanced penalties for causing injury to persons or property while street racing next session.”