“They’re fast,” Rep. Michelle Steel says of car racers who tear up the roads at dangerously high speeds. But “we’re furious,” she said of the lawmakers behind newly proposed federal legislation aimed at curtailing the activity.
From Steel and Democratic Rep. Brittany Pettersen of Colorado, the proposal would establish a task force under the FBI that studies the impacts of street racing, vehicle sideshows and street takeovers to develop best practices for a unified approach to combat organized street racing for law enforcement agencies at all levels.
The task force — as it is written in the legislation dubbed the “They’re Fast, We’re Furious Act of 2023” — would be made up of nine total members: two from the Department of Justice, two from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, two from state or local law enforcement agencies and three from the FBI.
“Through coordination between law enforcement agencies nationwide at every level, we can develop best practices to combat this problem,” said Steel, who represents the 45th congressional district that includes the cities of Westminster, Garden Grove and Buena Park.
A countywide anti-street racing task force formed in 2020, named Orange County Strategic Traffic Enforcement Against Racing and Reckless Driving, had as of April 2022 issued roughly 3,000 citations and made about 300 arrests, according to the California Highway Patrol.
While Steel’s bill is more or less about coordination and data-sharing among federal, state and local law enforcement rather than punishments, Orange County leaders believe a task force involving the federal government focused exclusively on combating the problem could put a dent in deadly street racing.
A number of Orange County cities in recent years have taken action to curb street racing, including Anaheim, one of the county’s most populous cities.
In 2021, the Anaheim Police Department proposed an ordinance prohibiting participating in or being a spectator at a street race or reckless driving exhibition after police determined onlookers play a big role in street racing occuring, said Chief Rick Armendariz. Those who encourage the activity by promoting races on social media attract large crowds that impede police officers attempting to enforce the law, he said.
In addition to that, Armendariz said, the Anaheim Police Department is collaborating with other law enforcement agencies in the STEARRD.
“The task force has improved information sharing between agencies, helped us study the trends surrounding these events and has helped support a standardized response,” Armendariz said.
He said that in Anaheim, street racing-related calls peaked in 2021 but have decreased dramatically since. Both in 2020 and 2021, police responded to over 1,000 street racing-related calls, Armendariz said, but last year, police responded to just 200.
“This year, we have continued to see a decrease in street racing-related calls for service,” Armendariz said. “Collaboration between local, state and federal agencies is vital to address emerging crime trends and we welcome assistance from the Street Racing Prevention and Intervention Task Force to address street racing and reckless driving events.”
Street racing surged across the country during the pandemic, which induced legislation in several states aimed at harsher punishments for those participating in the activity. In California, a measure went into effect this year that expands the definition of “gross negligence” when it comes to a vehicular manslaughter charge to include “when a person has participated in a sideshow or has sped over 100 miles per hour.”
Orange County has seen several horrific street race crashes over the last several years. One included longtime Register editor Gene Harbrecht, who was killed near his home in Santa Ana after his truck was hit by a racing car. The driver was found guilty of second-degree murder and sentenced to 15 years to life in prison.
Both Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer and Sheriff Don Barnes, through a spokesperson, signaled support for Steel’s legislation.
“I want to thank Rep. Steel for her efforts to combat what has become a deadly epidemic across America,” Spitzer said.
Under the provisions of the proposed legislation, the task force would have to submit to Judiciary committees in both the House and Senate a progress report, no later than one year after the legislation is enacted.
Steel said the idea is to “empower local law enforcement” across the country and connect them to data and resources they otherwise may not have access to.
Steel said she was put in harm’s way several years ago at a parking lot in Torrance when several teenagers pulled in and did doughnuts. Only a few feet away from the spinning vehicle, a scared Steel crossed the street and went into a store on the opposite side of the road, she said.
“They might be having fun, but a car can be a very dangerous weapon,” she said.
Pettersen, who represents the Lakewood community outside of Denver, said in a statement that she heard from constituents concerned about the prevalence of street racing. She took their concerns, she said, back to Washington where she partnered with Steel on the legislation.
Source: Orange County Register
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