New La. Law "Council expands ban on racing"
08-19-2005, 06:22 PM
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New La. Law "Council expands ban on racing" Wednesday, August 10, 2005
"Council expands ban on racing" Spectors as well as dragsters risk arrest By Bruce Eggler
Neither a drag racer nor a spector be. That is the message a new law, approved by the New Orleans City Council, is sending to fans of "prohibited speed contests." The orbinance, adopted 6-0 Thursday, bans "motor vehicle speed contests" and "exhibitions of speed" on streets, roads and highways, and says "no person shall aid or abet any such events, such as by barricading a stret to regular traffic or being a race spectator. The measure was introduced by Councilwomen Cynthia Willard-Lewis, whose district includes most of eastern New Orleans. In recent years drag racing has become popular there on streets such as Hayne Boulevard and Chef Menteur Highway. Willard-Lewis Called the measure "a necessary tool in these very difficult days." The ordinance says drag races "have been escalating over the past few years" and 'occur on a regular basis on verious streets within the city," attracting "large numbers of spectators" whose "mere presence... fuels the illegal street racing." A spectator is defined as anyone who is within 200 feet of an "illegal motor vehicle speed contest," or of a site where preparations for such a race are under way, "for the purpose of viewing...the event as it progresses." The law applies to spectators on public streets or on private property open to the general public without the consent of the owner."
Under the law, a first time offense is punishable by a $500 fine and 30 days in jail for a drag racer, and a $500 fine and 150 days in jail for a spectator. The council did not explain why a spectator's jail term is longer.
For a second conviction as either a racer or spectator, "the offender shall be fined not less than $500 and imprisoned for not less than 90 days."
Councilwomen Cynthia Hedge-Morrell said if the races attract such large crowds, the city should consider creating a legal drag racing strip in eastern new Orleans. Although there already wasa law against drag raceing, a May 2002 letter to hte editor of The Times-Picayune complained that "every Sunday night from 9p.m. until midnight, ther are 50 to 100 cars drag-racing" on Hayne Boulevard. A year later the venue had changed. In October 2003 the New Orleans police arrested 12 people for drag racing at 100 mph and more on a section of Chef Menteur Highway where such races were described as "a Sunday night staple." Two spectators were cited with disturbing the peace. " Some of them were out in the street waving flags,' said Sgt. John Montalbano, commander ofhte task force that made the arrests. "It was like something out of the '50s." The bust - sparked by numerous complaints from businesses and residents in the 19000 block of Chef Menteur Highway - Canceled 40 more draf races on tap for that night, said Montalbano, who said he heard constant complaints about the high-speed events from neighbors in a subdivision just off Chef. In addition to the Sunday night races, there were Wednesday night contests involving motorcycles a mile or so east on Chef, police said.
"Council expands ban on racing" Spectors as well as dragsters risk arrest By Bruce Eggler
Neither a drag racer nor a spector be. That is the message a new law, approved by the New Orleans City Council, is sending to fans of "prohibited speed contests." The orbinance, adopted 6-0 Thursday, bans "motor vehicle speed contests" and "exhibitions of speed" on streets, roads and highways, and says "no person shall aid or abet any such events, such as by barricading a stret to regular traffic or being a race spectator. The measure was introduced by Councilwomen Cynthia Willard-Lewis, whose district includes most of eastern New Orleans. In recent years drag racing has become popular there on streets such as Hayne Boulevard and Chef Menteur Highway. Willard-Lewis Called the measure "a necessary tool in these very difficult days." The ordinance says drag races "have been escalating over the past few years" and 'occur on a regular basis on verious streets within the city," attracting "large numbers of spectators" whose "mere presence... fuels the illegal street racing." A spectator is defined as anyone who is within 200 feet of an "illegal motor vehicle speed contest," or of a site where preparations for such a race are under way, "for the purpose of viewing...the event as it progresses." The law applies to spectators on public streets or on private property open to the general public without the consent of the owner."
Under the law, a first time offense is punishable by a $500 fine and 30 days in jail for a drag racer, and a $500 fine and 150 days in jail for a spectator. The council did not explain why a spectator's jail term is longer.
For a second conviction as either a racer or spectator, "the offender shall be fined not less than $500 and imprisoned for not less than 90 days."
Councilwomen Cynthia Hedge-Morrell said if the races attract such large crowds, the city should consider creating a legal drag racing strip in eastern new Orleans. Although there already wasa law against drag raceing, a May 2002 letter to hte editor of The Times-Picayune complained that "every Sunday night from 9p.m. until midnight, ther are 50 to 100 cars drag-racing" on Hayne Boulevard. A year later the venue had changed. In October 2003 the New Orleans police arrested 12 people for drag racing at 100 mph and more on a section of Chef Menteur Highway where such races were described as "a Sunday night staple." Two spectators were cited with disturbing the peace. " Some of them were out in the street waving flags,' said Sgt. John Montalbano, commander ofhte task force that made the arrests. "It was like something out of the '50s." The bust - sparked by numerous complaints from businesses and residents in the 19000 block of Chef Menteur Highway - Canceled 40 more draf races on tap for that night, said Montalbano, who said he heard constant complaints about the high-speed events from neighbors in a subdivision just off Chef. In addition to the Sunday night races, there were Wednesday night contests involving motorcycles a mile or so east on Chef, police said.
