State invoice cracks down on avenue racing, Antioch neighbors say it’s wanted

[ad_1] ANTIOCH, Tenn. (WKRN) — A brand new state invoice is aiming to deal with harmful avenue racing.

In Antioch, residents and council members say they want the assistance.

Metro Nashville police have run 9 avenue racing operations this 12 months, resulting in 103 stops and 13 arrests. Prices vary from evading arrest to felony riot, reckless driving, drag racing and reckless endangerment. Thirty-eight automobiles fled from visitors stops, and 14 automobiles have been towed to this point this 12 months.

In 2024, MNPD carried out 19 avenue racer initiatives based mostly on intelligence for deliberate meetups, which resulted in 116 visitors stops and the arrest of 21 individuals. Final 12 months, 19 automobiles have been towed on account of these initiatives.

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Metro Councilmember Pleasure Kinds for District 32 instructed Information 2 that experiences of avenue racing haven't slowed.

“I get complaints virtually each day about individuals racing via neighborhoods,” Kinds defined.

South Nashville roads like Bell Highway, Murfreesboro Pike and Outdated Hickory Boulevard are recognized speed-racing sizzling spots. Speeds have reportedly topped over 125 miles per hour throughout these occurrences.

To this point this 12 months, no less than seven individuals have died in avenue racing-related incidents all through Davidson County.

“We’ve misplaced a number of younger individuals simply senselessly over these things, and it's got to cease,” Councilmember for District 28 David Benton stated.

“We simply want to begin cracking down,” Antioch resident Anthony Coon added.

In response to considerations statewide, Tennessee Consultant John Gillespie (R-Memphis) is pushing for brand spanking new laws.

He beforehand backed a invoice to let police seize racers’ vehicles. This new proposal goes additional.

The invoice expands the definition from “Drag racing” to “Road drag racing.” It permits regulation enforcement to grab automobiles whereas additionally elevating the penalty from a misdemeanor to a Class E Felony.

“That's a part of our drawback,” Kinds defined. “We're continually giving individuals slaps on the wrist and tsk tsking and waving our fingers, saying don’t do this once more, and assuming individuals who did it deliberately, understanding they have been breaking the regulation, will in some way really feel regret.”

“One of many issues that's added on this explicit one is having the ability to impound a car, and that will get your consideration actually quick,” Benton stated.

It additionally requires obligatory arrests, so anybody racing or organizing a meetup can not simply get a quotation.

“Seeing that there will probably be obligatory arrests in case you are concerned or in case you are main a meetup, that will probably be improbable,” Kinds expressed.

With the brand new Metro Nashville Police Division Southeast Precinct opening subsequent week, Kinds instructed Information 2 this invoice would give officers much more instruments.

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“It places extra work on our officers once they must run round and ship out the helicopter, and we don’t wish to pursue individuals in automobiles, so this will probably be very useful,” Kinds affirmed.

Come January, Kinds is looking on state lawmakers to go this invoice.

“So far as I'm involved, this can be a nonpartisan subject; that is public security,” Kinds concluded. “All of us must be concerned on this. So, the extra representatives that may get on board with this laws, help it, signal on, and go it, the higher.”

“A number of our residents will probably be relieved and really feel safer with out having to fret about individuals doing issues like that,” Coon stated.