New Law to Increase Fines and Jail Time for Street Racing in Florida

A new law in Florida, SB 1764, will come into effect on July 1, significantly increasing fines and potential jail time for individuals involved in street takeovers, stunt driving, and illegal racing. The initiative, signed by Governor Ron DeSantis last month, targets the "coordinated street takeover," where ten or more vehicles operate in an organized fashion to take over streets.

Under the new bill, maximum fines for first offenses will rise from $1,000 to $2,000. Those committing a second offense within a year could face third-degree felony charges, rather than a first-degree misdemeanor, along with a fine of up to $4,000, as reported by NBC Miami. Offenders could also face a two-year revocation of their driver’s license, and law enforcement agencies can confiscate vehicles involved in these events and seek to obtain the vehicle title through forfeiture proceedings.

Moreover, starting July 1, spectators at these events can also receive traffic citations and a $400 fine. "Previously, it was a misdemeanor, so we would probably charge them with reckless driving or something similar, and they would not lose their vehicles. Now, with these harsher penalties, it becomes a felony, and they have to pay a fine of up to $4,000 and will lose their driver’s license for 2 to 4 years," explained Michael Vega, spokesperson for the Miami Police Department.

Public Safety Concerns

Representative Kiyan Michael, a Republican from Jacksonville who co-sponsored the bill, stated in February that the issue is a matter of "public safety" that spans from Jacksonville to Miami. She also noted that current penalties have not been a sufficient deterrent for many people who continue to engage in this practice.

Representative Doug Bankson, a Republican from Apopka and co-sponsor of the bill, mentioned in March that life-threatening street racing is on the rise across the state, fueled by popular video games and movies. Authorities have reported that street takeovers and stunt driving incidents have increased in recent years, posing extreme dangers to participants, spectators, and other drivers.

Numerous arrests of organizers and participants have been made in South Florida and throughout the state. A state law enacted in 2022 made it illegal to engage in street racing activities, including takeovers, drag racing, doughnuts, burnouts, wheelies, drifting, and other related activities that can create unsafe road conditions.

In late February, Miami-Dade police arrested six young individuals, including a Cuban and two minors, during a joint operation with other law enforcement agencies targeting illegal street racing at several intersections in the county. In that case, in addition to the arrests of individuals aged 15 to 21, authorities issued 29 fines, recovered a stolen car, and seized a firearm.

Ángel Rodríguez, spokesperson for the county police, detailed that in one instance, the mother of one of the minors contacted authorities to raise the alarm and requested her son’s arrest. Rodríguez added that in other cases, it was the Highway Patrol "with their tactics" that enabled the apprehension of the individuals.

Police recommend that anyone caught in an illegal street race or intersection takeover should leave the area immediately and call 911.