AAA Texas, law enforcement and families seek an end to illegal street racing – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

AAA Texas partners with multiple law enforcement agencies and organizations in an effort to end dangerous and deadly street racing, street takeover events, and stunts on public streets.

On Thursday, the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department, the Dallas Police Department’s Street Racing Task Force and family members of those who died in street racing-related crashes will plead to end the activity illegal.

“Running in undesignated areas such as public roads can be fatal to participants, spectators and all road users, including other drivers, passengers, cyclists and pedestrians,” AAA said in a press release. .

According to AAA, even slightly higher speeds at the time of a crash significantly increase the risk of serious injury and death.

The group called illegal street racing “speeding on steroids” with speeding-related crashes up 15% statewide from a year earlier.

In Texas, the penalty for those convicted of illegal street racing has been increased to include a fine of up to $4,000 and one year in jail. The new law also allows police to confiscate a driver’s vehicle if the driver is a repeat offender, intoxicated or causes injury or death.