Governor Signs Benoit Illegal Street Racing Measure

Assemblyman John J. Benoit (R-Palm Desert) today announced that Governor Schwarzenegger has signed into law the Assemblyman's measure to increase penalties for reckless driving and motor vehicle speed contests.

“I applaud the Governor for recognizing the urgent need to combat this growing problem,” said Assemblyman Benoit. “The deadly duo of illegal street racing and reckless driving are becoming all too common throughout California and are being needlessly glorified by movies like this year's The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift. These extremely dangerous activities put innocent Californians at risk of serious injury and death.”

Each year, hundreds of people are injured or killed while engaging in this rapidly growing and very dangerous pastime. According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, 7,640 drivers were convicted for engaging in a motor vehicle speed contest in 2005 alone – a 9% increase from 2004.

San Diego County Deputy District Attorney Blaine Bowman, who testified in support of AB 2190 said, “I recently prosecuted a case where justice could not be accomplished, where critical life altering injuries and disabilities resulted from an illegal street race, and we could only charge a misdemeanor. This new law is critically necessary and will deter some and allow appropriate prosecution of others who do not heed the strong, clear warning it sends.”

Currently, if a driver is engaged in illegal street racing and causes bodily injury to another person, that driver is charged with a misdemeanor. Under AB 2190, that driver could be charged with either a misdemeanor or a felony.

AB 2190 received unanimous votes in both houses of the Legislature. The measure was sponsored by the California District Attorneys Association and supported by the Peace Officers Research Association of California, the California State Sheriff's Association, the Riverside County Sheriff and the police departments of Riverside, Ontario and San Diego.