Columbus City Council committee to hold public hearing on street racing this week
A Columbus City Council committee will hold a public hearing this week to address street racing and stunt driving in the city.
The meeting, hosted by city council members Emmanuel Remy and Shayla Favor, will be held Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in city council chambers. Remy, Favor and other members of the council's Public Safety & Criminal Justice Committee will discuss potential changes to the city's street racing provision to address stunt driving.
Following a rise in street racing and stunt driving during COVID, the city of Columbus started Operation Wheels Down in 2022, an effort to increase enforcement and prosecution of people who recklessly drive ATVs or dirt bikes on city streets.
The city also announced an increased focus on prosecuting street racers after a large street racing takeover on Indianola Avenue in April 2023 ended with attendees shooting at Columbus police officers attempting to disperse the meetup.
“Anyone who is using our streets as the backdrop for illegal and reckless behavior will be captured and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther said in May 2023. “This type of behavior is unacceptable, plain and simple, and it won’t be tolerated. We’ll continue to coordinate with law enforcement and prosecutors to go after these criminals and keep our neighborhoods safe.”
Ohio lawmakers are also looking to crack down on illegal street racing. In June, the Ohio Senate voted to increase penalties for stunt driving, street takeovers and fleeing from law enforcement. The senate bill was designed to address "hooning," an illegal stunt driving practice that involves drivers drifting and doing donuts and wheelies on public roadways.
Those who wish to provide written or public testimony for Thursday's meeting can email remyscheduling@columbus.gov by 3 p.m. on July 11.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus seeking input this week on street racing and stunt driving
