D.A.’s office cracking down on drag racing as new TN law kicks in
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Two men are facing charges after police connected them to a car driving recklessly, and the arrests come as a new law has kicks in, making drag racing a felony in Tennessee.
Drag racing, driving erratically, and street takeovers are sights and sounds many Memphians are tired of seeing.
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Memphis Police told us of the two men were arrested June 28.
Officers reported they saw a red Dodge Charger run a red light at South Perkins and American Way, then take off on I-240 eastbound, speeding and weaving from lane to lane.
Police didn’t pursue the car but located it later, 18 miles away in a neighborhood in Cordova, where they say they saw two men get out of the car.
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The driver was 21-year-old Daylen Harris; 22-year-old Cordarius Hampton, the passenger, was also arrested after police say they found him with a stolen gun.
The arrests come before a new law went into effect in Tennessee on July 1.
The penalty for drag racing has gone from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony, punishable by up to six years in prison and a fine of up to $3,000.
We asked Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy’s office about the new law and enforcement.
“DA Mulroy acknowledges there has been a problem with drag racing and will vigorously prosecute these offenses as felonies to ensure offenders are properly punished,” his team told us.
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Drag racing is incredibly dangerous and puts innocent people at risk. The attorney general’s office says it will give each of these cases the attention it deserves.
They also told us the office will continue to enforce the law as written and move for the seizure and forfeiture of automobiles used in drag racing.
This new law comes months after city council members shared this picture of a street takeover near the Memphis airport back in February.
“This whole body expects to see this end, like yesterday, and we keep talking about it and talking about it. We can control this and the expectation is that this will be addressed,” said Memphis City Councilman Philip Spinosa.
Perhaps the new law and the fear of a stiffer punishment are making a difference.
We reached out to Memphis Police about the number of drag racing and reckless driving arrests so far this year compared to last year. We are told they are checking on that data.
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