SALEM, Ore. — The Oregon Senate on Thursday passed a bill that would allow for tougher penalties against people involved in illegal street racing — an increasingly deadly problem on Portland streets, particularly during the summer months.
Senate Bill 615 amends two existing criminal codes, reckless driving and organizing a speed racing event, making them both Class A misdemeanors. Convictions are punishable by a maximum of 364 days in prison, a $6,250 fine, or both.
Being convicted of the same crime again within five years bumps the charge up to a Class C felony, which carries a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison, a $125,000 fine, or both.
The increased severity of the charges means that law enforcement can now seize cars involved in street racing through criminal forfeiture.
Law enforcement and prosecutors have shown support for the bill, including the amendment that allows for criminal forfeiture.
"We seize other dangerous items: guns, bats, knives, drugs — this just seems like a natural consequence," said Matt Henderson, public information officer with the Beaverton Police Department. "If you're intentionally using your vehicle in a very dangerous manner and you've done so before we're absolutely going to look into seizing that vehicle."
Street racers have become increasingly bold in Portland over the last few years, staging takeovers outside the Lloyd Center and in the middle of the Burnside Bridge, and police have not consistently responded to break them up while they're happening — primarily, police officials have said, due to staffing shortages.
Beyond the traffic impacts and other nuisances posed by street takeovers, races have also resulted in a number of deaths. In August of last year, a 26-year-old woman was hit and killed by a suspected street racer while waiting for a bus in Southeast Portland. Just a few days after that, a 20-year-old man died after being shot during a street takeover on Marine Drive. And in October, a Vancouver grandfather out driving for Doordash was killed in a crash that investigators believe involved street racers.
Other racing events have resulted in assaults on bystanders and multiple-injury shootings.
“Street racing is dangerous for racers, other road users and pedestrians,” said Sen. Chris Gorsek from Troutdale, chief sponsor of SB 615. “Increasing the options available to law enforcement, such as locking up speed racers’ cars, will deter this reckless and dangerous activity and save lives.”
Under SB 615, the crime of organizing a street racing event would apply to anyone who obstructs or places a barrier on a highway, or assists in doing so, for the purposes of street racing.
Meanwhile, the definition of reckless driving would expand to include doing donuts or burning out in a car with two or more people watching.
The bill passed in a 19-7 vote, with a core group of conservatives voting against, and now heads to the Oregon House of Representatives for consideration.
“Fast and Furious should be in our theaters, not on our streets,” said Sen. Mark Meek of Gladstone, who carried SB 615 on the Senate floor. “This legislation will protect families and make Oregon safer for everyone.”
SB 615 gets it's first reading in the House on Monday, April 10th.