Street racing in Dallas City has been on the rise according to a Dallas Morning News article published on december 2nd. In it they say:
“Dallas’ obsession with car culture and racing is in overdrive during the pandemic. Since last year, calls related to speed racing and car sideshows, or stunts, in Dallas have nearly doubled, according to police statistics. That’s despite a new law passed earlier this year to crack down on the illegal, impromptu events. Now, spectators can face a fine for attending a street race or takeover. But the problem of cars revving, doing doughnuts in intersections and recklessly speeding down major streets in Dallas has gotten worse. This year, police have responded to 8,441 calls compared to 4,867 in 2019. Police issued 3,888 citations for violations ranging from running a red light or stop sign and about 10,000 for lesser offenses like lack of insurance, registration or a driver’s license.”
It’s not just the drivers who cops have it out for, Dallas police have issued over 600 citations to street racing spectators to combat the hype surrounding the events according to a WFAA ABC 8 article published on december 2nd. In it they say:
“Dallas police have issued more than 600 citations to spectators who have flocked to street races in the city. ‘Illegal street races, people driving recklessly, not only is it a problem here in Dallas, it’s a nationwide issue,’ Deputy Chief Jesse Reyes said Wednesday at a Dallas City Council meeting. He said street racing thrives because of the people who come to Dallas from throughout the area to watch. A couple of months ago, Dallas police added ‘additional manpower’ to crackdown on speeding and street racing downtown.”
Of all the times for street racing to spike, it has to be during a global pandemic where people are encouraged to stay home and stay safe.