White Plains Passes Legislation To Curb Drag Racing

WHITE PLAINS, NY — In an effort to cut down on drag racing on White Plains city streets, the Common Council passed a package of legislation at its Tuesday meeting. The main component of the legislation is a local law that would authorize the city to commence a civil action seeking forfeiture of a vehicle used in connection with drag racing, e.g., unlawful speed contests.

The forfeiture would happen after the registered owner of the vehicle is convicted under or pleads guilty to the New York vehicle and traffic law that specifically prohibits speed contests and races.

A conviction is a misdemeanor, city officials said.

Additionally, the legislation adds a definition of unlawful speed contests to the city's municipal code and provides penalties for those involved in such races and amends the city's noise ordinance to clarify that noise created during an unlawful race is a prohibited noise and is subject to penalties.

Mayor Tom Roach said he had the opportunity in December to meet with James Nolan, whose brother Michael was killed in a drive-by shooting that stemmed from a drag race in which he was not participating.

What the Nolan family experienced was the impetus for addressing the dangers of drag racing and the nuisance the cause in many communities.

"While our PD has been aggressive abut issuing tickets," Roach said, "having these additional enforcement tools at our disposal will serve as a further disincentive to drag racing within the city."

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