A new state law aimed at cracking down on dangerous driving practices known as “hooning” will go into effect on October 24 in Ohio. The law will ban stunt driving, street takeovers, and make it a felony to use a motor vehicle to flee from officers. The legislation comes in response to incidents like the one earlier this year in Playhouse Square, where motorists took over the road and drove recklessly.
While these incidents have gained public attention, they are not necessarily more common than in previous years, according to Sgt. Wilfredo Diaz of the Cleveland Division of Police. Hooning, also known as sideshows or exhibition driving, has become more popular since the pandemic began, according to a report from NPR.
Enforcing the new law may prove challenging for law enforcement, as it can be difficult to prove who was driving a vehicle involved in a road takeover. Despite identifying the owner of the vehicle involved in a hit-and-run that resulted in the death of a 7-year-old boy in August, it took over a week to name a suspect as police had to prove that person was driving.
To address the issue of dangerous driving, Cleveland police have proposed altering road surfaces to deter activities like spin-outs or donuts. Other cities, such as Birmingham, Alabama, have already taken action by installing speed bumps to deter stunt drivers. In Cleveland, speed tables are being installed across the city to reduce high-risk driving behaviors.
The police are working with Mayor Justin Bibb’s administration to implement further measures to curb problem driving and ensure road safety in the city.
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