Indiana lawmakers are pushing new bills to tackle illegal street takeovers in Indianapolis, aiming to impose stricter penalties for reckless driving.
Indianapolis: For the second year, Indiana lawmakers are tackling the issue of “spinning” during street takeovers. This has become a real headache in the city.
Two new bills in the Indiana Senate aim to set clear penalties for spinning. Last year, similar efforts didn’t get through the House.
Since then, the police have noticed a rise in these illegal events. They say these takeovers lead to reckless driving and block traffic. One wild weekend saw six takeovers, with one event attracting around 200 cars doing burnouts and donuts after 2:30 a.m. When the police showed up, some folks even started throwing things at their cars.
In March, a spinning event on North Sherman Drive left a 19-year-old seriously injured when a driver hit him. His mom, Amanda Crosier, shared that the crash shattered his jaw and broke his hips. He’s still recovering and undergoing surgeries. The driver took off, and no arrests have been made yet.
These events are often promoted on social media, with organizers even warning police to back off or face consequences.
So, what exactly is spinning? According to the bills, it’s when a driver intentionally causes their car to skid in a circular motion.
The proposed Senate Bills 13 and 158 would make this kind of reckless driving a Class B misdemeanor. If someone gets caught, their vehicle could be seized. If they put others at risk, it could escalate to a felony.
During discussions, lawmakers pointed out that current laws aren’t enough. They believe having a specific law against spinning would help authorities take action more effectively.
Sen. Aaron Freeman from Indianapolis emphasized the need for clear laws to show that this behavior is dangerous and illegal. He argued that we need to define spinning as a crime to tackle it properly.
In the past, Indianapolis police had limited options for punishing those involved in street takeovers. If a car was towed, it could be released unless it was part of an investigation. The owner had to prove they had insurance and a valid license.
But last year, things changed. The city-county council introduced a new ordinance that slapped a $1,000 fine for first-time offenders and $2,500 for repeat offenders. They also made it possible for police to impound cars involved in illegal racing for at least 30 days.
Sen. James Tomes, Sen. Dan Dernulc, and Sen. Rick Niemeyer are behind SB 13, while Sen. Aaron Freeman is pushing for SB 158.
While lawmakers agree that street takeovers are dangerous, some have raised concerns about the bills being too broad. Sen. Liz Brown from Fort Wayne worried that the law might unintentionally target innocent drivers involved in accidents.
She shared a story about her son, who got into a crash that hit all sides of a road barrier but wasn’t trying to spin. She expressed her concerns during a committee hearing.
SB 13 barely passed out of committee with a 5-4 vote. It could be up for a full Senate vote soon.
For more info, you can reach out to IndyStar reporter Sarah Nelson at sarah.nelson@indystar.com.
This article originally appeared in the Indianapolis Star.
