St. Louis alderman proposes bill to curb reckless driving

ST. LOUIS - Combating reckless and dangerous driving in the city of St. Louis is the focus of a board of aldermen bill being considered Tuesday.

Board Bill 80 is trying to put a stop to dangerous driving in the city. Alderwoman Cara Spencer is sponsoring the five-page bill, which is set to be heard Tuesday afternoon before the Aldermanic Public Safety Committee.

Spencer's bill targets what she calls street takeovers and other acts of reckless and dangerous driving. The bill says the city of St. Louis has a pedestrian fatality rate that is three times the national average. Spencer makes the case that the pedestrian fatality rate impacts virtually every neighborhood in the city.

The bill says that residents and visitors to the city are in fear of serious injury or death when they simply cross the street or pull their vehicle into an intersection. The legislation specifically defines dangerous driving to include manuevers like burnouts, donuts, and wheelies.

Spencer says the bill, which is an ordinance, aims to improve public safety by empowering law enforcement officers and city officials to deal with reckless driving.

The legislation makes it unlawful for anybody to operate a motor vehicle in a street takeover or to use a vehicle for things like stunts, wheelies, donuts and burnouts. Anyone who violates the ordinance could face a fine of up to $500 and/or jail time of up to 90 days. The vehicle could also be impounded.

The proposed legislation goes on to say that if someone tries to speed off from a law officer trying to enforce the ordinance, then that person could face a felony charge of aggravated fleeing.