Ohio has passed a legislation that strengthens the punishment for “hooning” – an act of showboating by drivers who take control of street intersections to perform tire-spinning, smoke-producing donuts known as spinouts.
On Wednesday in Columbus, Governor Mike DeWine signed the anti-hooning/street racing bill into law. Also present at the signing were Dayton Mayor Jeffrey Mims Jr., current state Representative Phil Plummer, who is a former Montgomery County Sheriff, and other attendees.
In a recent report by News Center 7’s Mike Campbell, it was revealed that Ohio’s law enforcement and prosecutors have been granted additional authority to curb reckless driving. Rather than being treated as a minor traffic offense, the offense is now classified as a first-degree misdemeanor or even a felony, giving authorities more power to take action against dangerous driving.
Spectators can now be ticketed by law enforcement.
If a driver decides to run from law enforcement, they may face serious consequences including being charged with a third-degree felony, which carries the possibility of jail time.
According to State Rep. Andrea White, who worked alongside Plummer in sponsoring the legislation, it’s high time to take action against street takeovers. She emphasized the need for better tools to enforce the law and protect innocent citizens from harm. White stated, “Enough is enough, we cannot let these incidents continue to occur.”
The law now prohibits law enforcement from confiscating high-performance vehicles that are often involved in hooning incidents.
In its version of the legislation, the Ohio House included the mentioned provision. However, the Senate decided to remove it.
