A new law that toughens penalties for people involved in stunt driving or “hooning” is on its way to the governor.
>> RELATED: Local leaders ask for help from state lawmakers to crack down on ‘hooning’
The legislation changes hooning from a ticket to a first-degree misdemeanor. It also provides for spectators to be ticketed as well. And if a driver flees police, the law changes that offense from a first-degree misdemeanor to a third-degree felony with possible prison time.
Street takeovers have occurred in Dayton and across the state. Hooning is characterized by drivers who do burnouts, donuts, drift and block streets as they leave burned rubber in the streets. The term was coined in Australia in the 1980s to describe someone who was driving recklessly for attention.
One of those local hooning incidents, which occurred at Third and Jefferson in downtown Dayton, left many people upset and worried for their safety.
“Because that is really, really unsafe for our neighborhoods and unsafe for them,” Amber Bryant told News Center 7.