COLUMBUS, Ohio ( WCMH ) — Columbus is cracking down on reckless driving as city leaders point to a surge in street racing that started during the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Monday, Columbus City Council approved a change to the part of the city code that banned street racing, adding language on stunt driving and street takeovers to the section. Stunt driving can include weaving in and out of traffic and bikers popping wheelies, and a street takeover is when multiple vehicles shut down an intersection for cars to do things like burnouts and doughnuts.
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An uptick in street racing, stunt driving and street takeovers throughout the country has led to an increase in dangerous activity on public streets, according to councilmembers and City Attorney Zach Klein.
“People are fed up with it, and it’s on their nerves from a quality of life standpoint,” Klein said. “But equally so, I think folks are concerned about the fact that it’s a threat to public safety.”