Racing of Vehicles. No person may race any motor vehicle or vehicles on any public highway. Willfully comparing or contesting the relative speeds of motor vehicles constitutes racing, regardless of whether such speeds exceed the maximum speed limit. Racing is considered reckless driving, which is a gross misdemeanor.
Any comparison or contest of the accuracy of operating motor vehicles in relative speeds that do not exceed the maximum speed limit is not considered racing.
Vehicle Impounds. In general, when a driver of a vehicle is arrested and taken into custody, the officer has the authority to take custody of the vehicle, at the officer's discretion, and provide for its prompt removal to a safe place. This may include having the vehicle impounded and towed.
When a vehicle is impounded, the tow truck operator must notify the legal and registered owners within 24 hours of the impoundment the identity of the person or agency authorizing the impound, the contact information for the towing firm, the right of redemption, and the opportunity for a hearing to contest the validity of the impoundment or the amount of towing and storage charges.
If, in a hearing contesting the impoundment, the impound is found to be in violation of the impound laws, the person or agency that authorized the impound is responsible for costs associated with the impound, the filing fee, and reasonable damages for loss of use of the vehicle.
A vehicle that has been impounded for 120 consecutive hours is considered abandoned. A report must be filed with the Department of Licensing (DOL), and the owner is provided a notice of custody and sale. If the vehicle remains unclaimed, the vehicle is subject to sale at public auction.
Redemption of Impounded Vehicles. An impounded vehicle may be redeemed only by eligible people and entities, including the legal owner, the registered owner, or a person authorized in writing by the registered owner.
To redeem a vehicle, an eligible person or entity must pay the costs of towing, storage, or other services provided during the course of towing, removing, impounding, or storing the vehicle.
Forfeiture. When authorized by statute, a law enforcement agency may seize possession of property for the purpose of forfeiting a person's right to own or possess that property. Civil asset forfeiture is permitted when the property itself is illegal, was used to facilitate a crime, is an actual proceed of a crime, or was purchased from proceeds traceable to criminal activity.
Definitions. "Off-street facility" is defined as a location typically held open for use by the public for parking vehicles, ingress and egress, or used for commercial purposes. Use of such locations falls under the act when used for illegal racing when such use is without the express permission of the owner of the facility.
"Drifting" is defined as when a driver intentionally oversteers a vehicle, causing loss of traction, while maneuvering a vehicle in a turning direction.
Public Education Campaign. Law enforcement agencies are encouraged to undertake a multimedia public education campaign to inform the public of the illegality, dangers, and penalties of illegal racing.
Racing of Vehicles. It is unlawful for any person to race any motor vehicle or vehicles on any public highway or any off-street facility. Any person who willfully demonstrates, exhibits, or compares speed, maneuverability, or the power of one or more motor vehicles, including drifting, is guilty of racing. A person may be charged for other acts, results, incidents, damages, injuries, or deaths that occur as a result of, or in addition to, the person's participation in racing. A person who knowingly aids and abets racing may be charged and prosecuted as an accomplice.
A person may be charged at the initial time and location where the person initiated the person's efforts, or at the time and location where a completed traffic infraction or crime occurred, regardless of whether a person charged was present at the time and location of the completed traffic infraction or crime.
Vehicle Impounds. A vehicle used in the crime of racing is subject to impoundment.
Redemption of Impounded Vehicles. Impounded vehicles may not be redeemed for 72 hours when a driver is arrested for racing and the driver is a registered owner of the vehicle, unless there are two or more registered owners of the vehicle or there is another legal owner of the vehicle. A registered owner or a legal owner, other than the arrested driver of the vehicle, may redeem the impounded vehicle after it arrives at the tow truck operator's storage facility regardless of whether the arrested driver is a registered owner of the vehicle. A police officer must notify the arrested driver of the above stipulations regarding redemption. A registered tow truck operator must notify the agency that ordered the impound when the 72-hour hold period begins.
Forfeiture. If a person previously had a vehicle impounded due to illegal racing conduct, and the person has previously been charged with reckless driving, racing, or a comparable municipal ordinance, the vehicle operated by the person is subject to forfeiture. No property may be forfeited until after a person has been convicted of the crime of racing and a finding is made that the person used the vehicle to commit the crime.
A vehicle subject to forfeiture may be seized by any law enforcement officer upon process issued by any court having jurisdiction over the property. Seizure of a vehicle may be made without process if:
Within 15 days after seizure, the law enforcement agency is to serve notice of the seizure on all known holders of interest in the property. The notice of seizure may be served by any method authorized by law or court rule. Specific notice requirements apply to secured parties with perfected security interests.
Any person responding to the notice within 60 days is entitled to an opportunity to be heard either before the chief law enforcement officer or removed to a court of competent jurisdiction. If no person responds within 60 days of the seizure, the vehicle shall be deemed forfeited if the arrested driver is convicted, or returned to the owner of record if the arrested driver is not convicted. Specific procedures, including notice requirements, are provided for the removal of a case to a court.
The law enforcement agency that seizes the property and causes the forfeiture may retain the property or sell it. If the law enforcement agency sells the property, the proceeds must be used to fund personnel, programs, services, and equipment related to enforcing and processing street racing violations, or to address and improve general traffic safety within the seizing agency's jurisdiction.
A forfeiture of property encumbered by a security interest is subject to the interest of a secured party who neither had knowledge of nor consented to the commission of the felony at the time the security interest was created.
Exemption from Liability. Registered tow truck operators are not liable for injuries or damages sustained by the driver or third parties that resulted from the driver's illegal racing conduct.
If an impound is found to be improper, the police officer directing the impound and the government employing the police officer are not liable for damages for loss of use of the vehicle if the officer had reasonable suspicion to believe the driver of the vehicle was conducting illegal racing or a comparable municipal ordinance.
PRO: Street racing is worse now than it has been because of social media, pop culture, and movies. There has been an increase in intersection takeovers and drifting. This has a major impact on public safety in all Washington cities. There is often a disregard for the police officers who show up at the scene. This bill will broaden the definition of street racing to include these activities. It will also allow prosecution of those who aid and abet in these illegal street racing. This bill will not change the severity of the current crime of reckless driving, nor will it create additional penalties for young people. It will allow an arrested driver's vehicle to be impounded for 72 hours, but will allow other legal owners to immediately release their vehicles from impoundment if a suspect of illegal racing uses someone else's vehicle. Vehicles will only be forfeited if they were previously impounded. This enforcement will send a strong message to those who are putting people in danger with this reckless behavior that their favorite locations will no longer be viable and that their car will likely be impounded. This bill will increase public awareness of street racing by encouraging agencies to engage in public education campaigns on the dangers of street racing.