Seattle City Council approves harsher penalties for illegal street racing

(The Center Square) – The Seattle City Council in an 8-1 vote passed emergency legislation on Tuesday meant to crack down on illegal street racing.

The newly passed ordinance establishes a $500 civil infraction against the registered owner of a vehicle participating in illegal street racing. Seattle City Councilmember Rob Saka successfully included an amendment that increases the fine to $800 for a second infraction, and $1,500 for third and subsequent infractions.

Additionally, any person who knowingly attends an unlawful racing event “with the intent to observe, support, or encourage the event” may face a civil infraction base fine of $100 if they do not leave the event when instructed to by police officers.

In 2023, the state Legislature passed Senate Bill 5606 to expand the scope of illegal street racing conduct and broaden the definition of illegal street racing behavior beyond speed contests. The bill also created new impound and forfeiture authority for any vehicle used in illegal racing. The legislation became state law this year, effective on Jan. 1.

The Seattle City Council’s vote on Tuesday adopts the state’s law into city code.

The legislation was proposed by ​​Seattle City Attorney Ann Davison last month as a result of a growing concern from constituents. City officials noted an instance on July 23, 2023, in which three people were wounded by gunfire and one person was fatally shot during an unlawful racing event in the Capitol Hill neighborhood.

During a weekend last month, a pair of illegal racing events resulted in a fatal shooting, multiple shooting injuries, and a car striking a pedestrian.

“Thanks to the council’s vote, now our police officers will have some very important tools that will allow them to address the problem on the street, and my office will do everything possible to appropriately see the cases through so we can make a meaningful impact on those who take part in these dangerous activities,” Davison said in a news release .

Seattle City Councilmember Tammy Morales, the lone no vote, argued that the city does not need more criminalization of street racing, because the city already implemented Council Bill 120600 , which established additional uses for automated traffic safety cameras and designated restricted racing zones.

“What we do need is safe places for adults to go, we need better lighting on our streets, [and] we need to design our streets to make it difficult for drivers to race on them,” Morales said during Tuesday's city council meeting .

As emergency legislation, the new law will go into effect immediately once signed by Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell.