BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — After enforcement efforts by Governor Maura Healey in October, one lawmaker on Beacon Hill is seeking to further strengthen punishments for so-called street takeovers.
Street takeovers are illegal meetups where drivers drag race and perform stunts, blocking the roadway.
State Representative Christopher Markey filed Bill H.4736, which would allow the seizure of cars and bikes from participants in street takeovers. Under the proposed legislation, a local district attorney or the attorney general would be allowed to press for the reckless driver’s car to be forfeited after a conviction.
The guilty party would need to attend a hearing hosted by a superior or district court judge to argue their case for keeping their car.
Markey said the idea is that many of the participants in takeovers view their cars as prized possessions, and taking them away can curb the meet-ups.
The second section of the bill would increase the penalty for disturbing the peace and disorderly conduct, specifically while wearing a mask. That punishment would increase to up to one year behind bars. Right now, he said the $150 fine for disturbing the peace is too paltry to dissuade violators.
“It at least adds some teeth to a law that is clearly being abused right now,” he said.
He said people at street takeovers often wear masks to hide their identity. When asked if that section had First Amendment implications, Markey said disturbing the peace is already illegal – he would just be changing the punishment.
WBZ NewsRadio’s Chaiel Schaffel (@CSchaffelWBZ) reports.