The Dearborn City Council offers the final reading and passes a vehicular nuisance ordinance July 26 during a special council meeting.
By SUE SUCHYTA
Times-Herald Newspapers
DEARBORN – The City Council held a second reading July 26 and passed a vehicular nuisance ordinance designed to deter street racing and reckless driving through vehicle and property impoundment and forfeiture.
The amendment to the city’s code of ordinances declares reckless driving and racing on public streets a nuisance, and attempts to abate the behavior through financial penalties, by impounding and forfeiting vehicles, tools, equipment and racing proceeds when applicable.
The penalty for seized vehicle redemption would be $900 for the first seizure, $1,800 for a second seizure and $2,700 for a third seizure.
Dearborn police statistics indicate on average 84 reckless driving and 22 drag racing incidents per year, between 2017 and 2021, based on tickets issued.
The ordinance also focuses on dangerous practices, such as drifting, sliding, doughnuts, burnouts and racing.
Council President Michael Sareini said this item was fast-tracked, and the council wanted to implement it this summer to give the city the tools it needs to deter dangerous driving.
“We want to have a second reading so we can get it on the books, regarding the driving issues that we have been having,” he said.
In April, the council increased the civil penalty for reckless driving violations, and budgeted money for speed humps and bumps. Humps are longer, and designed to keep traffic moving at 10 to 15 mph, while speed bumps tend to reduce speed from 2 to 10 mph, and help ensure that stop signs are recognized.
Speed humps slow traffic overall without damaging faster moving emergency vehicles.
Some types of speed deterrent mounds can be removed seasonally to accommodate snow plows.