Drag racing bill heading to state Senate

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KAIT) - It is a problem that one area lawmaker says has increased in the past year or so, with the problem possibly creating a dangerous situation.

Sen. Blake Johnson (R-Corning) is sponsoring Senate Bill 247.

The bill would increase the penalty for racing a vehicle on a highway in the state of Arkansas. Under current law, racing a vehicle is a Class A misdemeanor.

However, the bill would set a second or subsequent offense as a Class D felony.

Sen. Johnson told content partner KATV that the issue is important. The Arkansas State Police told KATV that there were 53 citations in 2019 for racing on a public highway, while the number more than doubled last year to 110.

“By the time the instance is caught and people show up, a lot of time they’re gone. So it has doubled, but in that double, you’re not catching all that has happened during this time, and it’s probably a matter of limited entertainment,” Sen. Johnson said.

The bill will be heard by the state Senate Monday, Feb. 8.