CHICAGO — A Chicago City Council committee unanimously passed an ordinance intended to crack down on drag racing Monday, on the heels of another video going viral of drivers doing donuts at a crowded Chicago intersection.
The Pedestrian and Traffic Safety Committee advanced the legislation that would allow Chicago police to impound vehicles they believe were involved with drag racing or drifting, even if the owner is not present. The full City Council will vote on it Wednesday.
Before the vote, lead sponsor Ald. Brendan Reilly, 42nd, noted attention-grabbing footage from this weekend that purportedly took place at South Clinton and West Monroe streets in the West Loop, where drivers were spinning in circles while a mass of people circled the intersection. He added that sometimes those drag-racing spectators light fires in the street with gasoline to “add extra excitement.”
