Penalties vs drag racing to be hiked

The Quezon City Council approved yesterday on second reading a proposed ordinance to impose stiffer penalties on illegal drag racing in the city’s thoroughfares.

The ordinance increases the penalties imposed by Ordinance No. SP 1013 series of 2001 from a fine of P2,000 and imprisonment of not more than six months to a fine of P5,000 and imprisonment of not more than one year.

Both organizers and participating spectators are penalized by the proposed ordinance, according to Fourth District Councilor Ariel Inton Jr. the principal sponsor of the ordinance.

He said the it also prohibits any person, firm, partnership or corporation from granting drag racing participants the use of their properties as a staging area.

To ensure implementation, the proposed ordinance tasks the city’s Department of Public Order and Safety to conduct nightly patrols along streets and roads known as venues for drag racing.

The dangerous sport is popular with teenagers from middle and upper class families. Motorists have complained about illegal drag racing in White Plains, Libis and Mindanao Avenue. – Romel Bagares