The members of the Greenburgh Town Board unanimously adopted a law similar to legislation previously approved by the White Plains and Yonkers City Council at the December 9th meeting trying to help address the problem of drag racing on Greenburgh streets. The new law authorizes the forfeitures of vehicles - if the owner was convicted of drag racing.
the noise associated with unlawful speed contests creates a nuisance and diminishes the quality of life enjoyed by our residents. The races themselves are also dangerous, not only to the participants but to bystanders and other vehicles legally using the road.
At the Town Board meeting James Nolan spoke. Mr. Nolan’s brother, Michael Nolan, was killed in a drive-by shooting that stemmed from a drag race in which he was not participating. The tragedy experienced by the Nolan family became the impetus for his campaign to address the dangers of drag racing and the nuisance they cause in our communities.
Among the streets where drag racing frequently occurs is Central Avenue. Since White Plains and Yonkers already have a law authorizing forfeiture of vehicles where drag racing occurred -having Greenburgh adopt a similar law will provide the police with the enforcement tools to aggressively address this problem and to coordinate with Yonkers and White Plains. The law will be enforced on all streets within the town.
The main component of the package is a local law that would authorize the City to commence a civil action seeking forfeiture of a vehicle used in connection with drag racing (aka: unlawful speed contests) after the registered owner of the vehicle is convicted under or pleads guilty to section 1182 of the New York State Vehicle & Traffic Law. Section 1182 specifically prohibits speed contests and races. A conviction under this section is a misdemeanor.
PAUL FEINER, Greenburgh Town Supervisor