City of Birmingham taking more steps to crack down on exhibition driving

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - Birmingham city leaders are taking more steps to stop dangerous exhibition driving.

Through Operation Knight Rider, officers have already made several arrests and impounded cars over the last month.

Tuesday morning, May 21, the Birmingham City Council passed an ordinance that would prohibit people from organizing or watching street racing.

City leaders say onlookers are just as guilty as the drivers who do these illegal stunts. They argue that these crowds encourage this behavior, which is dangerous for anyone in the area, especially the crowds who are watching.

“This is a tool in the police department’s toolbox to further curb this issue that has plagued the city since the pandemic,” says Councilor Hunter Williams.

If a driver loses control of the car, someone could get hurt or killed. At least one person was killed in 2022. City leaders also say these crowds fill the streets and prevent the flow of traffic, which poses issues for other drivers and even first responders.

“Older neighbors who find themselves going out at night, maybe to the store or the hospital, don’t know what to do when they encounter our streets being allocated this way,” adds Councilor Carol Clarke. “They’re possibly driving on a race strip unknowingly.”

Councilors say Mayor Woodfin will sign the ordinance soon. It will go into effect immediately, and officers can begin making arrests.

The Birmingham Police Department released the following statement

Get news alerts in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store or subscribe to our email newsletter here.