For the second year in a row, Indiana lawmakers are trying to tackle “spinning,” a central part of street takeovers that are a persistent problem throughout Indianapolis.
Two bills filed in the Indiana Senate would bring specific penalties for spinning. Similar legislation did not make it through the House last year.
Since then, Indianapolis police have seen an increase in illegal street takeovers that they say lead to reckless driving, blocked traffic and endangerment. On a particularly chaotic weekend, police investigated six takeovers with one drawing as many as 200 cars to perform burnouts, drifting and donuts after 2:30 a.m. When police arrived, some of the attendees began throwing things at the officers’ cars.
In March, a spinning event in a parking lot on North Sherman Drive near East 25th Street seriously injured a 19-year-old after he was struck by a driver, according to police reports. The man’s mother, Amanda Crosier, said the impact shattered her son’s jaw, broke his hips and caused memory loss. He’s still undergoing surgeries, she said Tuesday. The driver fled and police have announced no arrests in the case.
Organizers of these events have flaunted them on social media and threatened police to disband them “at your own risk.”
More: Instagram account associated with illegal street takeovers threatens IMPD
What is spinning?
A driver who spins, as defined by the bills, drives in a “repeated or continuous manner with the intent of causing a rotation skid.”
What would Senate Bill 13 and Senate Bill 158 do?
The bills would make intentionally and recklessly skidding a Class B misdemeanor. Any person in violation could have their vehicle seized in a civil forfeiture. The penalty increases to a felony if the person drives creates risk of bodily injury to another person.
Lawmakers during a committee hearing about SB 13 said the state’s current laws don’t go far enough to tackle the issue and having a specific policy about spinning would make it easier for authorities to pursue charges.
“If you want to make it clear that this kind of activity is dangerous and illegal, I think you got to have a bill that says you’re using a rotational skid, driving like a lunatic in the middle of an intersection, I think we got to have that as a crime,” said Sen. Aaron Freeman, R-Indianapolis.
How have cities combatted spinning in the past?
Indianapolis and its police for a while were limited in how they could punish people who participated in illegal street takeovers.
At first, if a person who participated in a street takeover had their vehicle towed, it could be released to the owner unless it was being held as part of another investigation. The owner needed to prove they had valid insurance, a driver’s license and registration and plate. The owner could also have another person with a certified document permitting them to pick up the car.
That all changed last year in response to the brazen street takeovers. The city-county council passed an ordinance that brought a $1,000 fine for first-time violators and $2,500 fine for a second violation. The proposal also stated a vehicle used in illegal street racing activities could be impounded by police for a minimum of 30 days.
Who authored the spinning bills?
For SB 13: Sen. James Tomes, R-Wadesville, Sen. Dan Dernulc, R-Highland, Sen. Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell. For SB 158: Sen. Aaron Freeman, R-Indianapolis.
What Indiana lawmakers say about spinning
In early discussion of the bills, lawmakers have agreed about the dangerous nature of the takeovers but some have voiced concerns that one of the proposals is too broad.
Sen. Liz Brown, R-Fort Wayne, in a committee hearing about SB 13 on Jan. 14 said she took issue with how the law could unintentionally target people involved in car crashes. She gave the example of her son who got into a crash and his car hit all four sides of a road barrier.
“He was not trying to do a spin. It doesn’t say that, so I have a problem with it,” Brown said.
SB 13 narrowly passed out of committee in a 5-4 vote, with the following in dissent: Sen. Brown, Sen. Greg Taylor, D-Indianapolis, Sen. Susan Glick, R-LaGrange and Sen. Rodney Pol Jr., D-Chesterton. The bill could be voted on by the full Senate as early as next week.
Contact IndyStar reporter Sarah Nelson at sarah.nelson@indystar.com
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana lawmakers revive fight to combat ‘dangerous’ street takeovers