Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law on Wednesday pieces of legislation designed to fight illegal street racing and takeovers during a ceremony held in Fort Worth. According to a press release issued by the Office of the Texas Governor, House Bills (HB) 1442 and 2899 stiffen penalties for those who engage in street racing, as well as provide law enforcement and prosecutors extra resources when handling these offenses.
“Texas will ensure law enforcement has the tools needed to crack down on illegal street racing and protect Texans,” Abbott, a Republican, said in an X post following the ceremony.
According to the online legislation database LegiScan, HB 1442 pertains to “the prosecution of certain criminal conduct involving a reckless driving exhibition or racing on a highway.” The bipartisan bill was sponsored by five Democrats and two Republicans.
LegiScan described HB 2899, which was sponsored by five Democrats and four Republicans, as pertaining to “the impoundment of a vehicle used in the commission of the offense of racing on a highway or in the commission of certain criminal conduct involving a reckless driving exhibition.”
Houston ABC affiliate KTRK Channel 13 reports that officials said races and takeovers have become prevalent and worrisome in the state’s larger cities of Houston, Dallas and Austin, with state and local leaders asserting that the possibility of potential violators losing their vehicles could prevent them from committing such offenses.
"Illegal street racing has become a growing problem, and Texas law enforcement needs new tools to curb illegal street racers whose activities threaten the very safety of everyone around them," Abbott said, per his office. “Together, we are ensuring Texas remains a law and order state and that our law enforcement has the tools they need to secure our streets."
Spectrum News reports that aside from HB 1442 and 2899, Abbott also signed six other measures into law. One of these bills, Senate Bill (SB) 224, stiffens penalties for individuals who commit catalytic converter theft. The legislation bears the name of Darren Almendarez, the Harris County sheriff’s deputy who was killed last year while protecting his wife from would-be catalytic converter thieves, according to a June 1 Houston Daily story.