Sep 23, 2006 4:17 pm US/Pacific
New Law Cracks Down On California Street Racing

(AP) SACRAMENTO Drivers who illegally race cars on California's roads could face jail time and fines under a new law signed Saturday by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

"Those who race their cars at high speeds on California streets and highways endanger the lives of innocent people as well as themselves," the Republican governor said in a statement.

The bill by Assemblyman John Benoit, R-Palm Desert, seeks to target the growing popularity of illegal street racing, featured in this year's Hollywood film, "The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift."

Supporters of the bill say illegal street racing kills or injures hundreds of people each year. The Department of Motor Vehicles reported that 7,640 drivers were convicted last year for engaging in motor vehicle speed contests, a 9 percent increase from the year before, according to Benoit.

Under the new law, prosecutors can seek increased penalties against drivers who engage in reckless driving or speed contests that injure another person. Drivers could be charged with a felony, sentenced up to 6 months in state prison and fined up to $1,000 -- a much stiffer penalty than the old misdemeanor law.

In another driving-related measure, Schwarzenegger also signed a law that would allow car owners who have lost their keys to get replacements from a registered locksmith.

The bill by Sen. Carole Midgen, D-San Francisco, will require dealerships to give car owners the information they might need to get a copy of their key. Registered locksmiths would be allowed to obtain the information from auto manufacturers through a secure system.

The law will apply to 2008 vehicle models.