The General Assembly has overwhelmingly passed Del. Tim Hugo's (R-40th) drag-racing bill. Called House Bill 993, it strengthens reckless-driving penalties by allowing for the possibility of a felony conviction for anyone causing bodily injury to someone due to an accident resulting from drag racing.
Catalyst for the bill was a horrendous crash which seriously injured a Fairfax Station woman, Tamara Karas, and her twin son and daughter, Matt and Katie. It happened in December 2002 when a drag-racing driver traveling more than 90 mph struck their car, head-on, while they were waiting to make a turn.
Katie lost a kidney and spent several months in a hospital, recuperating. "We cannot take back the pain inflicted upon the Karas family," said Hugo. "But hopefully, this bill will prevent another child or another family from being injured."
In addition, HB 993 will allow authorities to seize vehicles involved in a pre-arranged, organized, speed competition. And anyone not engaged in such a race, but who aids it, may be charged with a Class 1 misdemeanor.
<tgl> — Bonnie Hobbs