TAMPA, Fla. — A new law targeting street racing and street takeovers goes into effect July 1. Drivers could face hefty fines, a loss of their driver's license and possible jail time.

What You Need To Know

  • A new law targeting street racing and street takeovers goes into effect July 1

  • First-time offenders can face fines up to $2,000 and lose their license for 1 year 

  • 2nd offense within a year of the first arrest could result in a $4,000 fine and lost their license for 2 years 

  • Drivers could also face a third degree felony if someone in a street takeover interferes with the movement of an emergency vehicle, which could result in a $4,000 fine and five years in prison

According to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, more than 9,200 citations have been issues for street racing or stunt driving between 2018 and 2023.

Some of those races have led to deadly crashes. In early June, Marsha Linda Strickland was killed and her husband injured when their vehicle was struck by a racer on North Dale Mabry. The drivers involved in the race now face multiple charges including vehicular homicide, unlawful racing, reckless driving and one driver faces an additional charge of fleeing the scene of a deadly accident. 

Strickland’s lifelong friend, Joyce McMullen, says the loss has been overwhelming. 

“She would do anything in the world for anybody — help you out — and she did help a lot of people,” McMullen said. 

She says Strickland and her husband were planning a trip to Niagara Falls in the near future. Now, her husband is recovering from the crash and dealing with the loss of his wife of more than 30 years. 

“He is really going through it. He doesn’t know how to deal with this. He is sitting in a house of nothing but memories,” McMullen said. 

McMullen said she is hopeful the new laws will help cut down on street racing. The law increases penalties for racers.

First-time offenders can face a fine up to $2,000 and a loss of a license for up to one year. Repeat offenders could face a third degree felony and a fine up to $4,000 dollars if they break the law again within a year of their first conviction and lose their license for two years.

The law also states that it is a third degree felony if someone in a street takeover interferes with the movement of an emergency vehicle. The driver can face a fine of $4,000 and a five-year prison sentence. 

“If you’ve got a driver’s license and you are behind the wheel of a car, it’s a weapon. You need to know that. If you don't know that, then you have no business driving a car,” McMullen said.