By MATT PIKE
Among new state laws which have now gone into effect is a crackdown on stunt driving.
Stunt driving is a common complaint in St. Joseph. An update to the careless and imprudent driving law adds that no person shall perform stunt driving on Missouri roadways.
Seargent Shane Hux with Troop H of the Missouri State Highway Patrol says the law applies to street takeovers, a common complaint in St. Joseph and Kansas City.
"So, they’re out there and they’re doing donuts, there’s a large crowd of people there, they’re doing burnouts, wheelies, donuts,’ Hux tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “So they added this stunt driving into the careless and imprudent statute, which means where we see it here in the city limits of St. Joseph would be on the Belt Highway, primarly with motorcycles, but also with vehicles as well.”
Hux says the update clears up the careless and imprudent driving statute.
"By them adding this new wording into there, it makes it very clear, the public can go in there, they can read that statute, it makes it very clear that this type of driving is now prohibited,” Hux explains. “I mean obviously it was before, but if someone just read the statute it didn’t lay it out the way that it does now to where it makes it very clear.”
Hux says to crack down on these offenses, and make sure it sinks in, penalties increase.
"First offense on that is a Class B misdemeanor, so that’s kind of your warning right there, and then it bumps up to a Class A misdemeanor for your second offense,” Hux says. “Now here’s the kicker, third and subsequent offense, Class E felony, so yes there is some teeth to that.”
Hux says it's also important to note that if you are involved in an accident resulting in an injury or fatality while stunt driving, the offense jumps automatically to a felony.
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