Both kids decided to participate in a street race, BOTH of them participated in the SAME crime.
If someone dies during the commision of that crime than all those involved will be charged with some level of homicide.
The point is if the driver that survived had not participated in the crime, IE not raced, then no race would have happened.
It takes two to race and both take equal responisibility for that race.
The only "innocent" party in this is the passenger. He may have been egging on the driver, but there is no way to prove that without a coffesion.
He is not getting screwed, once he decided to race he took responisibility not only for anything that would happen to him, but anything that happens to the other driver.
If he has a good lawyer he should be able to get charges reduced, or at least a plea for no jail time.
You may think its unfair, but remember anytime you race someone, you are both participating in the same crime and your both responsible for anything that happens to either of you during the commission of that crime, PERIOD, end of story.
Both kids decided to participate in a street race, BOTH of them participated in the SAME crime.
If someone dies during the commision of that crime than all those involved will be charged with some level of homicide.
The point is if the driver that survived had not participated in the crime, IE not raced, then no race would have happened.
It takes two to race and both take equal responisibility for that race.
The only "innocent" party in this is the passenger. He may have been egging on the driver, but there is no way to prove that without a coffesion.
He is not getting screwed, once he decided to race he took responisibility not only for anything that would happen to him, but anything that happens to the other driver.
If he has a good lawyer he should be able to get charges reduced, or at least a plea for no jail time.
You may think its unfair, but remember anytime you race someone, you are both participating in the same crime and your both responsible for anything that happens to either of you during the commission of that crime, PERIOD, end of story.
very well put kulak :thumbup
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BLACK on BLACK 05 Premium GT
Magnaflow catted X pipe -- Magnaflow catbacks
Sounds to me like someone was involved in an activity that the local community has deemed illegal. He got caught at it and due process is taking place. The fact that he helped someone that was critically hurt only amplifies how dangerous street racing is.
In many of the local municipalities the laws have been changed to allow the police to confiscate all cars involved in street racing - on the spot - never to be returned. And anyone caught watching street racing is arrested and booked into jail until they can be brought before a judge. The death rate attributed to street racing has dropped dramatically.
Ask yourself this question - how would you feel if a street racer hit and killed (insert a loved-ones name here). I see my support of hardline street racing laws as a preventative measure.
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Do you realize that your lil' Honda doesn't produce enough torque to tighten the lugnuts on my truck?
That's the thing... If this person didn't cause the accident by getting in there way or bumping into them, then they shouldn't be held liable. If someone pulls up next to me and I gun it away from them and they crash. That's their bad.
Ask yourself this question - how would you feel if a street racer hit and killed (insert a loved-ones name here). I see my support of hardline street racing laws as a preventative measure.
i would feel terrible and i would want justice. but that being said, i would be looking for the INDIVIDUAL that actually hit my loved one. at least for the charge of (insert whatever charge that may be here.) the other racer should be charged with racing.
we are never going to agree on this subject because it appears that we have two groups with fundamental differences in their views. there are those of us who believe that individuals should be held responsible for their actions and those of you who (for lack of a better term at the moment) believe that you are guilty by association.
That's the thing... If this person didn't cause the accident by getting in there way or bumping into them, then they shouldn't be held liable. If someone pulls up next to me and I gun it away from them and they crash. That's their bad.
If your racing, your racing. You enter into a competition with another driver, your as guilty as he is. The point is that it takes "2" people to make a race, and both are equally liable for the actions of everyone participating in the race. Like it or not that is the law.
If you think that your actions during a race do not influence the other driver, you are wrong. If you choose not to race and let them speed off, then there is no race, they wont be speeding around corners to catch you, or to put more space on you, and they wont crash while pushing their car to its limits and beyond.
Dont like it? fine, but its the law. Take it to the track and be done with it, just remember that if you enter into any type of street race that you are not only taking your life in your hands, but also the life of the other driver, and the lives of anyone nearby.
It may not seem fair, and at some level I agree its not fair, but this is not about being fair, its about stopping street racing. When I used ot street race we used to take our cars to an old power plant road, block off both ends of it and go run. Now all I ever see is people jumping in and out of traffic at twice the speed limit trying to get to an exit before the other guy. There is a huge difference and I, along with much of society could overlook the former, but won't stand for the latter.
wow, well said kulak. I always like getting a new perspective on stuff, i try not to be close minded. I was kinda leaning the other way, but now i at least see both sides of the argument clearly. :thumbup
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A man that gives up a little freedom, for a little security, will have neither, and deserves neither. ~ Benjamin Franklin
It is my belief that you are not responsible for someone elses actions.
I understand what your saying and would agree in most cases. The problem is you cant have different rules for slightly different situations. The law says no racing, and if you do you'll pay.
Like tom said would he be not guilty if it had been a bystander dead instead of a racer,No.
My problem is I've been on both sides of the issue. Back in 87 I lost one of my mustang crew to a race, but none of us wanted to blame the other guy because he did'nt cause the accident.
I also know someone who was in a nasty accident caused by someone else racing. So is knowone to blame for that ? Or is the racer who hit them only to blame? Or are both racers to blame because they chose to race on a road heavily traveled. In my older age I choose the later. Now I realize the second situation is slightly different from the case at hand, but the laws are in place for this reason. The fact that the boy aided was the right thing to do but irrelivent to the broken law, and really only served to keep him from recieving other charges.
The fact is I'm personally guilty of this crime but I also knew full well that if something happend or I got cault I would be responsible.
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BLACK on BLACK 05 Premium GT
Magnaflow catted X pipe -- Magnaflow catbacks
If I was in this situation, I would take responsibility for racing ect ect. But if I didn't in anyway cause him to swerve or physically touch his car to cause him to crash, I don't see how I could be held responsible for vehicular homicide. He knew what he was getting into. He didn't know his limits. He crashed. I would be participating in an illegal race. If I would have crashed, I would have to own up to that. If I was the one that crashed in that situation, I would have died. But that's life. We can argue about this all day. I'm very bull headed ... But my flight leaves in a couple hours and I gotta go to the airport ... I'll check out the thread when I get back sunday night.
You know what? I'll even agree that the laws may not be fair. But it's the solution that a given municipality has enacted as a solution to what they (the majority or the city/county council) feel is serious enough to enact that type of law.
If someone wants to street race in a place that has super-strict laws, they should be prepared to accept the imposed penalty - or look for some other place in which to street race.
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Do you realize that your lil' Honda doesn't produce enough torque to tighten the lugnuts on my truck?
If I was in this situation, I would take responsibility for racing ect ect. But if I didn't in anyway cause him to swerve or physically touch his car to cause him to crash, I don't see how I could be held responsible for vehicular homicide. He knew what he was getting into. He didn't know his limits. He crashed. I would be participating in an illegal race. If I would have crashed, I would have to own up to that. If I was the one that crashed in that situation, I would have died. But that's life. We can argue about this all day. I'm very bull headed ... But my flight leaves in a couple hours and I gotta go to the airport ... I'll check out the thread when I get back sunday night.
Have a nice flight Matt!
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Discipline is a small hinge that swings a big door………….
I'm schizophrenic and so am I........me too........shut up.....
When I used ot street race we used to take our cars to an old power plant road, block off both ends of it and go run. Now all I ever see is people jumping in and out of traffic at twice the speed limit trying to get to an exit before the other guy. There is a huge difference and I, along with much of society could overlook the former, but won't stand for the latter.
Now I would not call this a safe way to street race but I believe this is a safer way to do it, in fact I can think of a few places around here where I would feel pretty safe to drag race if some simple precautions like this were taken, and believe this is where the real problem lies, some places do go out of the way to try to make it safer, I can live with that if it reasonable, but I too see the problem with all these people thinking the public roadway is their playground.
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So , let me get this straight…..your Honda has 1.6 liters, whereas my bottle of Mountain Dew has 2?
Change…..it’s what is left after taxes.
- Shaken....Not Stirred 2003 Mach I Auto Torch Red - Sold
-1988 Ford Mustang GT Convertible, 331 Trick Flow Stroker with a Tremec 3550....oh yea and a 1.6 liter V-TECH motor to work the convertible top.
- 1966 Inline 6……..the pile of parts car!
Now I would not call this a safe way to street race but I believe this is a safer way to do it, in fact I can think of a few places around here where I would feel pretty safe to drag race if some simple precautions like this were taken, and believe this is where the real problem lies, some places do go out of the way to try to make it safer, I can live with that if it reasonable, but I too see the problem with all these people thinking the public roadway is their playground.
The WORLD is a playground!.....V V V V V V V V V RRRRRRRRRROOOOOOM!.................
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Discipline is a small hinge that swings a big door………….
I'm schizophrenic and so am I........me too........shut up.....