Authorizing the Joint Council Committees on Public Safety and Streets and Services to hold hearings to investigate illegal street racing meetups in Philadelphia.

Authorizing the Joint Council Committees on Public Safety and Streets and Services to hold hearings to investigate illegal street racing meetups in Philadelphia. WHEREAS, Speeding and loud motorcycles, souped-up cars, ATVs and dirt bikes continue to cause danger and disruption throughout the City despite not being street legal; and WHEREAS, The neighborhoods of Fairmount, Spring Garden, and Logan Square have become a particularly popular meetup spot for these illegal racers, with Kelly Drive, Eakins Oval, the Ben Franklin Parkway, and Logan Circle all experiencing frequent transformations into raceways for these illegal vehicles; and WHEREAS, ATVs and dirt bikes are frequently ridden up and down the steps of the Art Museum, damaging the concrete steps and disrespecting a City landmark; and WHEREAS, Contrary to popular belief, many of these drivers and riders are from suburban New Jersey, often bringing their vehicles on flatbed trucks and disembarking in the City because Philadelphia is permissive of street racing in ways surrounding municipalities are not; and WHEREAS, Illegal street racers have often engaged in violent criminal behavior against City residents; and WHEREAS, Cars and motorcycles participating in illegal street races often have mufflers modified to produce noise at levels that violate local noise regulations, and audio systems that produce excessive levels of sound pressure; and WHEREAS, Research has shown that chronic and excessive noise harms human health, i…