Tougher law against street racing introduced

COLUMBUS — Individuals caught street racing would face higher fines, lose their driver’s licenses and forfeit their vehicles to law enforcement, under legislation introduced in the Ohio House.

State Rep. Ted Celeste, a Democrat from the Columbus area, offered House Bill 191 after discussions with a capital city family whose daughter was critically injured by a street racer who crossed a highway median.

The legislation would call for an automatic license suspension for individuals caught street racing, with their vehicles impounded. The bill also would ban use of nitrous oxide — used by racers to give their vehicles a quick boost of power — in vehicles driven on public streets.

The legislation was prompted by Monica Durban, an Ohio State University student who suffered life-threatening injuries when a street racer collided with her last year. The driver of the other vehicle was killed, and others involved in the incident were later found not guilty of related charges.

Durban spent six weeks in a coma and subsequent months in a nursing home, her father, Lee Durban, told reporters Thursday. She continues to receive therapy.