Written by Tanya Terry
A Michigan State Police trooper reported seeing a vehicle doing “donuts” in the street and nearly collide with pedestrians and another car.
The trooper and a helicopter spotted the grey Dodge Charger traveling up to 100 miles an hour on Saginaw Street, near Fifth Street and on Martin Luther King Boulevard in the early morning of Saturday, March 25, according to City Attorney Bill Kim.
As a result, the City of Flint filed a lawsuit in Circuit Court last week against the man accused of reckless driving.
“In addition to criminal prosecution of the driver, which is currently ongoing for reckless driving, lacking insurance and driving an unregistered vehicle-we’ve also filed a civil suit against the vehicle itself,” stated Kim. “We’ve also declared the vehicle as a public nuisance and have forfeited it to the City of Flint.”
According to the city’s ordinances, any vehicle engaged in reckless driving is a nuisance and subject to forfeiture. City officials said the ordinance, which came before Flint City Council last year, will be enforced to the maximum extent possible.
Flint Police Chief Terence Green said the Flint Police Department will be responding specifically to citizen complaints.
City of Flint Department spokesman, Sgt. Tyrone Booth, said 812 traffic citations have been issued so far in 2023. He said it is normal for the number of traffic citations, as well as guns being confiscated, to increase in communities across the county during the summer months.
Mayor Sheldon Neeley expressed the City’s concern for residents, including children, being able to feel safe in their own neighborhoods.
In residential areas in Flint, the speed limit is a maximum of 25 miles per hour. If a person exceeds twice the posted speed limit, it could be viewed as reckless driving, according to Neeley. This is due, in part, to the fact it may be harder to stop when needed when a person greatly exceeds the speed limit.
During the upcoming warmer months, when many people tend to be outside enjoying the weather and activities, Neeley said reckless driving will not be tolerated in Flint.
“Last year, in the city of Flint, we observed people at intersections, doing donuts, racing their cars in residential areas, going fast, not observing the law,” Neeley stated.
This year, however, Neeley said the City of Flint will enforce all its traffic rules, regulations and laws. Neeley emphasized the City of Flint has begun the process of taking the vehicles of those not obeying the law.
“Reckless driving will not be tolerated in the city of Flint,” Neeley added. “Donuts will not be tolerated here in the city of Flint. This is a warning.”
The City of Flint Police Department is partnering with local agencies and federal partners to increase public safety and reduce the criminal element that exists. Genesee County will also be working on the initiative, as will the Michigan State Police.
In addition, Neeley said vehicles being parked on sidewalks or front lawns will not be tolerated in Flint.
He again stressed the importance of obeying the law to save taxpayers money, saying implementing speed humps in residential areas is costly.
