HomeMy WebLinkAboutD-2745-24 Reckless Driving ExhibitionsSPONSOR(S): Councilors Worrell, Minnaar, Joshi, Ayers and Taylor
This Ordinance was originally prepared by Benjamin J. Legge, City Attorney, on 9/30/24 at 11:20 AM. It may have been
subsequently revised. However, no subsequent revision to this Ordinance has been reviewed by Mr. Legge for legal sufficiency
or otherwise.
ORDINANCE D-2745-24
AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARMEL, INDIANA,
ADDING CHAPTER 6, ARTICLE 5, SECTION 6-84 TO THE CARMEL CITY CODE
Synopsis: Ordinance prohibiting reckless driving exhibitions.
WHEREAS, pursuant to Indiana Code Sections 36-1-3-4 and 36-1-3-6, the City of Carmel, Indiana
(“City”) is authorized and entitled to protect the public health, safety, and welfare, and to exercise its police
powers—Indiana Code § 9-21-1-3 also provides authority for the City to regulate standing or parking of
vehicles, to regulate traffic, and to regulate or prohibit processions or assemblages on the highways; and
WHEREAS, the use of a motor vehicle to engage in reckless driving exhibitions in the City’s
corporate limits results not only in unsafe traffic conditions for other vehicles, children, and pedestrians,
but also attracts rowdy, uncivil, intimidating, and criminal activity to the vicinity of such events, which
engenders fear and disinvestment among neighborhood residents and prevents the full and peaceful
enjoyment of the use of their property, or otherwise negatively impacts the health, safety, and welfare of
the community; and
WHEREAS, such reckless driving exhibitions can result in damage to persons and private property
and also public property, including the streets, which costs are born by the public and surrounding property
owners, and can also necessitate the assignment of City personnel or equipment to protect the health, safety,
welfare, and/or property of citizens; and
WHEREAS, such reckless driving exhibitions have been occurring with greater frequency,
including recent incidents in the Indianapolis area where streets and intersections were shut down to other
motor vehicles and public property was damaged; and
WHEREAS, reckless driving exhibitions are therefore declared to be a public nuisance where
action necessary to abate the public nuisance may be required, including the towing of the motor vehicles
connected to the nuisance; and
WHEREAS, the Common Council wishes to prohibit reckless driving exhibitions.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED, by the Common Council of the City of Carmel,
Indiana, as follows:
Section 1. The foregoing Recitals are incorporated herein by this reference.
Section 2. Chapter 6, Article 5, Section 6-84 of the Carmel City Code is hereby added and shall
read as follows:
“§ 6-84 Reckless Driving Exhibitions Prohibited.
(a) Definitions:
Burnout. A maneuver performed while operating a motor vehicle whereby the motor vehicle is
kept stationary, or is in motion, while the wheels are spun, resulting in friction which causes the
motor vehicle’s tires to heat up and emit smoke.
Ordinance D-2745-24
Page One of Four Pages
Docusign Envelope ID: 98451C03-3FDF-4CC1-89D2-C5902F8C15A4
SPONSOR(S): Councilors Worrell, Minnaar, Joshi, Ayers and Taylor
This Ordinance was originally prepared by Benjamin J. Legge, City Attorney, on 9/30/24 at 11:20 AM. It may have been
subsequently revised. However, no subsequent revision to this Ordinance has been reviewed by Mr. Legge for legal sufficiency
or otherwise.
Doughnut. A maneuver performed while operating a motor vehicle whereby the front or rear of
the motor vehicle is rotated around the opposite set of wheels in a continuous motion which may
cause a circular skid-mark pattern of rubber on the driving surface and/or the tires to heat up and
emit smoke from friction.
Drifting. A maneuver performed while operating a motor vehicle whereby the motor vehicle is
steered so that it makes a controlled skid sideways through a turn with the front wheels pointed
in a direction opposite to that of the turn.
Participate. Any act done for the purpose of organizing, facilitating, participating in and/or
supporting a Reckless Driving Exhibition within the City of Carmel’s corporate limits, including
but not limited to:
1. Collecting or exchanging money or anything of value in connection with a Reckless
Driving Exhibition.
2. Riding as a passenger in a motor vehicle engaging in Reckless Driving Exhibition;
3. Causing or encouraging one or more motor vehicles to gather at a predetermined location
within the City of Carmel’s corporate limits in connection with a Reckless Driving
Exhibition;
4. Causing or encouraging one or more persons to gather on, or adjacent to a street,
highway, public property, parking garage, or parking lot in connection with a Reckless
Driving Exhibition;
5. Causing or encouraging one or more persons and/or motor vehicles to impede pedestrian
or vehicular traffic within the City of Carmel’s corporate limits by acts, words, or
physical barriers;
6. Standing or sitting in a location to act as a Reckless Driving Exhibition event official,
including but not limited to a starter, steward, or announcer;
7. Promoting a Reckless Driving Exhibition, including any advertising, posting, or sharing
the location of a Reckless Driving Exhibition or taking video or photographic images for
purpose of promoting and/or profiting from the event.
Reckless Driving Exhibition. The use of a motor vehicle to perform or engage in any Burnouts,
Doughnuts, Drifting, Wheelies, or other dangerous motor vehicle activity.
Wheelie. A maneuver performed while operating a motor vehicle whereby a motor vehicle is
driven for a distance with the front wheel or wheels raised off the ground.
(b) A Reckless Driving Exhibition is specifically declared to be a public nuisance.
(c) No person while operating a motor vehicle shall engage in a Reckless Driving Exhibition on any
street, highway, or public property within the City of Carmel’s corporate limits.
(d) It is unlawful for any person to Participate in a Reckless Driving Exhibition within the City of
Carmel’s corporate limits.
(e) Any Person who violates this Section shall be guilty of an ordinance violation punishable by a
fine of $250 for the first offense and a fine of $2500 for each subsequent offense.
Ordinance D-2745-24
Page Two of Four Pages
Docusign Envelope ID: 98451C03-3FDF-4CC1-89D2-C5902F8C15A4
SPONSOR(S): Councilors Worrell, Minnaar, Joshi, Ayers and Taylor
This Ordinance was originally prepared by Benjamin J. Legge, City Attorney, on 9/30/24 at 11:20 AM. It may have been
subsequently revised. However, no subsequent revision to this Ordinance has been reviewed by Mr. Legge for legal sufficiency
or otherwise.
(f) Any motor vehicle used in a Reckless Driving Exhibition as defined in this Section may be
towed at the direction of the Carmel Police Department to an area designated by the City at the
owner's expense. The owner shall also be required to pay any and all towing and storage fees
resulting from this action.”
Section 3. The remaining provisions of Carmel City Code Chapter 6 Article 5 are not affected by
this Ordinance and shall remain in full force and effect.
Section 4. All prior ordinances or parts thereof inconsistent with any provision of this Ordinance
are hereby repealed, to the extent of such inconsistency only, as of the effective date of this Ordinance, such
repeal to have prospective effect only.
Section 5. Should any provision or portion of this Ordinance be declared by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be invalid for any reason, the remaining provisions shall not be affected so long as they can,
without the invalid provision, be given the effect intended by the Common Council in adopting this
Ordinance. To this end, the provisions of this Ordinance are severable.
Section 6. This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and signing by
the Mayor and such publication as is required by law.
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Ordinance D-2745-24
Page Three of Four Pages
Docusign Envelope ID: 98451C03-3FDF-4CC1-89D2-C5902F8C15A4
SPONSOR(S): Councilors Worrell, Minnaar, Joshi, Ayers and Taylor
This Ordinance was originally prepared by Benjamin J. Legge, City Attorney, on 9/30/24 at 11:20 AM. It may have been
subsequently revised. However, no subsequent revision to this Ordinance has been reviewed by Mr. Legge for legal sufficiency
or otherwise.
PASSED by the Common Council of the City of Carmel, Indiana, this day of ________, 2024,
by a vote of _____ ayes and _____ nays.
COMMON COUNCIL FOR THE CITY OF CARMEL
Anthony Green, President Adam Aasen, Vice-President
Rich Taylor Matt Snyder
______________________________
Jeff Worrell Teresa Ayers
Shannon Minnaar Ryan Locke
______________________________
Anita Joshi
ATTEST:
______________________________
Jacob Quinn, Clerk
Presented by me to the Mayor of the City of Carmel, Indiana this day of
_________________________ 2024, at _______ __.M.
Jacob Quinn, Clerk
Approved by me, Mayor of the City of Carmel, Indiana, this day of
________________________ 2024, at _______ __.M.
Sue Finkam, Mayor
ATTEST:
Jacob Quinn, Clerk
Ordinance D-2745-24
Page Four of Four Pages
Docusign Envelope ID: 98451C03-3FDF-4CC1-89D2-C5902F8C15A4
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