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By Jon Styff

The Center Square

The Tennessee Legislature passed a bill making drag racing or organized street racing a Class E felony instead of a misdemeanor.

The bill will next head to Gov. Bill Lee for his approval.

The fiscal note on House Bill 2814 says it will cost the state more than $130,000 in additional costs of incarceration.

“I’ve been in front of y’all many times on this topic of reckless driving and drag racing,” said Rep. John Gillespie, R-Memphis. “It’s unfortunately still something that plaguing our communities, both urban and rural.”

Senate Bill 2570 allows for lawsuits to be filed if a person or company suffers a loss because a “defendant intentionally obstructed a highway, street, or other place used for the passage of vehicles or conveyances.”