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SCMP Reporter

Police say they will propose a review of penalties for illegal car racing and furious driving following Monday's multicar pile-up during an illegal race, which left six people injured.
At present the maximum penalty for illegal car racing and furious driving is a jail term of less than two years. 
Lawmakers and driver groups say that is too lenient and that tougher penalties are required to deter dangerous behaviour on the road.
Police have started an overall review of policies and procedures in relation to the problem. 'There is a need to review current penalties ... as we note they are not tough enough to deter such dangerous driving behaviour,' a police source said.
The force will submit its views on tougher deterrents to the Transport and Security bureaus. Any proposal from the bureaus would be forwarded to the legislature and be subjected to public discussion. 
According to the Road Traffic Ordinance, participants in a car race on public roads are liable to a fine of HK$10,000 and 12 months' jail.
Anyone convicted of wanton or furious driving that causes harm to another person is liable to two years' jail under the Offences Against the Person Ordinance.
A conviction for dangerous driving can involve a maximum fine of HK$25,000 and three years' jail. 
Public outrage over illegal car racing came to a head this week after police used five civilian vehicles - three taxis, a truck and a private car, with their drivers still in them - as a roadblock on the Kwun Tong Bypass early on Monday morning. The strategy did stop an illegal race between at least 14 cars, six of which crashed into the makeshift roadblock.
The driver of one of the taxis used in the roadblock, whose cab was rammed at high speed by one of the racing cars, said he was surprised to hear, while he was making a statement at a police station later, that the maximum penalty for illegal car racing was only a year in jail. 
'I was really shocked to hear the penalty for illegal car racing was so lenient - lighter than for drink-driving offences,' the driver, surnamed Poon, said. 
He supported any moves to increase the penalties for such irresponsible and dangerous behaviour, he said. 
Taxi and Public Light Bus Concern Group chairman Lai Ming-hung said penalties should be increased at least to the same as that for drink-driving - a maximum jail term of three years. Mr Lai said most offenders convicted on car racing charges were fined only a few thousand dollars, which was 'useless to deter motor racing'.
'Some guys involved in illegal car racing come from rich families; they don't care about such fines,'  he said. 
A veteran traffic officer said police were often disappointed at the outcome of motor racing cases, which usually involved a fine or suspended sentence. 'We seldom hear of illegal car racers sent to jail,' he said.
Legislative Council security panel vice-chairman James To Kun-sun said the law on illegal car racing was written a long time ago and needed to be reviewed.
'This is a serious offence which can possibly cause death. That the penalty for drink-driving is greater than that for illegal car racing is unreasonable,' Mr To said.
Hong Kong Junior Police Officers' Association chairman Chung Kam-wah said he would welcome any plan to introduce tougher penalties for illegal car racing.
After Monday's mass pile-up, from which many of the road racers escaped, Police Commissioner Tang King-shing made a public apology over the use of the civilian vehicles in the roadblock.
Existing penalties
Maximum penalties for illegal car racing and dangerous driving
Racing and speed  trials: HK$10,000 fine, 12 months' jail
Furious  driving: two years' jail
Dangerous driving: HK$25,000 fine, three years' jail 
Drink-driving: HK$25,000 fine, three years' jail
Dangerous driving causing death: HK$50,000 fine, 10 years' jail (amended last year)



Bigger penalty on cards for illegal racers