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Drivers who speed down O Street or other Lincoln arterials could have their vehicles impounded if they get ticketed for reckless driving or other violations following a unanimous vote Monday by the City Council. “I think these new tools and policies that remove dangerous drivers from our roads will make us all safer,” Councilman Tom Beckius said. Still, Beckius said, he’d like the council and Lincoln police to review data after the first year to see the impact of the changes and evaluate how best to move forward.
He said he’s asking for the review based on last week’s public hearing and conversations he’s had with community members. While many residents testified in support of the ordinance changes, the Lancaster County public defender and an attorney from ACLU Nebraska opposed the ordinance because of concerns that it would affect registered drivers who may not have been driving and impounding vehicles could create hardships for those living in poverty. People are also reading.
.. Other racing enthusiasts said increasing the penalties wasn’t the answer, rather police should increase their presence and have more contact with young drivers — and Lincoln should have a place for people to race.
Councilman James Michael Bowers pushed back against the idea that the changes would harm people, that it is only happening in low-income communities or that it’s only kids driving dangerously. The problem, he said, crosses all demographic lines. “I tend to approach enforcement-focused policies with caution, especially when the underlying issue stems from hardship or health-related struggles like poverty or addiction,” he said.
“Dangerous driving, however, isn’t about addiction, it isn’t about meeting a basic need, it’s about choice — one that prioritizes thrill over safety and puts others at risk. That demands a different kind of response.” The changes add a new section to city code that will allow police to impound vehicles of drivers ticketed for reckless or willful reckless driving, fleeing to avoid arrest, racing or illegally operating racetracks if offers deem them drivers of “disorderly vehicles.
” Those disorderly vehicles could be impounded and towed. They would be immediately released to the registered owner for a first offense. Those cited for a second or subsequent offense would have their car towed and held for 10 days.
The car owners would have to pay whatever fine is assessed for the original offense, plus the $57 towing fee, a $50 administration fee and an average $8-a-day storage fee. The changes also include updated definitions to clarify language in the ordinance, make the maximum penalty for racing a $500 fine and up to six months in jail and clarify that operation of all racetracks are prohibited unless the city approves a special permit in specific zoning areas. The catalyst for the new ordinance was racing and speeding along O Street that has resulted in hundreds of citations, crashes — including six fatalities.
The new penalty can be imposed anywhere, not just O Street. Whether to impose it is left to officers’ discretion. Councilman Bennie Shobe said he supports the changes, despite some small concerns regarding the discretionary nature of the impoundment policy.
But he said he trusts Lincoln police to use the ordinance in a manner that “respects the rights of all residents who live here.” Councilman Brodey Weber said the changes are just the beginning point to finding a solution to dangerous driving, which is why monitoring the results is so important. The changes passed 6-0.
Councilwoman Sändra Washington was absent. Sick leave carve-outs; LPS suit can proceed; NU swimmer's success Top Journal Star photos for March 2025 The Nebraska Mens Gymnastics Team celebrates Joey Pepe’s performance in the horizontal bar event on Friday, March 21, 2025, at Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln. Nebraska’s Lauren Camenzind slides into home plate on Sunday, March 23, 2025, at Bowlin Stadium in Lincoln.
Kevin McCaffrey runs at Holmes Lake on Sunday. McCaffrey has been running a 50-mile ultra-marathon at the lake each month this year, inviting others to join him and raise money for good causes. A blood moon during a total lunar eclipse is seen over the sower on top of the Nebraska Capitol early Friday morning.
Lunar eclipses happen when the moon, Earth and sun align just so, causing the moon to blush a coppery red because of stray bits of sunlight filtering through Earth's atmosphere. Lunar and solar eclipses happen anywhere from four to seven times a year, according to NASA. If you missed out on Friday, the next total lunar eclipse visible from Nebraska will be on March 3, 2026.
Omaha Skutt's George Ziebell (50) is mobbed by his teammates after scoring the game winning bucket with .5 seconds left on the clock to secure the win for the SkyHawks during their Class B semifinal state tournament game against Norris on Friday at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Omaha Westside's Lee'Murhion Robinson brings his jersey up to cover his face after falling to Papillion-La Vista South in the Class A state championship game Saturday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
O’Neill St. Mary’s John Mlnarik (22) embraces O’Neill St. Mary’s Gage Hedstrom (24) after cutting off a piece of the basketball net following the Class D2 State Championship game on Saturday, March 15, 2025, at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln.
Lincoln Fire and Rescue crews battle a fire on Thursday at an automotive business near 36th Street and Cleveland Avenue. Ashland-Greenwood players lift the championship trophy after defeating Omaha Concordia to win the Class C-1 state championship game Saturday at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Lincoln Southeast celebrates winning the game on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln.
Papillion-La Vista South's Reece Kircher (22) waves the net after defeating Omaha Westside to win the Class A state championship game Saturday at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Papillion-La Vista South's Jayden Herrera (24) recovers the ball after it was shot by Omaha Westside's Lee'Murhion Robinson (second right) as he was boxed out by La Vista South's Bryson Bahl (first right) and Grant Beckenhauer (23) in the first half of the Class A state championship game Saturday at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Johnson-Brock's Casen Dalinghaus (13) scores over Howells-Dodge's Dane Meyer (1) in the second half of the Class D-1 state championship game Saturday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Nebraska’s Jordyn Bahl claps with dust on her hands after sliding into home base on Sunday, March 9, 2025, at Bowlin Stadium in Lincoln. Ja’mylah Barbee, 7, adds glue to pipe cleaners while making a model house out of recycled materials on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, at Belmont Community Center in Lincoln. Lincoln Pius X's Michael Haith (4), Charles Morrow (10) and Parker Kelly (5) go up to defend a shot by Norris' Evan Greenfield (22) in the first half of a Class B first-round state tournament game Thursday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Lincoln Lutheran's Ryan Hager (12) is hit in the face by Fillmore Central's Jarin Tweedy (5) as he tries to score a layup in the second half of a Class C-1 first-round state tournament game Wednesday at the Devaney Sports Center. (From left) Oakland-Craig's Sabrina Rost (11), Oakland-Craig's Carolyn Magnusson (13) and Oakland-Craig's Brinley Burton (15) celebrate winning the Class C-2 state championship game on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln. Rob Andersen (left) helps Keiron Taylor put on a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Personal Protective Equipment suit during HazMat inventory and training on Thursday, Feb.
27, 2025, at the Nebraska Task Force One Warehouse in Lincoln. Waverly's Mia Jackson (left) protects the ball as York’s Kinslee Kern attempts to steal it from her on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln. Dorchester's Mackenzie Yager (23) and Falls City Sacred Heart's Alise Reschke (11) battle for the ball during the Class D-2 state championship game on Saturday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
The Lincoln Christian team celebrates after defeating Milford during the Class C-1 state championship game Saturday, March 8, 2025, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. A baby goat mills around the Lincoln Children's Zoo on Monday. Goats have returned to the zoo's feeding space after leaving in September 2023.
Milford players celebrate the win over Minden during a Class C-1 semifinal state basketball tournament game on Friday, March 7, 2025, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Framed through glasses of water, Sen. Deb Fischer speaks to invited guests during the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce's Congressional Report at the Lincoln Country Club on Thursday.
Congressman Mike Flood addresses the questions and concerns of audience members during his town hall on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at Columbus High School in Lincoln. Elizabeth Evans, a food service manager at Open Harvest Co-op Grocery, cradles a selection of cheeses featured in this year's Cheese Madness tournament. The bracket-style competition pits various cheeses against each other for customers to vote on.
Contact the writer at [email protected] or 402-473-7226. On Twitter at @LJSReist.
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