New law enacts tougher penalties for drift racing

Champion triathlete Lectie Altman can’t remember the day a drift racer crashed into her, leaving her with countless broken bones, but she is reminded daily of the toll it has taken on her body.

The 33-year-old stood with crutches behind Mayor Kirk Caldwell Wednesday as he signed Bill 7 into law, prohibiting drifting and drift racing.

“Her life was dramatically changed and could have ended because a 20-year-old was drift racing up on Tantalus,” Caldwell said. “We will now make drift racing illegal.”

Councilwoman Carol Fukunaga had introduced Bill 7 three days after the Jan. 25 head-on collision that changed Altman’s life on Tantalus Drive. She said illegal activities like drifting have been going on for years and residents wanted to see something done about it.

Maximum penalties for drifting or drift racing under the new law are $2,000 in fines, a year in jail or both, compared with reckless driving, which carries a fine of up to $1,000 and 30 days in jail.

Drifting is defined as “a driving technique whereby the driver intentionally oversteers a motor vehicle, causing loss of traction in the rear wheels, while maintaining control from entry to exit of a corner.”

Honolulu police Maj. Ryan Nishibun of the Traffic Division said the new law will make it easier to prosecute drift racers. It is difficult to prosecute individuals for reckless endangering because there are so many variables to prove.

“In some ways I feel maybe that’s not enough,” Caldwell said of the law. “But it’s a step in the right direction.…This sends a clear message that I hope will change behavior in the future.”

Bringing awareness

Altman said she had hoped the man who struck her with his Nissan sedan had had his driver’s license yanked and vehicle impounded. He was arrested on suspicion of first-degree negligent injury and released. The criminal case is still pending.

“I am thankful that this event that happened has brought awareness to these events that are taking place here on Oahu on city streets daily,” a composed, smiling Altman said to the gathered media. “Having this bill is a start in the right direction to bring awareness to what did happen in January and what hopefully no one else has to suffer through.”

When asked what her goals were, her voice broke. “My number one goal is to be able to walk again.”

She paused, tearing up, and said, “I have other goals, but I guess in order to get to them, I need to be able to walk.”

She has been unable to return to work as a behavioral health specialist with the Department of Education, helping special education students at Barbers Point and Mauka Lani elementary schools because she can’t drive. She has been able to do a little real estate work.

Her main concern is her right knee, half of which she said was left on Tantalus. She has had numerous surgeries and had been hospitalized for a month. She has two plates in her left arm due to a compound fracture, a plate in her thumb, broken fingers, a plate in her left hip, a partially broken pelvis and a broken right femur.

Residents are doing more

Tantalus Community Association member Tony Barnhill said he has been clearing trees and brush along the winding roadway using brush cutters and chainsaws to provide better sight lines.

Makiki-Tantalus Neighborhood Board secretary Paul Fink said the community has been pushing traffic-calming measures, specifically an epoxy product that roughens the road to prevent skidding and drifting.

“If you’re a drifter, a friend or family member of a drifter, come out of the shadows … Let’s talk,” Chad Taniguchi of the Hawaii Bicycling League said. He said it will take “a personal sense of understanding that’s going to change their behavior.”