JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Locals across Jacksonville are continuously frustrated over illegal street racing and car clubs citywide.
Action News Jax found evidence of donuts in the Walmart parking lot off Beach Boulevard near Hodges Boulevard Tuesday.
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“This is not a video game. This is reality and people die, and once you die, you’re gone,” Al Smith said.
Smith, along with Ron and Sonja Coleman all have one thing in common: they don’t feel safe on Jacksonville’s roads.
“I’m terrified driving on Beach Blvd,” Sonja Coleman said.
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She and Ron Coleman live off Beach Boulevard.
“Any time you come out here, day or night, there’s cases of people speeding and racing,” Ron Coleman added.
Even during the interview, cars were heard zooming down Beach Boulevard.
“I’ve just held my breath and have said a little prayer many times for that person crossing,” Sonja Coleman said. “It’s just a matter of time before someone’s gonna be killed.”
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Action News Jax has shown you social media videos of car clubs swarming Baymeadows Road and Southside Boulevard a couple weeks ago. Days after we reported on the racing, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office publicly vowed to put an end to it.
City Councilman Al Ferraro flew with JSO this past weekend when the agency put two helicopters up in the sky to watch over the city.
“You’ve got people who have homes, coming off work, churches around here. People don’t know that this stuff’s happening and when it does, they get scared, they start fleeing. You don’t know who’s gonna get run over in the dark because they’re driving around with no lights on,” Ferraro said.
INVESTIGATES: Emails show JSO was aware of street racing issues in 2021
And while Smith appreciates JSO’s efforts, he said crackdowns could’ve come sooner.
“JSO I don’t think has done enough until recently. Hopefully there’s gonna be a bigger response from JSO,” he said.
And the Colemans told Action News Jax they want JSO to patrol Beach Boulevard more, and monitor speed.
Ferraro’s office was working late Tuesday afternoon to get Action News Jax video the councilman shot from the helicopter over the weekend during JSO’s crackdown. Check back for updates.
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