A bill to impose new penalties for street racing and other dangerous driving activities that have had deadly consequences during the last few years won approval today in the Alabama House of Representatives.

Rep. Allen Treadaway, R-Morris, a former assistant chief of the Birmingham Police Department, is sponsoring the bill, which defines the terms speed contest, speed exhibition, burnout, and donut. It prohibits those activities on public roads or in parking lots or on private property without the permission of the property owner. The legislation is similar to a bill passed by the Senate last week.

For a first offense, violators would face five to 90 days in jail or a fine of $25 to $500, or both. For a second or subsequent conviction, violators would face 10 days to six months in jail, a fine of $50 to $500, or both, and could lose driving privileges for six months.

If a violation caused an injury or property damage, the crime would be charged as a Class A misdemeanor, which can result in up to a year in jail. The violators would lose driving privileges for six months. If a violation caused a serious injury or death, felony penalties would apply, including possible prison sentences and the loss of driving privileges for two years or more. Police could have vehicles towed and impounded. The bill moves to the Senate.

Last year, lawmakers met with Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin about the problems caused by street racing.

Two years ago in Birmingham, a 52-year-old grandmother was killed when another driver authorities said was racing crossed the center line and crashed into her vehicle. In July, a 14-year-old boy was struck by a vehicle and killed while watching exhibition driving in Birmingham. In August, gunfire broke out at a driving exhibition in downtown Birmingham, leaving a woman dead and four others injured. In December, Birmingham police said 16 people were hurt, including a 5-year-old boy, when a Nissan 350z that was racing struck a Dodge Charger that was doing donuts, sending the Charger into the crowd of onlookers.

Mayors of Alabama’s 10 largest cities said a law to help police stop exhibition driving was one of their highest priorities for this legislative session.