Revved up penalties for racers

Street-car racers better think twice before they step on the accelerator - they could face a more serious charge.

Three young people caught racing on Beijing's third ring road on the night of March 15, 2006, were charged with endangering public security at Beijing Chaoyang district people's court on Tuesday. One of them crashed into two vehicles.

Before that, people found racing and involved in an accident were charged only with causing traffic casualties and faced a maximum prison sentence of three years.