Now it’s not just a crime to participate directly in exhibition driving in Birmingham, it’s illegal to stand around and watch the people who do.

The Birmingham City Council on Tuesday continued its campaign against exhibition driving by passing two measures aimed at curtailing the dangerous trend, in which drivers block traffic and put on a show of donuts, burnouts and other ill-advised maneuvers. The first item created a penalty for spectators of exhibition driving; the second set a public hearing to consider revoking the business license of a lounge that officials say is a hotbed for street-racing and other crime.

“It’s important for the public to see the efforts of this council and this administration to try to curb exhibition driving and whatever else we want to call the reckless and obnoxious behavior that has plagued the city since COVID,” councilor Hunter Williams said.

The penalty the council passed on Tuesday prohibits “loitering, remaining, or wandering about in a public place” to participate in exhibition driving or street racing as an organizer or spectator. Staff with the city attorney’s office said penalties for violating the city ordinance would be a fine of up to $500 and up to 180 days in jail.

Councilor Carol Clarke thanked all of the workers involved in crafting the new ordinance.

“Discouraging the spectators I think will go a long way in combating this activity, because it’s for the spectacle of it all. So, hats off to you, thanks. I hope this gets us somewhere,” she said.

Exhibition driving is not just “obnoxious,” as Williams put it. They’re dangerous.

In December 2022, for example, nearly 20 people were injured after a crash at the intersection of John Rogers Drive and Brownlee Hills Road, according to Birmingham police.

Over the past two years, Birmingham leaders have lobbied state lawmakers to increase the penalties and enforcement options for exhibition driving. The Alabama Legislature passed stiffer penalties for the offense in 2023 and this year enacted a law allowing police to use photo or video traffic enforcement systems to go after reckless drivers.

Birmingham officials in April also launched Operation Night Rider, in which Birmingham ramped up patrols at areas popular for the illegal activity.

The council also set a date of June 18 to hold a hearing on whether to revoke the business license of the CRU Lounge at 2300 First Ave.

The hearing comes after the city attorney’s office earlier this month sued the owners and operators of the business, requesting a judge shut it down. Officials say the business has been a hotspot for exhibition driving and other crime, and the owners have failed to take adequate steps to combat the activity.

Birmingham attorney Julian Hendrix approached the lectern during the council’s discussion Tuesday hoping to address the body. Council President Darrell O’Quinn, however, stopped him, saying the council wasn’t taking public comments on this issue.

Efforts to reach Hendrix were not immediately successful Tuesday evening.

The measure passed with all members voting yes except for Clarke, who abstained.

Genomic Medicine and Data Sciences Building

The council on Tuesday also voted to provide $500,000 toward a UAB project to construct the Altec/Styslinger Genomic Medicine and Data Sciences Building. According to city staff, the venture will accelerate research in genomics and computational biology, generating $40 million in awarded funding and creating 730 jobs.

O’Quinn said he believes the city will see one of its highest returns on investment with the project.

“I think this will quickly be paid for,” he said.

The measure passed with each council member voting yes, except for Williams, who abstained.

The council in March also approved $5 million from the American Recovery Plan Act for the nonprofit research organization Southern Research Institute to develop a public health data system program to expand precision medicine access, including genomic testing, to everyone in Alabama.

Restaurant Incentives, Food Study

In other business, the council:

• Approved an agreement to provide up to $450,000 in incentives to a company that plans to turn a portion of the Armour & Co. building at 2309 First Ave. North into a fine-dining restaurant called the Armour House. According to city staff, Birmingham will provide a revenue-sharing incentive based on a percentage of the business’s sales tax revenue over five years.

Approved giving $15,000 to the Market at Pepper Place to help the city analyze its overall food system and farmers market potential. The money comes from a $298,686 federal grant. The term of the agreement ends Dec. 31. The grant money comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Urban Agriculture and Innovation Production Competitive Grants Program.