You want to end any ambiguity of the issue of what defines a Hate Crime just make it a law that any random, unprovoked attack on someone of a different race is a Hate Crime. Fairly simple. Really, what else could one logically argue the reason for punching a 67 yr old man is?
If two guys get into a car accident and road rage occurs, or something else happens before hand where it's not clear how the issue escalated, conduct it by the books, one can't assume it was racially motivated as there was a precursor. Otherwise, let both prosecutor and defendant argue in court their motive.