In most cases, street racing in California is a misdemeanor. A drag race is defined as two or more vehicles from a point side by side at accelerating speeds in a competitive attempt to outdistance each other, or the operation of one or more motor vehicles over a common selected course, from the same point to the same point, for the purpose of comparing the relative speeds or power of acceleration of such motor vehicle or motor vehicles within a certain distance or time limit. Other related charges may include reckless driving, evading a police officer, or even destruction of property, each potentially carrying further penalties. Because of recent changes in his business, her husband currently has a large part of his vehicle storage lot sitting empty. Rosalio Ahumada writes breaking news stories related to crime and public safety for The Sacramento Bee. California Courts (Courts) Traffic tickets are handled at the county office in which the ticket was issued. They were so pleasant and knowledgeable when I contacted them. The maximum punishment is three points on your drivers license, a maximum fine of $500.00 and the possibility of court ordered traffic school. . What happens if you get caught street racing in California? Rptr. Even misdemeanor evading an officer carries harsher penalties (up to one (1) year in county jail) than a speed contest.35For that reason, it is sometimes smart to try to bargain an evading an officer charge down to VC 23109(a)speed contests. Adolfo has no interest in street racing and is uncomfortable with the safety risks it poses. 3. 1. ([A motor vehicle includes a (passenger vehicle/motorcycle/bus/ school bus/commercial vehicle/truck tractor/ ). (Upon a conviction for any crime punishable by imprisonment in any jail or prison, in relation to which no fine is herein prescribed [such as felony speed contests causing serious bodily injury], the court may impose a fine on the offender not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000) in cases of misdemeanors or ten thousand dollars ($10,000) in cases of felonies, in addition to the imprisonment prescribed.), Penal Code 243(f)(4). According to the ordinance, any person present as a spectator at a street race or reckless driving exhibition can face up to $500 in fines. ", "Greg Hill did an outstanding job on every level. How do defense attorneys fight these charges? More California laws on mental health, traffic and wages taking effect on Jan. 1. Unclassified cookies are cookies that we are in the process of classifying, together with the providers of individual cookies. According to Police Chief Anthony Mata, the city will use social . Any individual who is knowingly present as a spectator, either on a public street or highway or on private property open to the general public without the consent of the owner, operator, or agent thereof, at an illegal motor vehicle speed contest or illegal exhibition of speed is guilty of a misdemeanor subject to a . How much is a ticket for spectating a sideshow? A motor vehicle so seized may be impounded for not more than 30 days. Enhanced speed contest penalties (prior conviction; bodily injury). "We need to increase the penalties for illegal street racing activities to send a message that this activity will not be tolerated.". The law will allow the court to consider a convicted offenders hardships when deciding whether to suspend or restrict a drivers license. Top 100 Trial Attorneys in the United States. The damage caused was estimated at $18,000. Street racing in California only getting more brazen, and more dangerous. If you have been accused of "willfully engaging in a speed contest," prosecutors will need to prove four important elements in order to show you were guilty: You were a participant in a motor vehicle race. Though laws vary, here are some penalties faced by street racers: You can be arrested and have your car impounded for 30 days. . Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. but ended up with 78 cars being towed for spectating! Sideshow crackdown: Under current California law, drivers who participate in illegal street races face penalties that include losing their licenses. And that meant relying on private ambulance companies responding to emergencies from outside tribal land, increasing response time. A criminal record can affect job, immigration, licensing and even housing opportunities. For additional guidance or to discuss your case with a criminal defense attorney, we invite you to contact us at Shouse Law Group. Tribal Emergency Vehicles: AB 798 by Assemblyman James Ramos helps California tribes cut red tape to operate ambulances on their land. (f) (1) If a person is convicted of a violation of subdivision (a) for an offense that occurred within five years of the date of a prior offense that resulted in a conviction of a violation of subdivision (a), that person shall be punished by imprisonment in a county jail for not less than four days nor more than six months, and by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000). CALCRIM 520 First- or Second-Degree Murder with Malice Aforethought. The term speed contest (also called street racing, drag racing, or an exhibition of speed) refers to a race by two or more motor vehicles on a public street, highway or freeway. LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- With the new year comes a new set of laws for California drivers to follow. 13.46.010) Dismissed Our client, age 33 and from Baldwin Park, was ticketed at about 4:45 p.m. on a Sunday afternoon at the end of Intermodal Way, a cul-de-sac just off Sepulveda Boulevard in Carson. This form is encrypted and protected by attorney-client confidentiality. Please complete the form below and we will contact you momentarily. It can also refer to racing against a timing device such as a clock or a stopwatch. 4th 1276, 188 Cal. We have local criminal law offices in and around Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange County, Riverside, Torrance, Glendale, Long Beach, Pomona, San Bernardino, Ventura, San Jose, Oakland, the San Francisco Bay area, and several nearby cities. Reckless driving does not result in a license suspension, but it does carry up to a 30 day sentence and $200.00 fine. Email the author: kyle@thedrive.com. In Colorado? Police officer mistakes, faulty breathalyzers and crime lab errors may get your charges reduced or dismissed. ]), CALCRIM 2201 Speed Contest (Veh. (Serious bodily injury means a serious impairment of physical condition, including, but not limited to, the following: loss of consciousness; concussion; bone fracture; protracted loss or impairment of function of any bodily member or organ; a wound requiring extensive suturing; and serious disfigurement.), Vehicle Code 23109.2 VC Impoundment of vehicle after speed contest. Your professionalism and thoroughness is greatly admired. (b) The registered and legal owner of a vehicle removed and seized under subdivision (a) or their agents shall be provided the opportunity for a storage hearing to determine the validity of the storage in accordance with Section 22852. Set location to show nearby results. on a highway (any public road), and do it willfully. Whats the maximum sentence for street racing? Takeover participants feel empowered to perform dangerous stunts and allegedly claim that catching injuries or crashes on a video actually boosts their popularity. I will definitely recommend you to my friends if they ever need legal help. Whatever the reason may be, the spectator may not have been there to watch the race and just got caught in the designated area when the police arrived. He also had a prior conviction for possession of a controlled substance while armed (Health and Safety Code 11370.1) and four juvenile adjudications for battery (Penal Code 242), assault with a stun gun (Penal Code 244.5(B) and two cases of obstructing / delaying / or resisting arrest (Penal Code 148(a)(1)). Street racing is illegal in California, usually punishable by up to 90 days in county jail and a fine of up to $1,000. The client then described his job and how he felt very privileged to even have a job with his criminal history. This is what California Law States What happens if I just watch? An alleged spectator could have simply been taking a leisurely stroll in the area, walking their dog, making a run to the grocery store, or simply hanging out in the area with friends. General Information: 800-807-6755. April 22, 2020. The information on this Law Firm website is for general information purposes only. AB 3 by Assemblyman Vince Fong, R-Bakersfield. He welcomed my input and my concerns. suspension or restriction of your drivers license from 90 days to 6 months. The ticket, which he signed to avoid being arrested and taken into the Compton Sheriffs station by the CHP was for violating Los Angeles Municipal Code 13.46.010, which the City of Carson is active in issuing because of a few recent accidents involving street racing. (d) A person shall not, for the purpose of facilitating or aiding or as an incident to any motor vehicle speed contest or exhibition upon a highway, in any manner obstruct or place a barricade or obstruction or assist or participate in placing a barricade or obstruction upon any highway.), Vehicle Code 23109 VC Speed contests. If a street race was taking place in a particular area, a local person may have simply wondered over to see what all of the raucous was about. They are frequently traveling side-by-side, leading one of them to veer out of the bike lane into the regular traffic lanes. Numerous street races will close off roads to ensure a designated area to race. These offenses are punished under Vehicle Code 23109 VC (speed contests) and Vehicle Code 23103 VC (reckless driving) . It's especially fraught when you consider the fact that sideshows often involve the sudden takeover of a public road or intersection with random passersby well within that 200 feet radius. Here are five you should know about. Sizable crowds will gather to watch races or side shows, where participants exhibit automotive stunts, such as driving in tight circles known as donuts. Rptr. Please note: Our firm only handles criminal and DUI cases, and only in California. He was efficient, thorough, knowledgeable, courteous, responsive & brilliant. Eight years earlier, he had been convicted of carrying a loaded firearm without a permit, a violation of Penal Code 12031(a)(1) and was sentenced to 180 days in county jail for that violation. The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. And they ride up onto the sidewalk at intersections where there are cars in the bike lane waiting to turn right. In case your street racing caused an injury the penalties can increase to 30 days up to 6 months in county jail, and/or a fine between $500 and $1,000. Definitely recommend! Vehicle Code 2800.1 VC Flight from pursuing peace officer. Exhibition of speed refers to violating California VC 23109, where you can be found guilty of violating the speed contest law by racing another vehicle on a roadway or racing against a timed clock. Or maybe you feared for your safety for whatever reason and engaged in fast driving that looked like a speed contest because of that. thirty (30) days to one (1) year in county jail, and/or. It includes pretty much all streets.9. The line between speed contests and garden-variety speeding can be blurry.