Our California criminal defense attorneys will address the following in this article: The offense is often charged under Vehicle Code 23109 VC. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. They were so pleasant and knowledgeable when I contacted them. CALCRIM 2201 Speed Contest (Veh. Street Race Spectator, L.A. MC 47.15, Reduced to Infraction - Los Angeles Speed Contest Ticket Lawyer The client then described his job and how he felt very privileged to even have a job with his criminal history. Technology, performance and design delivered to your inbox. Watson murder is a form of California Penal Code 187, second-degree murder. A Los Angeles Times investigation found 179 people had died in speed contests in Los Angeles County from . It could carry penalties of: A county jail sentence between 24 hours and 90 days. More California laws on mental health, traffic and wages taking effect on Jan. 1. What is the maximum fine for a driver caught and convicted for street racing? ((a) A person shall not engage in a motor vehicle speed contest on a highway. Visit our California DUI page to learn more. In some instances the police shut down the roadway from both ends and they ticket every single person in the car, regardless of whether they were a driver or passenger. Sideshows are illegal gatherings in which groups of drivers take over intersections, city streets, stretches of busy freeways and/or parking lots to do tricks with their cars, including burnouts and doughnuts, The Sacramento Bee reported. According toLos Angeles DUI defense attorneyJohn Murray29: It is very common for defendants charged with driving under the influence to negotiate the charges down to exhibition of speed as part of the California DUI plea bargaining process. Whats the maximum sentence for street racing? A county jail sentence of at least twenty-four (24) hours and no more than ninety (90) days; A fine of at least three hundred fifty-five dollars ($355) and no more than one thousand dollars ($1,000); Forty (40) hours of community service; and/or. What happens if you get caught street racing in California? Finally, if you are accused of evading a law enforcement officer in connection with a speed contest, then you may also face charges for, Misdemeanor evading an officer occurs when someone intentionally flees from a clearly marked law enforcement vehicle in their car.33, Felony reckless evading occurs when they drive recklessly while doing so.34. All Rights Reserved. But he made the choice to participate and so did so willfully., Thus, Adolfo can be charged with aiding and abetting a speed contest.11, A speed contest is any race by a motor vehicle against either. With warmest regards. That person shall also be required to perform 40 hours of community service. 13.46.010) Dismissed :: Los Angeles County Criminal Defense Lawyers Greg Hill & Associates. Example: Charlotte is an avid motorcyclist whose husband owns a car dealership. AB 3 by Assemblyman Vince Fong, R-Bakersfield. Currently, state law prohibits vehicle exhibition speeding on highways or aiding or abetting in that type of 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 the speed contest proximately caused bodily injury to another person, then the penalties increase to: And if the speed contest proximately causedseriousbodily injury to another person, the crime becomes what is known as a wobbler. This is an offense that may be charged as either a misdemeanororaCalifornia felony, at the prosecutors discretion.20, If it is charged as a misdemeanor, a speed contest causing serious bodily injury is punished by, Charged as a felony, a speed contest causing serious bodily injury carries a sentence of. What happens if a person is convicted of 23109 VC? "If we can prevent even one injury because of this new law, then our efforts will have been worth it," Rivas said. (7) Brain injury. But it does NOT include an event where participants measure the amount of time it takes for a vehicle to cover a given route, IF: A violation of this crime can result in jail time and/or a fine. Vehicle Code 23109 VC Speed contests. If convicted of street racing or aiding and abetting a street. ((h)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (3), a felony punishable pursuant to this subdivision where the term is not specified in the underlying offense [such as felony speed contests causing serious bodily injury] shall be punishable by a term of imprisonment in a county jail for 16 months, or two or three years.)See also Penal Code 672 PC. I will definitely recommend you to my friends if they ever need legal help. 13.46.010) Dismissed Spectator at a Street Race (L.A.M.C. This sort of creative defense is normally only used with senior citizens, but we suggest contacting an attorney to see if any other legal defense can be applicable to your case. Call our law firm to for a free consultation. VC 23109(c)exhibition of speedcan be charged on its own, as either a misdemeanor or aninfraction.28But it is also a very commonCalifornia DUI plea bargain. Email the author: kyle@thedrive.com. Greg listened to the client explain what had happened and recommended that the client enroll in and complete an online traffic school course of at least four hours ASAP so Greg could take the certificate of completion with him to court in hopes of avoiding a conviction for a misdemeanor. Driving with a disregard for safety of others or their property is considered reckless driving. . Vehicle Code 2800.1 VC Flight from pursuing peace officer. (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). Races can draw in crowds to street corners converted to speedways. The facts of a case may lead a prosecutor to charge street racing as reckless driving, per VC 23103. Sizable crowds will gather to watch races or side shows, where participants exhibit automotive stunts, such as driving in tight circles known as donuts. It shall be unlawful for any individual to: (a) Knowingly gather, attend, or assist an illegal speed contest or illegal exhibition of speed as defined by Vehicle Code Section 23109; or. Authorities across the country are constantly testing new ways to stop the violent delights and violent ends of street racing. We do not handle any of the following cases: And we do not handle any cases outside of California. Set location to show nearby results. But it does not include property that is maintained by private entities and/or not open to the public for vehicle travel. 4.3. . Greg gladly accepted such a pre-plea offer, also known as pure diversion or delayed entry of plea, asking for three months for our client to complete the online driving school course and perform the 20 hours of community service. California evading an officer laws, Vehicle Code 14601 VC driving on a suspended license, Vehicle Code 2800.1 VC misdemeanor evading an officer, Vehicle Code 2800.2 VC felony reckless evading, drag racing and unauthorized speed contests (NRS 484B.653), Navarrete v. Meyer (Cal. California cuts red tape for tribes to operate ambulances, speeding response times. If someone decides to spin their tires or even rev their engine (both of which are covered under the "preparations" section) within sight or earshot of a passing cop, they can theoretically arrest everyone present, even those who were just there to hang out. In fact, people charged with first offense racing face up to six months in jail and a fine of about $2,000, and a one year license suspension. Vehicle Code 23109 VC Speed contests, subsections (e) and (f), endnote 5, above. CaliforniaVehicle Code 23109(a) VC makes it a crime willfully to participate in a speed contest. Violations of the crimes can result in fines and/or jail time. Is street racing illegal in California? I consent to the use of following cookies: Necessary cookies help make a website usable by enabling basic functions like page navigation and access to secure areas of the website. In Nevada? In an attempt to combat street racers throughout Florida, the Florida legislature crafted a law which prohibits individuals from being a spectator at any drag racing event. LAPD investigators say at least . Street racing is illegal, but in the state of Florida it is also illegal to stand on the sidelines and watch a street race. Numerous street races will close off roads to ensure a designated area to race. Common consequences for a person watching a street race are, 3 points on an individuals license which could lead to license suspensionand a fine that can amount to $500. And that meant relying on private ambulance companies responding to emergencies from outside tribal land, increasing response time. They have expressed disbelief. (2) If the perpetration of the most recent offense within the five-year period described in paragraph (1) proximately causes bodily injury to a person other than the driver, a person convicted of that second violation shall be imprisoned in a county jail for not less than 30 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). Still, the heavy-handedness on display here should concern both car enthusiasts and fans of reasonable policing alike. In Santa Rosa, police observing a September sideshow were pelted with rocks when they tried to break it up after reports someone had been shot, The Press Democrat reported. Starting July 1, 2025, a court may suspend a person's driver's license for 90 days to six months if that person is convicted of speeding in connection with a sideshow. This website can help you find the appropriate county traffic court to pay or challenge your ticket. Reducing Bail & Knowing When Someone Will Be Released, Seal Arrest & Petition for Factual Innocence (PFI). California Courts (Courts) Traffic tickets are handled at the county office in which the ticket was issued. Please note: Our firm only handles criminal and DUI cases, and only in California. Note: speed racing does not include an event where participants measure time to travel a route if its over 20 miles, and the vehicle does not exceed the speed limit during the event. When Lila and her fellow racers are arrested for VC 23109(a) speed contestsBruces car is seized and impounded. Shouse Law Group has helped many citizens get charges reduced or dismissed, and keep their records clean. April 22, 2020. Vehicle Code 23109 VC Speed contests, subsection (b), endnote 1, above. sixteen (16) months, two (2) years or three (3) years and. Furthermore in case of serious bodily injury (even includes concussion or loss of consciousness) you may be looking at a sentence of 16 months to 3 years in jail, and up to $10,000 fine. partaking in a speed contest (per VC 23109), custody in county jail for up to 90 days, and/or. Not only is street racing or stunt driving incredibly dangerous and reckless, if youre convicted of the offence, you will lose your licence, face an expensive fine, and you may go to jail. Very helpful with any questions and concerns and I can't thank them enough for the experience I had. The client was very happy with the offer and thankful that he had hired Greg Hill & Associates to represent him in court. LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- With the new year comes a new set of laws for California drivers to follow. Reckless driving does not result in a license suspension, but it does carry up to a 30 day sentence and $200.00 fine. ((a) A person convicted of engaging in a motor vehicle speed contest in violation of subdivision (a) of Section 23109 that proximately causes one or more of the injuries specified in subdivision (b) to a person other than the driver, shall be punished by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code, or by imprisonment in a county jail for not less than 30 days nor more than six months, or by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment. Its unclear who exactly operates the Street Racer Task Force Instagram account, but police have admitted to monitoring social media in the past to look out for illegal takeovers. The most common legal defenses to Vehicle Code 23109(a) VC charges include: You cannot be convicted of a speed contest unless the prosecutor can prove that you acted willfully.26, Maybe you have a physical or medical condition that led you to drive at a high speed without realizing you were doing so. Carson, Compton, El Segundo, Gardena, Harbor City, Hawthorne, Hermosa Beach, Lomita, Long Beach, Manhattan Beach, Palos Verdes Estates, Rancho Dominguez, Rancho Palos Verdes, Redondo Beach, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, San Pedro, Santa Monica, Torrance, Wilmington, and surrounding cities in Los Angeles.