Fast cars and social pressure make some people eager to consider speed contests to be a rite of passage. In places like Inyo County, CA they can lead to hefty fines, jail time, a suspended or revoked license, and your car may be towed and impounded. Of course, the worst penalty of all might be death or living with the knowledge that your recklessness or “need for speed” caused someone else’s death or paralysis.

Violation of a Speed Contest Laws

CA Vehicle Code (CVC) 23109, Exhibition of Speed states, “(c) A person shall not engage in a motor vehicle exhibition of speed on a highway, and a person shall not aid or abet in a motor vehicle exhibition of speed on any highway.”

A speed contest is also known as a drag race or street race, though there are many slang or street names for these events. In Santa Clarita Valley, on 30 June there was a large arrest of 109 people where the organizers were calling it a “Sideshow.” Only seven of those arrested were organizers or drivers, whose cars were towed and impounded, the rest were just there to watch, but received a souvenir citation to take home to their parents, as many were juveniles.

Some communities have designated areas where drag races can take place, but they are very rare. These contests are exhibitions of vehicle speed capabilities measured against other vehicles. They normally require large lengths of roadway and are established without official consent. These contests have disregard for the safety of other drivers, observers, vehicles, and property. Speeding time contests often include the placement of illegal road barriers and blockades. Participation in speed time contests or just watching falls under California’s aiding and abetting legal statutes.

An unorganized speed contest is considered an “Exhibition of Speed.” These displays are often spontaneous and can happen on any stretch of roadway. Actions such as squealing tires or “burn outs,” drifting, and wheelies on motorcycles can lead to a citation for an exhibition of speed. They are likely due to aggressive driving behavior and sometimes can qualify as a road rage event. When an exhibition of speed takes place, it can create incredible dangers to other drivers and innocent bystanders on the roadway.

Exhibition of Speed California Law

Speed exhibitions in California incur steep financial and physical penalties. First-time offenders can be incarcerated from one to ninety days, and receive a base fine of between $355 and $1,000. Second-time offenders will have a jail sentence of 30 days to six months, with a fine of $500 to $1,000. Third-time offenders will face a vehicle impound and a license suspension, along with jail time and fines at a traffic court judge's discretion. Along with fines and license restrictions, all people who are caught participating in, or aiding speed exhibitions, will receive fines and/or ordered to perform supervised hours of community service, depending on their age or ability to pay.

Speeding on Route 395 in Inyo County

This county is famous for having the highest and lowest points in the continental United States. It covers an incredible land mass with many geographic locations that draw people who want to engage in various types of vehicle racing. Though this county is very prominent in California's tourist attractions list, it has an extremely small number of traffic officers and highway patrols considering the amount of territory they have to cover. However, they do cover hwy 395 very efficiently. For this reason, police in this county who encounter a speeding contest on Route 395, or an exhibition of speed issue tickets, not warnings.

Hire an Inyo County Attorney

Many communities in California have decided that speeding contests and exhibitions pose a threat to pedestrians, residents, and other drivers. Anyone engaging in these types of activities is subject to harsh fines even without prior violations. A speed contest conviction comes with very steep fines and penalties, don’t go it alone, Call Bigger & Harman in Inyo County, CA. Mark Bigger and Paul Harman make up the legal team of Bigger & Harman, APC, who represent clients with traffic tickets in traffic court in Independence and Mammoth.

Call Bigger & Harman, 661-349-9300, email: attorney@markbigger.com or, use the website contact form when you need legal representation.

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