Street racing is prohibited by Ohio Revised Code Section 4511.251. Street racing is defined as the operation of two or more vehicles from a point side by side at accelerating speeds in a competitive attempt to out-distance each other or the operation of one or more vehicles over a common selected course, from the same point to the same point, wherein timing is made of the participating vehicles involving competitive accelerations or speeds. Under this code section, criminal liability is not limited to the drivers. Rather, persons rendering assistance in any manner to such competitive use of vehicles are required to be equally charged as the participants. Street racing is prohibited on any public road, street or highway in Ohio.
As to the requirements of proof, evidence of street racing includes either the operation of two or more vehicles side by side at speeds above lawful speed limits, or rapidly accelerating from a common starting point to a speed in excess of such lawful speeds.
Penalty For Street Racing
Street racing is a first-degree misdemeanor. The penalty for street racing includes the potential imposition of a jail term of not more than 180 days, an additional or alternative community control sanction plus reimbursement for the cost of this sanction, a fine of up to $1,000 and court costs. Additionally, the court must suspend the offender’s driver’s license, commercial driver’s license, temporary instruction permit, probationary license or nonresident operating privilege for not less than thirty days or more than three years. No judge may suspend the first 30 days of any such suspension of an offender’s license, permit or privilege.
Community control sanctions generally can include residential placement, house arrest, drug/alcohol testing and treatment, specified education and training, community service, curfew, probation, etc. Under certain circumstances, the court also may order an offender to pay restitution to any identifiable victim who incurred an economic loss as a result of the violation.
Points Assessed For Street Racing
A conviction on a traffic ticket for street racing carries six points in Ohio on an offender’s driving record. For more information on how the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) processes points for moving violations and the substantial penalty for excessive points accumulation, press Ohio BMV Points System.
Call A Columbus Attorney To Discuss Your Ticket
As indicated above, a conviction for street racing may result in the imposition of substantial penalties. If you are seeking a traffic lawyer, contact us at 614.695.5000 or online. We offer legal representation to drivers charged with traffic tickets in the Columbus metropolitan area.