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Racing on the Highways - 316.191

What is Racing?

Being arrested or cited for Racing on the Highways is a criminal offense. It is punishable by time in jail and carries with it a mandatory suspension of your license for 1 year or 2 years if convicted of racing less than five years before.

Racing can be either basic racing or drag racing. Basic racing is defined as "the use of one or more motor vehicles in an attempt to outgain or outdistance another motor vehicle, to prevent another motor vehicle from passing, to arrive at a given destination ahead of another motor vehicle or motor vehicles, or to test the physical stamina or endurance of drivers over long-distance driving routes."

Drag racing is defined as "the operation of two or more motor 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."

Regardless of whether you were arrested or cited for racing or drag racing, the potential penalties are the same. Both methods of racing carry with them a mandatory penalty of the suspension of your driver's license.

The other driver wasn't stopped!

The law does not require that both drivers be stopped and/or arrested/cited.

Penalties for Knowingly Driving with a Suspended License

First Conviction - First Degree Misdemeanor. Punishable by up to 1 year in jail and a $1,000 fine. Mandatory 1 Year License Suspension.

Second Conviction - First Degree Misdemeanor. Punishable by up to 1 year in jail and a $1,000 fine. If this conviction occurs with 5 years of a prior racing conviction, there is a Mandatory 2 Year License Suspension.

Impoundment or Immobilization - The vehicle involved in the racing may also be impounded or immobolized!

Call us at 786-619-7039 for your free consultation!

The Law Offices of Raul Ruiz, P.A. represents clients in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Monroe County. An office is located in Miami-Dade County.

Copyright 2007, by The Law Offices of Raul Ruiz, P.A.