Florida makes it a crime not just for the drivers, but also for passengers, organizers and others who help the street racing to occur.
Fla. Stat. §316.191, makes it is a 2º Misdemeanor punishable by up to 60 days in the county jail for anyone who:
- Drives a motor vehicle is a race, competition, acceleration contest, or exhibition of speed,
- Assists in the coordination of a race, including the collecting of money,
- Knowing rides as a passenger in a race, or,
- Slows or stops traffic for a race.
In addition to the potential jail time for being involved in a street race, a fine is to be imposed between $500.00 – $1000.00, as well as a 1 years Driver’s License Revocation.
Additionally, if the above drivers, coordinators, passengers or traffic stoppers have a prior racing offense has occurred within the last 5 years, this charge is enhanced to that of a º Misdemeanor punishable by up to 1 year in the county jail. Also, the fine increases to between $1,000.00 – $5,000.00, as well as an increased 2 year Driver’s License Revocation.
Furthermore, if the above is a 3rd offense within 5 years of a prior offense, the charge is still considered a 1º Misdemeanor punishable by up to 1 year in the county jail, but there is a 4 year Driver’s License Revocation.
Even spectators to such a race can be issued a civil violation that is finable up to $500.00, and considered a moving violation in which points can be assessed against their Driver’s License.
With all of the ramifications to street racing that Florida has imposed, if you are issued a citation involving racing on the roads or bridges in the Tampa Bay Area, call the Tampa Street Racing Attorneys at Taracks & Associates for now for a Free Consultation at 813-281-2897.
We will discuss not only the facts of the racing, but analyze your involvement, and develop a defense to the charges that you are facing.
We will work to defend your from the series of law the Florida Legislature has enacted in addition to the above that are applied to street racing, or other willful driving conduct that can affect not only the families of the accused, but if someone is injured or dies, the families of the injured.
In addition to the above “Street Racing” crimes, Florida has the additional crimes that can be presented by prosecutors if they can prove that a driver was operating a motor vehicle in a reckless manner, which is in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of others.
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Vehicular Homicide. According to Fla. Stat. §782.071, anyone who causes the death of another
by the reckless operation of a motor vehicle that was likely to cause
the death or great bodily injury to another.
- This is a 2º Felony that is punishable by up to 15 years in Florida State Prison.
- If a person leaves the scene of the crash, it is a 1º Felony punishable by up to 30 years in Florida State Prison.
- In both of the above classifications, the court shall revoke the privilege to drive for at least 3 years.
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Reckless Driving with Serious Bodily Injury. According to Fla. Stat. §316.192(3)(c)1, anyone who as a result of
operating a motor vehicle in a willful or wanton disregard for the safety
of others that results in injury that creates a substantial risk of death,
serious personal disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of bodily organs.
- This is a 3º Felony that is punishable by up to 5 years in Florida State Prison.
The attorneys at Taracks & Associates have extensive experience in handling charges of Street Racing, and have aggressively represented individual who have faced any number of combinations of the statutes that Street Racers or others implicated by Street Racing may face. Call today for your Free Consultation with a Tampa Street Racing Attorney.