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CBS 8 News Now Las Vegas has reported that in the first weekend in May, police issued around 450 citations related to street racing. Police agencies joined together and stopped these hundreds of drivers for speeding and reckless driving related to street racing, who will face consequences non court in the weeks and months to come. In Nevada, unauthorized street racing is considered reckless driving. You can be cited or arrested for unauthorized street racing, as well as simply organizing or planning an unauthorized street racing event. This means if you assist in planning the event but do not participate, you can still be charged.
Las Vegas is not alone when it comes to dealing with street racing problems. Police across the country are reporting spikes in street racing amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Dallas police have issued more than 200 citations already this month, and over 100 tickets were written in Albuquerque in the first weekend in May. Head-to-head drag races have been occurring with more frequency in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles.
Criminal Penalties for Street Racing in Nevada
One of the worst consequences of speed racing charges is potentially having your driver’s license suspended and car impounded. Even for a first offense, your license may be suspended for six months to two years, and your car impounded for 15 days. Additional penalties may include paying a fine of $250-$1,000, participating in 50-99 hours of community service, and serving up to six months in jail. If the incident took place in a work or construction zone, penalties may be doubled. Subsequent offenses after the first offense may have higher fines and longer jail times.
If your speed racing “proximately caused” another person’s death or substantial bodily harm in Nevada, you may face felony charges, which carry even stiffer penalties than misdemeanors. If your driving caused an injury or fatal accident which you fled from (failing to stop for an accident), you may face a felony charge, punishable by 2 to 20 years in prison, along with a fine of $2,000 to $5,000.
Time is Of the Essence In a Criminal Case
The sooner you contact an experienced Las Vegas criminal defense lawyer after a citation or arrest, the sooner we can help you protect your rights, your driver’s license, and your future. If no one was injured, we may be able to help you get your charges reduced to breaching the peace, which doesn’t require your license to be suspended. We will evaluate potential defenses that would be effective to raise beneficial doubt about your participation in a street race. We will look at all available evidence, including witnesses, communications about the race, and photo and video surveillance.
Get Legal Help Today
You should not, and do not need to, face the consequences of a street racing citation on your own. Call the attorneys at LV Criminal Defense to speak to Nick Wooldridge and his team. Our Nevada street racing defense attorneys treat our clients with respect and dignity, and aggressively fight for their rights and future. Contact us to speak with a member of our legal team about your case.
