Fighting Florida Street Racing Charges

Florida police and courts are seriously cracking down on street racing. This is not just a regular traffic ticket; it is a first-degree misdemeanor crime that has major penalties. If you are charged with racing on a highway, drag racing, or similar events like burnouts and drifting, you need an aggressive defense. At 305 Ticket Defense, we are ready to fight these criminal traffic charges for you.

What is Street Racing ?

Under Florida law, street racing is defined as purposely driving a car in a competitive attempt to either outrun another vehicle, prevent another vehicle from passing you, or test hte limits or speed of drivers over a certain route:

• Outrun another vehicle:
  • This is the most direct definition, but it is open to interpretation. An officer may allege a client was trying to “outrun” another vehicle when the client was simply accelerating to pass traffic, merge, or get ahead of another driver for their own safety.
• Keep another car from passing you.
  • The state may argue that two cars accelerating side-by-side or repeatedly changing lanes to prevent a pass constitutes racing. This is often the case in disputes or road-rage situations that are mistakenly prosecuted as criminal street racing.
• Test the limits or speed of drivers over a certain route.
  • This is the most expansive and vague definition, allowing police and prosecutors significant latitude to charge individuals involved in “street takeover” events, “speed exhibitions,” or “stunt driving.”

The law is very strict and can include more than just two cars racing. You can even be charged for being a spectator or passenger at a “take over” event or speed contest.

Penalties You Face:

A single conviction for street racing can have disastrous, long-term consequences that are much harsher than a reckless driving charge:

Offense Level	Penalty
1st Offense	Fines: At least $500, up to $1,000.
	License Revocation: Mandatory minimum of one year.
	Jail Time: Up to one year in county jail.
	Vehicle Impoundment: Your car may be held for 30 days.
Repeat Offenses	Fines jump to between $1,000 and $5,000.
	License revocation can increase to four years.
	Some repeat violations can become a felony crime.

A single conviction for street racing under Florida law is treated as a First-Degree Misdemeanor with severe, long-term consequences that far exceed a typical reckless driving charge. For a first offense, you face a mandatory minimum one-year revocation of your driver’s license, immediate vehicle impoundment for 30 days (with the owner bearing the towing and storage costs), and fines starting at at least $500 and potentially reaching $1,000. Additionally, a conviction exposes you to the possibility of up to one year in county jail and a permanent criminal record, which can severely impact employment and education opportunities. The law escalates sharply for repeat offenders: fines jump substantially to a range of $1,000 up to $5,000, your driver’s license revocation period can increase to two to four years, and certain subsequent violations, especially those occurring within a short time frame or involving specific aggravating factors, can be enhanced to a Third-Degree Felony, subjecting you to years in state prison and permanent loss of the right to own a vehicle through forfeiture. A conviction also adds points to your license, causes your insurance rates to soar, and creates a permanent criminal record.

How 305 Ticket Defense Can Help

We examine every detail of your case to build a powerful defense. We look closely at whether the police officer saw the entire event and if the evidence truly proves a “competition.”

We look for defense angles such as:

• Lack of proof of intent to race:
  • The statute requires the State to prove that you were driving a motor vehicle in a speed competition or contest, or for the purpose of making a speed record. We argue that your driving was simply thoughtful acceleration or passing maneuvers. Without evidence of a mutual challenge, pre-arrangement, or conscious objective to race, a critical element of the crime is missing.
• No Clear Evidence of Competition Between Vehicles:
  • A key part of the legal definition of a “race” is a challenge to demonstrate superiority or a competitive response. We look for proof that there was no agreement or visible signs of competition between you and another driver.
• Inconsistencies between the officer’s report and the actual speed.
  • We aggressively challenge the police report and any traffic-measuring devices used. We will investigate speed discrepancy, traffic conditions, and identification errors.
• The incident does not match the legal definition of “racing.”
  • The most comprehensive defense is arguing that the incident simply does not fit the technical, codified definition of “racing,” “drag racing,” or “exhibition of speed” as defined in the statute. 

Don’t let a street racing charge destroy your driving privileges and criminal record. Contact our experienced lawyers at 305 Ticket Defense right away.