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NY Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1182: Speed Contests and Racing
Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1182 makes it a crime to engage in, or aid or abet, a race, exhibition or contest of speed on a highway. Unlike most traffic tickets, a speed contest is a misdemeanor, with possible jail time, and a second conviction within 12 months carries up to 6 months. Richard Hochhauser of Hochhauser Criminal & DWI Defense, PLLC is a former Long Island prosecutor who defends racing charges in Nassau County and Suffolk County courts.
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NY Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1182 at a glance
| Speed contests and racing | |
|---|---|
| Statute | NY Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1182 |
| Charge level | Misdemeanor |
| First offense | Up to 30 days in jail, or a fine of $300 to $525, or both |
| Second within 12 months | Up to 6 months in jail, or a fine of $525 to $750, or both |
| Also covers | Aiding or abetting a race or exhibition of speed |
What NY Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1182 says
1. Except as provided in section eleven hundred eighty-two-a of this article or section sixteen hundred thirty, sixteen hundred forty, sixteen hundred forty-two or sixteen hundred sixty of this chapter, no races, exhibitions or contests of speed shall be held and no person shall engage in or aid or abet in any motor vehicle or other speed contest or exhibition of speed on a highway. Such event, if held, shall be fully and efficiently patrolled for the entire distance over which such race, exhibition or contest for speed is to be held. Participants in a race, exhibition or contest of speed are exempted from compliance with any traffic laws otherwise applicable thereto, but shall exercise reasonable care. A violation of any of the provisions of this section shall constitute a misdemeanor and be punishable by imprisonment of not more than thirty days or a fine of not less than three hundred dollars nor more than five hundred twenty-five dollars, or both such fine and imprisonment.
2. A second conviction within twelve months of a violation of this section shall be punishable by imprisonment of not more than six months or a fine of not less than five hundred twenty-five dollars nor more than seven hundred fifty dollars, or both such fine and imprisonment.
Source: New York State Senate, official text. Read the full section, including any later amendments, before relying on it.
What the prosecutor has to prove
- There was a race, exhibition or contest of speed on a highway.
- You engaged in it, or aided or abetted it.
- Fast driving alone is not enough. The prosecutor must show an actual contest or exhibition of speed.
Penalties for speed contest
| Outcome | What it means |
|---|---|
| First offense | A misdemeanor: up to 30 days in jail, or a fine of $300 to $525, or both. |
| Second offense within 12 months | Up to 6 months in jail, or a fine of $525 to $750, or both. |
| Record | A misdemeanor conviction is a criminal record. |
| License and insurance | A conviction can bring DMV consequences and higher insurance costs. |
Charged with racing or a speed contest?
Call before your next court date. Consultations are free, in person at our Hempstead office or by video call or phone call. We answer 24/7.
How speed contest charges show up on Long Island
In the cases we’ve seen over the last two years, VTL 1182 charges come up more often in Nassau County.
These charges often come with Speeding (VTL 1180), reckless driving and sometimes reckless endangerment.
Traffic infractions in Nassau County are handled by the Nassau County Traffic and Parking Violations Agency, 801 Axinn Avenue, Garden City, NY 11530. In the five western towns of Suffolk County, they are handled by the Suffolk County Traffic and Parking Violations Agency, 100 Veterans Memorial Highway, Hauppauge, NY 11788. When a ticket comes with a criminal charge, the case is heard at the Nassau County District Court, 99 Main Street, Hempstead, NY 11550, or the Suffolk County District Court, First District, 400 Carleton Avenue, Central Islip, NY 11722.
An example
Two cars accelerate hard side by side from a red light on Sunrise Highway late at night, and police stop both. Each driver is charged with VTL 1182 and speeding. The defense looks at whether there was actually a contest between the drivers, as opposed to two cars that happened to accelerate at the same time.
Defenses to a VTL 1182 charge
- No contest or exhibition. Two cars speeding near each other is not necessarily a race.
- Identification. In fast-moving situations, the wrong car is sometimes stopped.
- Video and speed evidence. Dashcam and traffic video often clarify what happened.
- Reduction. Many cases resolve with non-criminal traffic infractions.
Related offenses
- Speeding (VTL 1180)
- Reckless driving (VTL 1212)
- Reckless endangerment (PL 120.20)
- Long Island traffic ticket defense
NY Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1182: frequently asked questions
Is drag racing a crime in New York?
Yes. Engaging in or aiding a speed contest or exhibition of speed on a highway under VTL 1182 is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to 30 days in jail, a fine of $300 to $525, or both.
What is the penalty for a second speed contest conviction?
A second conviction within 12 months carries up to 6 months in jail, a fine of $525 to $750, or both.
Can a speed contest charge be reduced?
Often, yes, to a traffic infraction such as speeding, depending on the evidence and your record.
Do spectators get charged?
The statute covers anyone who engages in or aids or abets a speed contest, so organizers and others who help can be charged, not just drivers.
How much does a lawyer cost for this charge?
Hochhauser Criminal & DWI Defense, PLLC charges a flat fee, quoted after your free consultation, so you know the cost up front.
Talk to a former prosecutor today
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This is general information about New York law, not legal advice about your case. Laws change, and the right defense depends on the facts. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
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