Five-point violations carry severe consequences in New Jersey
Racing on the highway is more than a traffic violation in our state; it is a disorderly persons offense, New Jersey’s equivalent of a misdemeanor crime. If you’ve been cited for racing, you need more than a traffic ticket lawyer; you need a criminal defense attorney with municipal court experience. At the Law Offices of Richard S. Greenberg, our attorneys are prepared to go to court, challenge the state’s evidence, cross-examine witnesses and present compelling arguments in favor of our clients.
Harsh penalties and numerous add-ons for highway racing tickets
Statutes N.J.S.A. 39:4-52 and 39:5C-1 pertain to highway racing. For a conviction, a prosecutor must prove that a person was speeding on a public highway for the purposes a bet, to race against another motor vehicle or to beat a speed record. Any direct involvement, even if you were not one of the drivers, could also earn you a conviction.
Under these terms, a driver, organizer or spectator can be charged and hit with these penalties:
A fine ranging from $25 to $100 for a first offense
A fine ranging from $100 to $200 for a subsequent offense
These penalties may seem slight, until you consider the additional possible consequences:
The driver may be imprisoned for up to 90 days.
Racing is a five-point violation.
Racing usually invites a speeding ticket with fines and an additional two to five points.
Speeding fines are doubled anywhere the speed limit is 65 mph.
Racing is inherently unsafe, so a driver can face charges of careless driving (two points), reckless driving (five points) or driving in an unsafe manner (four points).
When the final tally comes in, your highway racing conviction can cost thousands of dollars in fines, fees, surcharges and increased insurance premiums, in addition to jail time and a license suspension. Getting a dismissal or a reduction of charges and penalties is much more complicated than fighting a speeding ticket and requires the skill of an experienced criminal defense lawyer.
