Street Racing Defense in Illinois

The defense attorneys at The Davis Law Group, P.C. commonly represent clients facing Street Racing/Drag Racing charges throughout Illinois and the Chicago area including Cook County, Lake County and DuPage County.

What is Street Racing?

Under Illinois law (5/11-506), street racing (formerly known as drag racing) has six definitions:

1) The operation of 2 or more vehicles from a point side by side at accelerating speeds in a competitive attempt to outdistance each other; 2) or the operation of one or more vehicles over a common selected course, each starting at the same point, for the purpose of comparing the relative speeds or power of acceleration of such vehicle or vehicles within a certain distance or time limit; 3) or the use of one or more vehicles in an attempt to outgain or outdistance another vehicle; 4) or the use of one or more vehicles to prevent another vehicle from passing; 5) or the use of one or more vehicles to arrive at a given destination ahead of another vehicle or vehicles; 6) or the use of one or more vehicles to test the physical stamina or endurance of drivers over long-distance driving routes

What are the Penalties for Street Racing?

A driver convicted of street racing is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor for a first offense and subject to a minimum fine of $250 plus mandatory court costs (second or subsequent offense carries a $500 minimum fine).

However, while many people understand that street racing/drag racing is a criminal charge, they do not know that a conviction results in a loss of driving privileges. In fact, a conviction for street racing will result in a driver’s license revocation by the Illinois Secretary of State. A license revocation lasts for an indefinite term, as opposed to a license suspension which terminates after a set period of time. In order to ever regain driving privileges, the individual must appear for an administrative hearing before the Secretary of State. At the hearing, the individual must demonstrate that they are not a risk to public safety. The Secretary of State may require that the individual first drives on a restricted driving permit (RDP) before allowing the full reinstatement of their driving privileges.

As a result, avoiding a conviction on a street racing/drag racing charge is our top priority. Court Supervision is a non-conviction disposition in Illinois, which not only prevents the entry of a license revocation but prevents the offense from appearing on the driver’s public record.

Under this same law, it is a Class B misdemeanor for the owner of a vehicle to allow their vehicle to be used for street racing. A second or subsequent violation may be charged as a Class A misdemeanor.

A driver convicted of street racing involving great bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement of another may be charged with Aggravated Street Racing, a Class 4 felony, punishable by a term of imprisonment of 1-12 years.

Street Racing Defense Attorneys

The traffic defense attorneys at The Davis Law Group, P.C. handle street racing and drag racing charges in Chicago and throughout Illinois. Our license reinstatement attorneys also have extensive experience assisting those who have had their driver’s license revoked by the Illinois Secretary of State for street racing. Our practice extends primarily to Cook County, Lake County and DuPage County. Feel free to contact us for a consultation if you have been charged with street racing or drag racing.