NEW srteet racing Law went into effect today in TEXAS!!

[viper spray]

looks like my racing days may be over! :
The minimum charge for racing, as defined in the statute, is a Class B Misdemeanor (One step above a regular traffic citation and a guaranteed trip to the Travis County Justice Complex).

The charge is a Class A Misdemeanor (just below a felony) if you were legally intoxicated at the time or have an open container of alcohol as defined in the Penal Code. It is also a Class A Misdemeanor if you've been convicted once before of racing.

It is a State Jail Felony if you've been convicted two times before of racing.

Important One
It is a Third Degree Felony if, as a result of racing, someone suffered bodily injury. CliffNotes: If you get into an accident while racing and someone gets hurt, even in a minor way, it's a Third Degree Felony.

It is a Second Degree Felony if, as a result of racing, someone suffered serious bodily injury (like a broken bone or a permanent injury) or death.

Drivers License Suspensions

If you are convicted under this new racing law, your drivers license will be suspended for one year. You can get an occupational license that will allow you to only go to work, school, and home. If you are under 18, your occupational license will only allow you to go to school and home. BTW, occupational licenses cost upwards of over $300.

If you are required to perform community service as part of a conviction, after you complete the community service, you can apply to DPS for reinstatement of your driving priviledges (beg for mercy). They don't have to grant it.

If, while you are under suspension for racing, you get convicted of racing again, your period of suspension starts over from the date of your second conviction and starts over. This is in addition to all the "2nd Racing Conviction" penalties and stuff.

Keep in mind that Driving While License Suspended is a Class B Misdemeanor in itself. So, if you get caught racing while your license is suspended for racing, you'll get the Class A Misdemeanor Racing (if it's only your second and not third) and a Class B Driving While License Suspended. Plus your suspension starts all over.

For your reference for the different levels of offenses and their penalties:

Class B Misdemeanor: Jail for up to 180 days or a fine up to $2000, or both.

Class A Misdemeanor: Jail for up to a year or a fine up to $4000, or both.

State Jail Felony: Jail for 180 days to 2 years and up to a $10000 fine.

Third Degree Felony: Jail for 2 years to 10 years and up to a $10000 fine.

Second Degree Felony: Jail for 2 years to 20 years and up to a $10000 fine.

Also, there is a caveat to the State Jail Felony punishment. It states that if a deadly weapon was exhibited or used in the crime or while fleeing (that's running from the cops), then it's a Third Degree Felony. A car can be defined as a deadly weapon if used that way. Keep that in mind.






Basically you go to jail and your car is towed , then if convicted your license gets suspended for a year! This is all up to the cop , if it looks like a race to him , you are in trouble.

[viper spray]

No more just getting a ticket and then paying it.

[SUN RA KAT]

Texas - making the State safer for cell phone talking SUV driving soccer moms and illegal aliens from Mexico that might cross the road at the wrong time.

[Smokin]

No real point of racing anyone on the street....not a question or whether or not you are going to win, its a matter of how badly youll beat them.

[Tie]

Here in Georgia it's much simpler. Should you get caught racing it is an automatic Habitual Violator offense, license lost for 5 years on the first offense. If you're caught driving at all during this period it is an automatic felony.

In the past you had to get caught for three DUI's to achieve HV status, now you screw up with a little red light fun and your smoked.

[Roadkill]

Originally Posted by Tiepilot

Here in Georgia it's much simpler. Should you get caught racing it is an automatic Habitual Violator offense, license lost for 5 years on the first offense. If you're caught driving at all during this period it is an automatic felony.

In the past you had to get caught for three DUI's to achieve HV status, now you screw up with a little red light fun and your smoked.

That is just insane.. So you do a little stoplight racing and you lose your license for 5 years? or do they have degrees of racing ie: caught doing 120 in a 55 etc?

[viper spray]

The problem is that every time I go for a drive , someone revs and punches it next to me. If a cop sees this he can bust me for racing. All he has to do is claim that it ,"looked like we were racing"

[FE065]

It might pay to have one of those computerized things in your car that data records your speed, rpm etc. It could be used in your defense!
Unless you were guilty, and they found the signaling device in your car; and used it against you..

[Minivan Man]

Stupid fucking law. An in-law is a terrible alcoholic. Already killed one person. Innumerable DUIs. Still has her license here in Texas. But if you get caught racing, well....that's somehow worse.

[BigCarrot]

I think it's terribly ridiculous! I can't believe that you can be turned into a hardened criminal for taking part in a past-time that's American as apple pie! I'm going to sue the people that produced the movie Greece! They influenced me! It's their fault that I like drag racing!

[Nightstalker]

Originally Posted by BigCarrot

I think it's terribly ridiculous! I can't believe that you can be turned into a hardened criminal for taking part in a past-time that's American as apple pie! I'm going to sue the people that produced the movie Greece! They influenced me! It's their fault that I like drag racing!

Wrong "GREASE"

[Snake Bitten]

Originally Posted by Nightstalker

Wrong "GREASE"

Them too!