Racing on a Highway (NJSA 39:4-52)

Racing TicketIf you live in New Jersey and get a speeding ticket for racing your car on a highway, you may face a number of consequences. Some of these consequences are mandated by the law, and some of these consequences flow at the discretion of the traffic court judge or your automobile insurance company. In this article, New Jersey traffic ticket lawyer Dan Matrafajlo explains what the New Jersey law says, and what this may mean for you.

The Law: NJSA 39:4-52

The governing law is the New Jersey Statutes, Title 39, which is entitled “Motor Vehicles and Traffic Regulation.” NJSA 39:4-52 says:

“No person shall operate a motor vehicle upon a public highway for a wager or in a race or for the purpose of making a speed record.

“A person who violates this section shall be fined not less than twenty-five nor more than one hundred dollars for the first offense, and, for a subsequent offense, not less than one hundred nor more than two hundred dollars.”

MVC Points and Penalties

If the judge convicts you for racing on a highway, this will be considered to be a moving violation, and the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) will penalize you by adding 5 points to your driving record. Keep in mind that if you plead guilty or are found guilty by a New Jersey Municipal Court judge, then your driving record will suffer. In that you are automatically subject to two surcharges a state and insurance surcharge. If you incur 6 or more motor vehicle points in a short period of time New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission will suspend your right to operate a motor vehicle in the State of New Jersey for at least 30 days. Moreover, if you incur 12 or more motor vehicle points on your current driving record, your license will be suspended.

Fines

The abovementioned law means that first-time offenders of racing cars on the highway will be fined anywhere between $25 and $100. All second or further offenses carry with them a mandatory fine of $100 to $200. You will also have to pay any court costs associated with your trial.

Driver’s License Suspension

In addition, the judge presiding over your traffic ticket trial has the discretion to suspend your driver’s license if he or she sees fit to do so.

Insurance Rates

A conviction for racing on a highway will not go unnoticed by your automobile insurer; your insurance premiums will go up because a New Jersey licensed Automobile Insurance Provider will assess 6 “Insurance Eligibility Points” against your insurance record (that is in addition to the motor vehicle points assessed against your New Jersey Driver’s License).

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