If 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).
Wrong way on a one-way street (NJSA 39:4-85.1)
Driving the wrong way on a one-way street is against the law in New Jersey. In f
Tailgating (NJSA 39:4-89)
Tailgating is when your car follows another car too closely, so closely that it
Stopping at a Railroad Crossing (NJSA 39:4-127.1)
Section 39:4-127.1 of the New Jersey Annotated Statutes provides that a driver i
Slow Speed Blocking Traffic (NJSA 39:4-97.1)
Exceeding the speed limit on a highway in New Jersey is one of the most commonly
Reckless Driving (NJSA 39:4-96)
New Jersey has two separate statutes defining the similar-sounding traffic viola
Racing on a Public Highway (NJSA 39:5C-1)
New Jersey has two statutes forbidding racing on a highway, and NJSA 39:5C-1. 39
Leaving the Scene of an Injury Accident (NJSA 39:4-129)
Leaving the scene of an accident that resulted in an injury or death is one of t
Leaving the Scene of a Non-Injury Accident (NJSA 39:4-129(b))
Leaving the scene of an accident (commonly referred to as “hit-and-run”) is
Improper U-Turn (NJSA 39:4-125)
New Jersey Annotated Statute 39:4-125 prohibits making a U-turn in certain locat
Improper Turn From Approved Turning Course (NJSA 39:4-124)
New Jersey Annotated Statute 39:4-124 gives the State Highway Commissioner and l
Improper Turn at Traffic Light (NJSA 39:4-115)
Section 39:4-115 of the New Jersey Annotated Statutes describes turning at an in
Improper Right or Left Turn (NJSA 39:4-123)
In this article, New Jersey traffic attorney Dan Matrafajlo will discuss New Jer
Improper passing on right or off roadway (NJSA 39:4-85)
If you’re going to pass a car that’s driving in the same direction as you, y
Improper Passing of School Bus (NJSA 39:4-128.1)
On a New Jersey undivided highway, when approaching or overtaking a stopped bus
Improper Passing of a Frozen Dessert Truck (NJSA 39:4-128.4)
Section 39:4-128.4 of the New Jersey Annotated Statutes deals with passing a fro
Improper passing in no passing zone (NJSA 39:4-86)
When you’re driving your car along a New Jersey roadway, you must overtake and
Improper operating of vehicle on divided highway or divider (NJSA 39:4-82.1)
Driving on or across a safety island or any other physical barrier on a divided
Improper Crossing of Railroad Grade Crossing by Certain Vehicles (NJSA 39:4-128)
NJSA 39:4-128 applies only to drivers of certain commercial vehicles, including
Improper Crossing of Bridge (NJSA 39:4-127.2)
A movable span bridge or “swing bridge” is a bridge that can pivot horizonta
Improper Backing or Turning in Street (NJSA 39:4-127)
In this article, New Jersey traffic ticket attorney Dan Matrafajlo will explain
Failure to yield to overtaking vehicle (NJSA 39:4-87)
When you’re driving along a New Jersey roadway and you see that another car is
Failure to yield to emergency vehicles (NJSA 39:4-91 and 39:4-92)
When you’re driving along a New Jersey roadway and you see an emergency vehicl
Failure to yield at intersection (NJSA 39:4-90)
When you approach an intersection, there are several rules governing who should
Failure to use proper entrances to limited-access highways (NJSA 39:4-90.1)
Improperly entering or leaving limited-access highways is against the law in New
Failure to Stop for Police Whistle (NJSA 39:4-122)
Section 39:4-122 of the New Jersey Annotated Statutes mandates that a driver mus
Failure to Stop for a Traffic Light (NJSA 39:4-105)
In this article, Dan Matrafajlo will explain the color system used for New Jers
Failure to Stop at a Flashing Red Signal (NJSA 39:4-119)
When a New Jersey driver approaches a traffic control signal that is flashing re
Failure to Signal a Stop or Turn (NJSA 39:4-126)
In this article, New Jersey traffic ticket attorneys Dan Matrafajlo will explain
Failure to keep right (NJSA 39:4-82)
As a driver, you must drive your car on the right side of the roadway unless it�
Failing to Observe a Police Officer's Directions (NJSA 39:4-57)
Although you might think that traffic tickets are mainly for failing to obey tra
Driving While License Suspended (NJSA 39:3-40)
Section 39:3-40 of the New Jersey Statutes prohibits a person from operating a m
Driving on sidewalk (NJSA 39:4-71)
According to New Jersey law, with a few exceptions, you are not allowed to drive
Driving on public or private property to avoid a traffic sign or signal (NJSA 39:4-66.2)
If you’re driving along a road and you see a red light ahead of you, you might
Driving in an Unsafe Manner (NJSA 39:4-97.2)
NJSA 39:4-97.2 is a catch-all provision that simply states, “Not with standing
Careless Driving NJSA 39:4-97
New Jersey Annotated Statute 39:4-97 says, “A person who drives a vehicle care
