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What Happens if I’m Arrested for Street Racing in Las Vegas?

Street racing on any Las Vegas roadway where the public has access is prosecuted as misdemeanor reckless driving in Nevada. Also called drag racing, speed racing, or unauthorized speed contests, street racing rarely carries jail for a first-time offense. However, penalties increase with each successive conviction.

Nevada street racing conviction Misdemeanor penalties
First time
Second time
  • $1,000 to $1,500 in fines,
  • 100 to 199 hours of community service, and
  • 30-day impoundment of your vehicle.*
Third or subsequent time
  • $1,500 to $2,000 in fines,
  • 200 hours of community service, and
  • 30-day impoundment of your vehicles.*
 *In addition, you face a 6-to-24 month driver’s license suspension and a possible jail sentence of up to 6 months.

Note that drag racing becomes a category B felony if it resulted in death or substantial bodily harm. Penalties include one to six years in Nevada State Prison and $2,000 to $5,000 in fines.1

Will I lose my license for street racing?

If you are convicted of street racing in Nevada, the DMV will suspend your license for six months to two years. In these cases, I would plead with the judge in attempt to save your license or secure the shortest possible suspension period.2

What about trick driving?

Nevada law also prohibits “trick driving displays,” which are defined as:

using a vehicle to perform tricks, stunts or other maneuvers on a highway, or premises to which the public has access, upon which traffic has been diverted, slowed, impeded or blocked to enable the performing of such tricks, stunts or maneuvers or having such tricks, stunts or maneuvers filmed or otherwise recorded.

Similar to speed racing, the penalties for trick driving increase with successive convictions:

Nevada trick driving display conviction

Penalties for driving

Penalties for facilitating
First time Gross misdemeanor:

  • $1,000 to $1,500 in fines,
  • 100 to 199 hours of community service,
  • Possibly up to 364 days in jail.*
 Misdemeanor:

  • Up to $1,000 in fines,
  • 50 to 99 hours of community service,
  • Possibly up to 6 months in jail.*
Second or subsequent time Gross misdemeanor:

  • $1,500 to $2,000 in fines,
  • 200 hours of community service,
  • Possibly up to 364 days in jail.*
 Gross misdemeanor:

  • $1,000 to $1,500 in fines,
  • 100 to 199 hours of community service,
  • Possibly up to 364 days in jail.*
 *In addition, you face a possible 30-day vehicle impoundment and a possible 6-to-24 month driver’s license suspension.3

Can the charges be dismissed?

Here at Las Vegas Defense Group, I have represented literally thousands of people charged with reckless driving charges including street racing. In my experience, the following nine defenses have proven very effective with prosecutors, judges, and juries:

  1. You did not actually participate in or organize the street race.
  2. Your speeding was not part of a race (and therefore the police should have just issued you a speeding ticket).
  3. The contest took place on private property or an area inaccessible to the public.
  4. You were a victim of mistaken identity (such as being wrongly chosen out of a lineup).
  5. You were falsely accused.
  6. The speed contest was legal (the organizers got all the proper permits and licenses beforehand).
  7. The police coerced your confession.
  8. The police discovered evidence through an unlawful search and seizure.
  9. The police had insufficient probable cause to arrest you.

Note that it is not a defense to Nevada speed contest charges that you were being safe, that no one got injured, or that no one else from the public was on the drag strip.

Common evidence in these types of cases includes video (from surveillance cameras or smartphones), eyewitness accounts, and any recorded communications such as emails, voicemails, or text messages that discuss the race.

How soon can I seal my record?

Misdemeanor drag racing convictions can be sealed from your record one year after the case ends. Meanwhile, gross misdemeanor convictions (only in “trick driving display” cases) can be sealed two years after the case ends. Finally, any felony speed racing convictions can be sealed five years after the case ends.

Note that if the charges get dismissed, then there is no wait before we can pursue a record seal. That is why I fight so hard to try to get your case dropped with no conviction.4

Two cars speed racing
Violating NRS 484B.653 carries fines, community service, license suspensions, and maybe jail.

Where can I race cars legally in Nevada?

You may be able to lawfully drive fast at the following events/venues:

Las Vegas

Pahrump

Elko

Ely

Fallon

Fernley

Reno

  • Wild West Motorsports Park

Additional reading

For more information, see our related articles:

Legal References

  1. NRS 484B.653. See also Dawes v. State, (1994) 110 Nev. 1141. See also State v. Johnson (1977) 93 Nev. 279.
  2. Same.
  3. Same.
  4. NRS 179.245. NRS 179.255.

About the Author

Picture of Michael Becker

Michael Becker

Michael Becker has over a quarter-century's worth of experience as an attorney and more than 100 trials under his belt. He is a sought-after legal commentator and is licensed to practice law in Colorado, Nevada, California, and Florida.

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