If you are in FL simply stepping on the gas pedal can cause you to lose your car, lose your liscence for a year, and have your passanger arrested. This is no joke see below. I was driving beside a Mustang we both stepped on the gas I pulled ahead and lifted It only lasted two car lengths and I didn't even go over the speed limit. Two blocks later I was out of the car being fingerprinted for Racing. For you Tampa drivers I was on Lumsden in Brandon.
316.191 Racing on highways.--
(1) As used in this section, the term:
(a) "Conviction" means a determination of guilt that is the result of a plea or trial, regardless of whether adjudication is withheld.
(b) "Drag race" means the operation of two or more motor vehicles from a point side by side at accelerating speeds in a competitive attempt to outdistance each other, or the operation of one or more motor vehicles over a common selected course, from the same point to the same point, for the purpose of comparing the relative speeds or power of acceleration of such motor vehicle or motor vehicles within a certain distance or time limit.

 

A number of years ago I got charged under this statute while fleeing from an attempted carjacking in Palm Beach County. 95mph in a 45mph. I went to court 4 times with a lawyer, the arresting officer NEVER showed (none of the 4 times-perhaps he didn't want to explain to the judge why he put me in handcuffs rather than the guy who waved the gun at me). Cost me about $2000 and I took traffic school for a reduced simple speeding. The thing that really stinks about this statute is that the officer has a huge amount of discretion in determining what constitutes 'racing'. "Any Exhibition of Speed" What BS.

 

I guess cops running red lights doesn't consitute racing...

 

On the one hand, the law should be hard on street racing. On the other hand, the discretion given to enforce the law is not always used properly. I'm sure there are numerous examples that could get classified as racing that are not.

Obviously I wasn't there but you have to admit from reading the post, a Mustang and S2000, side by side, both step on the gas at the same time, would likely look like street racing to a lot of people, even if it really was only for a few car lengths.

 

A race is a race. It doesn't really matter if you were below the speed limit. As stupid as that sounds, he's trying to prevent you from doing it again. If you want to race do it at the track.

Street racing is foolish!

 

 

yeah i agree with the above statement.

but think of it like this

how does the cop even know the two were racing. the poster never said he was trying to race him. now the cop is pulling him over and arresting him on presumptions. he didn't break any actually laws. according to the law however. to the cop maybe, but the cop is not the law, the cop represents the law, the cop can't go over the laws head either.

 

thanks ZONG9 lol i live in tampa as well idk if u do but u said u were on a tampa street so i figure as much

 

Well, one definition is a "competition of speed".

So assuming that you feel it is OK for someone to get busted for this when they are under the posted speed limit (all of these example assume the posted limit was not exceeded):

How about a person that pulls into traffic and accelerates aggressively to keep from getting rear-ended by oncoming traffic? (competing against the oncoming vehicle using speed to not cause and accident or disrupt traffic flow)

What about someone that is merging on an on ramp, and punches throttle to catch a gap and not run out of lane? (competing against the flowing traffic using speed to align yourself with a slot to not cause and accident and not disrupt traffic)

What about a person that speeds up in the passing lane so they may quickly get around the vehicle being passed and back to the cruising lane (safety issue to minimize blind spot zone and reduce the risk factor that a driver will drift into your lane or suddenly change lanes without looking first)? (competing against the vehicle being passed using speed to minimalize time in the risk zone)

Or is it only a "competition of speed" when the other driver is also giving it gas? Is it a race when he and I give it gas above a certain threshold? Is there an acceleration rate that both parties must be pushing in order for it to be a 'race'? If a guy is passing me at the start of a hill, and my cruise control feeds gas to the engine after it detects a decrease in speed, and so accelerates a few miles and hour just as a guy is trying to pass me by a few miles an hour, am I 'racing'?

Another example (of thousands) of how our country is dying on the vine...it makes me a bit sad when I think about it.

 

Knowingly ride as a passenger in any such race, competition, contest, test, or exhibition;

SO If I am riding with some one and they start to "race" some one else am I now obligated by law to take the key out of the ignition for fear of being arrested for just being in the other seat.


Again it comes down to the arresting offices opinion if the passenger knew about the race before hand.


I acc from a traffic light and the car beside me acc faster then me he is the one racing not me as long as I don