Traffic violations are often seen as insignificant by drivers. However, charges related to exhibition of speed in Salt Lake City might seriously disrupt your life, making contacting our defense attorneys of the utmost importance.
Exhibition of speed refers to Utah’s street racing and speeding laws. In Salt Lake City, engaging in street racing or severe speeding might lead to class A or class B misdemeanor charges. Such charges come with serious consequences for defendants, including jail time and expensive fines. Negotiating a lesser charge or building a defense against the charges you are facing can allow you to avoid jail time and excessive financial penalties.
To get a free review of your case from our Salt Lake City exhibition of speed defense lawyers, call Overson & Bugden today at (801) 758-2287.
Exhibition of Speed Charges and Fines in Salt Lake City
Excessive speeding and street racing can result in misdemeanor charges in Salt Lake City. Consequences for such offenses vary, depending on how fast a person was driving and whether or not it was their first offense.
According to Utah Code § 41-6a-606, engaging in any speed contest or exhibition of speed on a highway in Salt Lake City is illegal. This statute primarily refers to street racing between motor vehicles on public roads. Exhibition of speed is when a driver operates their vehicle at a speed that is reckless or puts others on the road in danger. Engaging in either type of conduct, exhibition of speed or street racing, might result in you being charged with a class A misdemeanor. In addition, obstructing roads for the purposes of facilitating a street racing contest is considered a class B misdemeanor in Salt Lake City.
Such violations can result in one’s driver’s license being suspended for 60 days for the first offense. For a second offense within three years of the first offense, one’s driver’s license may be suspended for 90 days. The offense might add points to the violator’s driver’s license as well.
Furthermore, convictions for class A misdemeanors can come with fines of up to $2,500 and up to a year in jail. Class B misdemeanor convictions are punishable by up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
For traffic violations related to speeding, fines vary. Currently, speeding fines for going just over the speed limit are typically limited to $130 in Salt Lake City. Fines depend on whether or not a person was speeding through a construction site or school zone at the time they were pulled over. Furthermore, how far over the speed limit you were driving matters. For example, driving 30 mph over the speed limit may result in a $480 fine in Utah. That said, such speeding fines are generally preferable to the consequences associated with class A or class B misdemeanors for exhibition of speed.
Preparing a Defense Against Exhibition of Speed Charges in Salt Lake City
Avoiding the harshest consequences for charges related to exhibition of speed while driving is important. Otherwise, you might deal with serious issues, such as jail time, expensive fines, and your driver’s license being suspending in Salt Lake City.
Generally speaking, class B misdemeanor charges in Salt Lake City come with fewer consequences than class A misdemeanor charges. If we can reduce the charges against you, you might not have to spend any time in jail and just face a minimal fine.
Exhibition of speed charges are not always straightforward. That is to say, you might be charged with a class A misdemeanor related to speeding on the highway, even if you were the only vehicle involved. You do not have to engage in street racing to be charged with exhibition of speed. Exhibition of speed charges are somewhat subjective, meaning that a police officer might hear screeching tires or see a nice sports car going slightly over the speed limit and assume the driver is putting on a show recklessly. Our exhibition of speed defense lawyers can review the reasons for the charges cited by the police officer who pulled you over to determine if there is cause to charge you with a misdemeanor related to exhibition of speed.
Our goal will be to reduce the fines you have to face and eliminate the possibility that you will serve jail time because of exhibition of speed charges in Salt Lake City.
Importance of Defending Exhibition of Speed Charges in Salt Lake City
Accepting charges related to exhibition of speed because you believe the consequences will be insignificant is never wise. Building a defense or negotiating less severe fines is important so that your case does not negatively impact you and your future.
Exhibition of speed charges might lead to points being added to your license. Suppose you do not contest the charges against you and are convicted of a class A or class B misdemeanor. In that case, the Driver’s License Division of the Utah Department of Public Safety will determine how many points should be added to your license according to the details of your case. Accumulating points on your license can lead to further suspensions and increases in your insurance premiums.
Although jail time is uncommon for first offenders convicted of charges related to exhibition of speed in Salt Lake City, it is still a possibility for those convicted of certain misdemeanors. Even spending several weeks in jail might seriously disrupt your life, putting your employment and other aspects of your day-to-day life in jeopardy. Our attorneys can work to ensure that you do not have to spend unnecessary time in jail for the charges against you and that you are not unfairly punished regarding fines and other consequences.
Call Our Salt Lake City Defense Lawyers Today
For a free case assessment from Overson & Bugden, call our exhibition of speed defense lawyers at (801) 758-2287.
