Were you cited for an exhibition of speed in Los Angeles, California? Was it related to peeling out, doing a burnout, or showing off at a red light? You could be facing a speeding ticket and a separate criminal charge for exhibition of speed.
An experienced Los Angeles speeding ticket lawyer at Fight My Ticket can help you fight both legal matters.
We have decades of experience handling driving-related criminal charges and have achieved an exceptional dismissal rate for the cases we handle. We’re ready to help you get a fair result in your case.
Why Choose Fight My Ticket to Handle My Exhibition of Speed Case?
This isn’t a citation you want to just pay and move on from. It’s a misdemeanor, and it comes with consequences that follow you well past the courtroom.
Drivers across Los Angeles, CA, choose our firm to handle their speeding case because:
- We have a 90% ticket dismissal rate and regularly help clients fight related criminal charges
- We’ve spent more than three decades defending traffic and misdemeanor driving cases throughout Southern California
- Our Los Angeles speeding ticket lawyers understand how VC 23109 is charged
- We can represent you at every court appearance so you’re not walking into this alone
- We offer a free consultation and straightforward guidance
Contact us today to schedule a free case review with an experienced traffic ticket attorney in Los Angeles.
What Counts as Exhibition of Speed?
Vehicle Code Section 23109 addresses multiple types of conduct.
Subsection (c) covers accelerating or driving to show off or draw attention. Examples include burnouts, fishtailing, squealing tires, or a sudden burst of speed meant to impress someone watching. One driver, showing off, is enough to warrant charges.
Subsection (a) covers an actual speed contest, meaning racing against another vehicle or against a timer. This is colloquially referred to as street racing.
There’s also a provision covering people who knowingly aid, encourage, or organize a speed contest, even if they weren’t the one driving. In street takeover and sideshow cases, it’s common for police to file charges against spectators and organizers alongside the actual drivers.
Penalties for Exhibition of Speed Under VC 23109
Penalties for exhibition of speed can be serious, depending on the nature of the charge.
A first-offense conviction under 23109(c) is typically charged as a misdemeanor, and it can trigger up to 90 days in county jail, a base fine of $500 with added penalty assessment, and up to three years of informal probation.
On top of the criminal penalties, the DMV adds two points to your driving record. The court can suspend your license for up to six months separately from anything happening in the criminal case.
Speed contests under 23109(a) carry similar baseline penalties, including:
- Up to 90 days in jail
- Fines up to $1,000
- 40 hours of mandatory community service, and
- The same 30-day impoundment exposure.
The numbers rise if anyone gets hurt. If the exhibition or speed contest causes bodily injury, you will generally face a minimum of 30 days in jail and at least $500 in fines, with the maximum climbing to six months.
If the injury is serious, prosecutors can file the case as a wobbler, i.e., a misdemeanor and a felony. A felony conviction opens the door to 16 months, two years, or three years in state prison, along with fines up to $10,000.
A second conviction within five years also escalates the penalties to a mandatory minimum of four days in jail and fines starting at $500, on top of everything else.
Vehicle Impoundment
Under a related impoundment provision, the vehicle used in the offense can be impounded for up to 30 days at the owner’s expense, regardless of whether you actually own the car. If you were driving someone else’s vehicle when you got cited, their car is the one that is sequestered.
Defenses to Exhibition of Speed Charges
There are multiple defense opportunities in exhibition of speed cases. The defense strategies will largely vary based on the charge type.
- Challenging intent. Exhibition of speed requires that you were driving to show off or draw attention, not just accelerating for an ordinary reason. If there was no audience, no bystanders, or nothing suggesting you were performing for anyone, you may have a defense.
- Disputing the speed contest element. For a charge under 23109(a), the prosecution has to show an actual race. If you were driving fast alone, with no evidence of a coordinated race, that charge may not hold up as written.
- Scrutinizing the officer’s observation. These charges often rest on one officer’s split-second read of a maneuver. Dash cam footage, bystander video, or the absence of any corroborating witness can challenge those observations.
In cases without an injury and without a lengthy prior record, there may be room to reduce the charge to a lesser infraction or an outcome that avoids the license suspension or vehicle impoundment tied to a full conviction.
An experienced attorney can help you understand which defense options are right for your case.
Speak to a Los Angeles Speeding Ticket Attorney for Help
An exhibition of speed charge is a criminal matter, not a routine ticket, and it deserves to be treated that way. At Fight My Ticket, we’ve spent more than 30 years defending Southern California drivers against charges like this one.
We will use our experience and resources to help you fight the criminal charge and any related traffic tickets based on the conduct. Call us today for a free consultation to learn more about your rights and legal options. We’re here to stand up for you.
Fight My Ticket – Traffic Ticket Attorneys
8149 Santa Monica Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323) 435-6045
