625 ILCS 5/11-504 – Drag Racing and Street Racing
This law makes it illegal to race cars or block roads for racing or stunts on public streets in Illinois.
This Illinois law says people cannot take part in or help organize drag racing or street stunts on roads. It also explains what “street racing” and “street sideshows” mean, and lists the punishments for breaking these rules.
(a) No one is allowed to race cars against each other on any public street or highway in Illinois.
(a-5) No one is allowed to join in a “street sideshow,” which is when people block a street to do car tricks or races.
(b) A vehicle owner cannot let someone else use their car for street racing or a sideshow if they know it will happen.
(b-5) No one can block or slow down traffic to make a place for racing or a sideshow.
(c) Definitions:
“Acquiesce” or “permit” means the owner actually knows their vehicle will be used for racing or a sideshow.
“Motor vehicle stunt” means doing car tricks like sliding, spinning, or showing off close to a crowd of people, or trying to get a reaction by driving in a risky or flashy way.
“Street racing” means:
- Driving two or more cars next to each other at high speed to see who is faster.
- Driving one or more cars over the same path to compare how fast they are over a set distance or time.
- Using a car to try to go faster or farther than another vehicle.
- Using a car to block another vehicle from passing.
- Using a car to reach a destination before another vehicle.
- Using a car to test the drivers’ stamina or endurance on long routes.
“Street sideshow” means when one or more cars stop or block traffic so they can do stunts, speed contests, or show off their cars’ speed.
(d) Penalties:
- Sentence: If someone breaks parts (a), (a-5), or (b-5) for the first time, it’s a Class A misdemeanor, with at least a $250 fine. A second time, it’s a Class 4 felony and at least a $500 fine. For violating (a), the person’s driver’s license will be taken away.
- Sentence: Breaking part (b) is a Class B misdemeanor the first time and a Class A misdemeanor the second time.
- Sentence: If someone breaks part (a) and causes a crash that seriously hurts or disfigures someone, it’s called aggravated street racing, which is a Class 4 felony. Jail time can be from 1 to 12 years.
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