Reckless Driving or Engaging in a Speed Contest is Illegal

INDIANAPOLIS — Drivers keep their foot on the throttle pedal as the COVID-19 pandemic fades. In Indiana, if you drive recklessly or engage in a speed contest, it is illegal. Most people know it is against the law to exceed the speed limits, but there are other ways to violate the traffic laws without speeding. Reckless driving is defined below.

Under Indiana Code 9-21-8-52: Reckless Driving

A person who operates a vehicle and who recklessly:

(1) drives at such an unreasonably high rate of speed or at such an unreasonably low rate of speed under the circumstances as to:

(A) endanger the safety or the property of others;  or

(B) block the proper flow of traffic;

(2) passes another vehicle from the rear while on a slope or on a curve where vision is obstructed for a distance of less than five hundred (500) feet ahead;

(3) drives in and out of a line of traffic, except as otherwise permitted;  or

(4) speeds up or refuses to give one-half ( 1/2 ) of the roadway to a driver overtaking and desiring to pass;

commits a Class C misdemeanor.  However, the offense is a Class A misdemeanor if it causes bodily injury to a person.

(b) A person who operates a vehicle and who recklessly passes a school bus stopped on a roadway or a private road when the arm signal device specified in IC 9-21-12-13 is in the device's extended position commits a Class A misdemeanor.  However, the offense is a Level 6 felony if it causes bodily injury to a person, and a Level 5 felony if it causes the death of a person.

(c) If an offense under subsection (a) results in damage to the property of another person, it is a Class B misdemeanor and the court may recommend the suspension of the current driving license of the person convicted of the offense described in subsection (a) for a fixed period of not more than one (1) year.

(d) If an offense under subsection (a) causes bodily injury to a person, the court may recommend the suspension of the driving privileges of the person convicted of the offense described in this subsection for a fixed period of not more than one (1) year.

Engaging in a speed contest does not necessarily mean you were speeding.

Under Indiana Code 9-13-2-172: Speed Contest

"Speed contest” means an unnecessary rapid acceleration by two (2) or more vehicles that creates a hazard to pedestrians, passengers, vehicles, or other property. 

Police frequently see drivers traveling at speeds of 100 mph or more in central Indiana. A vehicle was caught by Indiana State Police a few weeks ago for speeding 186 mph on Interstate 465.

 "Knock it off," Mayor Joe Hogsett stated at a press conference on Thursday afternoon.

The municipal administration is paying overtime to police officers with $1 million from the federal American Rescue Plan, which is part of a congressional COVID-19 response operation. The heightened enforcement, according to IMPD and state police, will go until the end of the summer.

Since March, police have recovered at least 67 stolen vehicles, detained 26 persons, and seized 17 guns and drugs as part of their reckless driving operation. 

Spinning Competitions

When a group of drivers and their friends gather at a prearranged location, the roadway or interstate is closed, and the spinning competition begins. State police footage shows a competition that caused I-465 to be closed for an hour.

A spinning competition in the middle of Washington Street is captured on another state police film.

In one video, cops are overwhelmed by the crowds, with a police car parked in the center of a parking lot with emergency lights engaged while cars continue to smoke tires and zoom by.

Chuck DeBlaso works for the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department's special operations unit. He said that the bulk of the motor vehicles involved were stolen.

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and the Indiana State Police have joined forces to combat "spinning" activities and reckless driving clogging roadways. The tournaments are advertised on social media, according to police, and some of the drivers make money by posting the footage.

DeBlaso said, "We have also found that a lot of these vehicles engaging in this illegal activity are also involved in other criminal activity."

Indiana Traffic Defense Attorney

Contact a traffic defense attorney at the Law Office of Mark Nicholson if you have been charged with reckless driving, car theft, or any other crimes the police are looking for.

Call 317-667-0718