What starts as a few revving engines on a quiet street can end with criminal charges, a suspended license, and a court date that changes the trajectory of your life. Colorado treats speed contests and street racing as serious traffic offenses, and the consequences go well beyond a fine you can simply pay and forget.
If you have been cited or arrested in connection with a speed contest in Colorado, the time to act is now. At Shazam Kianpour & Associates, P.C., we have spent more than 22 years defending clients across the Denver Front Range against exactly these kinds of traffic charges, and we understand how prosecutors build these cases and where they can be challenged.
What Colorado Law Says About Speed Contests
Under C.R.S. § 42-4-1105, Colorado law prohibits any person from driving a motor vehicle on a public highway while participating in a speed contest or speed exhibition. The statute covers both the act of racing and the act of aiding or facilitating a race, which means bystanders and organizers can face charges alongside the drivers themselves. Even blocking a road to allow a race to proceed, known as obstruction of a highway incident to a speed contest, is a chargeable offense.
Colorado law is intentionally broad here. A “speed contest” does not require two cars lined up at a stoplight with a timer. The statute can apply to any scenario where a vehicle is operated in a manner consistent with competitive racing or a deliberate exhibition of speed. Officers can cite the statute based on observed driving behavior, witness accounts, or video evidence, which has become increasingly common as law enforcement agencies actively monitor social media and shared footage.
The Charges You Could Actually Face
A speed contest charge under Colorado law is a class 2 misdemeanor traffic offense. That classification carries real criminal weight. A conviction can result in jail time, fines, and a suspension of your driving privileges, in addition to points assessed against your license. The compounding effect of losing your license while also managing fines and potential incarceration makes this far more serious than a routine speeding ticket.
It is also common for speed contest charges to arrive alongside other violations. Reckless driving is a frequent companion charge, as the driving behavior involved in a race often satisfies the elements of that offense independently. Prosecutors may also pile on charges for excessive speeding, which becomes a misdemeanor once a driver reaches 25 miles per hour or more over the posted limit. Each additional charge brings its own point values and potential penalties. When these Colorado speeding consequences stack up, the total impact on your driving record and your freedom can be severe.
What Happens to Spectators and Organizers
The Colorado State Patrol has made clear that street racing enforcement targets more than just drivers. During a coordinated multi-agency operation, more than 280 citations were issued in a single night. People who showed up to watch or who helped block off an area for a race were cited alongside the drivers themselves. If you were present at an event that turned into an enforcement action, you may have exposure even if you never got behind the wheel.
How These Charges Can Escalate
Speed contest cases do not always stay at the misdemeanor level. When racing results in an accident, the charges can escalate dramatically. Careless driving resulting in injury is a class 1 misdemeanor traffic offense. If someone is killed, the driver may face vehicular homicide charges, which is a felony under Colorado law. The speed at which a race occurs also determines how additional speeding charges are classified. Driving 25 to 39 miles per hour over the limit is a traffic misdemeanor with the potential for 10 to 90 days in jail, and that kind of speed is common in street racing situations.
Points are another serious consideration. Even a single speed contest conviction can add enough points to trigger a license suspension or revocation under Colorado’s administrative point system. Drivers with prior violations on their record are especially vulnerable to losing their license entirely. If you already have points on your record, a fresh conviction from a traffic violation in a Colorado construction zone or anywhere else can push you over the limit quickly.
Contact Shazam Kianpour & Associates, P.C. Today
Speed contest charges carry consequences that reach into your criminal record, your driving privileges, and your daily life. Shazam Kianpour & Associates, P.C. is Denver’s premier criminal and traffic defense firm, and Mr. Kianpour has personally handled thousands of traffic and criminal cases throughout Colorado. He graduated with honors and finished at the top of his class in Criminal Law, and the firm is recognized by the National Trial Lawyers and Super Lawyers. We know how to scrutinize the evidence, challenge the circumstances of a stop, and work toward the best possible outcome for every client.
Do not wait for these charges to define you. Reach out to our office today to schedule a consultation and start building your defense with a team that fights for you.