The answer to the question: “Do I need a lawyer for an exhibition of speed charge” is a hard yes.
An exhibition of speed is a misdemeanor crime in California.
According to CA Vehicle Code (VC) Section 23109(c), Driving Offences:
“A person shall not engage in a motor vehicle exhibition of speed on a highway or in an off-street parking facility, and a person shall not aid or abet in a motor vehicle exhibition of speed on a highway or in an off-street parking facility.”
A conviction on an exhibition of speed charge can require jail time or probation, a massive fine, and two negligent operator treatment system (NOTS) points that put the driver halfway to a six-month suspension and 12-month concurrent probation.
An exhibition of speed charge in Kern County, CA, is a serious misdemeanor offense with harsh penalties.
As AB-3 (Fong), Exhibition of Speed on the Highway, takes effect in June 2025, many drivers have questions. Law enforcement’s crackdown on “sideshows,” speed contests, and exhibitions of speed increases the chances of being wrongly accused.
A crucial sidenote to remember is that an exhibition of speed charge could include “aiding and abetting” a sideshow or speed contest.
“A person shall not, for the purpose of facilitating or aiding or as an incident to a motor vehicle speed contest or exhibition upon a highway or in an off-street parking facility, in any manner obstruct or place a barricade or obstruction or assist or participate in placing a barricade or obstruction upon a highway or in an off-street parking facility.”—CA VC Section 23109(d), Driving Offences.
Understanding the Law: Exhibition of Speed Charge in Kern County
An exhibition of speed charge is classified as a misdemeanor under California law. Convictions can result in jail time, fines, license suspension, or vehicle impoundment.
Even without an arrest, your vehicle could be impounded for 30 days. The towing and storage could cost nearly $2,000. Worse, officers can issue citations based solely on suspicion.
Drivers who were in the wrong place at the wrong time could face serious trouble.
Some examples include:
Speeding to avoid a road rage incident.
Accelerating fast from a stoplight.
Driving near a sideshow without participating.
Although AB 1978 (Sanchez) and AB 2186 (Wallis) aim to protect the innocent, mistakes still happen.
Wrongful Accusations Can Disrupt Your Life
Being wrongfully accused of an exhibition of speed in Kern County can devastate someone’s life.
Penalties could include:
Thirty-day vehicle impoundments.
Six-month driver’s license suspension.
Lost jobs or missed career opportunities.
Although Assemblymember Vince Fong’s AB-3 updates laws around sideshows and speed contests, it lacks funding for more officers.
“It (AB-3) doesn’t give us more people to do this, but it allows us to pay our current officers overtime for working on these types of events.”—Sheriff Donny Youngblood.
Without new resources, mistakes are even more likely to happen.
Steps to Take After an Accusation or an Exhibition of Speed Charge
If accused of an exhibition of speed charge or aiding a speed contest:
Stay silent. Don’t explain or argue with officers.
Contact an experienced traffic trial attorney immediately.
Bigger & Harman’s Kern County Traffic Trial Attorneys Can Help
The Bakersfield team of Bigger & Harman’s Kern County traffic trial attorneys has defended CA drivers for over a decade.
We know how to challenge wrongful accusations, protect your driving record, and reverse impoundment and storage fees.
A misdemeanor exhibition of speed charge should never be faced alone. Contact us today for a free consultation.
For additional reading, The History of the “Sideshow,” Exhibition of Speed, Reckless Driving, & How It Led to AB-3, and our flip book, What Are Sideshows, are excellent references.
Consult Bigger & Harman About an Exhibition of Speed Charge
If you’re facing a misdemeanor exhibition of speed charge, call Bigger & Harman in Bakersfield at (661) 349-9300— Se habla Español 349-9755.
Use our online contact form or email us at attorney@biggerharmanlaw.com.
References:
The CA Driver Handbook English y Español.
CA VC Section 23109, Driving Offences.
AB-3 (Fong), Exhibition of Speed on the Highway, AB 1978 (Sanchez), and AB 2186 (Wallis).