Street racing and other hoon offences

Speed racing or street racing refers to organising, promoting or taking part in an unapproved vehicle race on NSW roads.

Speed and street racing behaviour includes:

• a race between 2 or more vehicles on a NSW road
• any speed trial of a vehicle on a NSW road
• any competitive trial designed to test the skill of any vehicle or driver on a NSW road
• organising, promoting or taking part in any of the above behaviour.

If you're caught speed or street racing, the maximum court-imposed fine is $3300 for a first offence. For a second or subsequent offence, you could be fined $3300 and face 9 months imprisonment. A 12-month disqualification period will apply too, if you're convicted.

Drag racing and aggravated burnouts is when a driver deliberately drives a vehicle to cause a continuous loss of traction. For example, a driver who over accelerates may cause the wheels to spin, which means the tires lose grip on the road.

Drag racing and aggravated burnouts include:

• knowingly operating a vehicle when there's petrol, oil, fuel or other inflammable liquid which has been deliberately placed on the road to cause a loss of traction
• continuing to operate a vehicle that has lost traction
• participating in any group activity involving drag racing or burnouts
• promoting, photographing or videoing drag racing or burnout behaviour with the purpose of encouraging participation in the activities.

If you commit a drag racing or burnout offence, the maximum court-imposed fine is $3300 for a first offence. For a second or subsequent offence, you could be fined $3300 and face 9 months imprisonment. A 12-month disqualification period will apply too, if you're convicted.

A police pursuit is when you knowingly drive a vehicle dangerously or at high speed and fail to comply with police when they ask you to pull over. Being involved in a police pursuit is a serious offence which carries severe penalties.

Police pursuits can include:

• not stopping your vehicle when police have indicated for you to stop
• driving the vehicle recklessly, endangering other road users in the community.

For a first offence, the maximum penalty is 3 years imprisonment and a 3-year disqualification period. For a second or subsequent offence, the maximum penalty is 5 years imprisonment and a 5-year disqualification period.

Driving at dangerous speeds is considered a hoon offence when you exceed a speed limit by more than 45km/h on a NSW road.

You may also be charged with a serious speeding offence as well as a hoon offence.

For more information about speeding, see Speeding offences.

For speeding by more than 45km/h in a light vehicle, the maximum court-imposed fine is $3300. It's $5500 for a heavy vehicle. A 6-month disqualification period will apply too, if you're convicted.