Utah criminal charge
Speed contest or exhibition on highway in Utah
Speed contest or exhibition on highway is a criminal offense under Utah law, defined by Utah Code Ann. § 41-6a-606. Its classification is not fixed: Utah assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by Utah Code Ann. § 41-6a-606.
What is the penalty for speed contest or exhibition on highway in Utah?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | Speed contest or exhibition of speed — Applies to a person who engages in any motor vehicle speed contest or exhibition of speed on a highway in violation of Subsection (1).; up to 364 days — except up to one year for class A misdemeanors under Title 76, Chapter 5 (Offenses Against the Individual), other than Sections 76-5-102.9, 76-5-107.5, 76-5-113, and 76-5-303, which remain at 364 days (Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-204(1)) | discretionary | Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-204 |
| Fine | up to $2,500 (Speed contest or exhibition of speed — Applies to a person who engages in any motor vehicle speed contest or exhibition of speed on a highway in violation of Subsection (1).; greater amounts may be specifically authorized by statute (Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-301)) | discretionary | Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-204 |
| Jail / prison | up to 6 months (Obstruction or barricade for speed contest — Applies to a person who obstructs, places a barricade or obstruction, or assists or participates in placing a barricade or obstruction on a highway for purposes of a speed contest or exhibition in violation of Subsection (2).) | discretionary | Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-204 |
| Fine | up to $1,000 (Obstruction or barricade for speed contest — Applies to a person who obstructs, places a barricade or obstruction, or assists or participates in placing a barricade or obstruction on a highway for purposes of a speed contest or exhibition in violation of Subsection (2).; greater amounts may be specifically authorized by statute (Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-301)) | discretionary | Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-204 |
Applies to current (2026 General Session).
How is speed contest or exhibition on highway classified in Utah?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed contest or exhibition of speed | Class A Misdemeanor | Applies to a person who engages in any motor vehicle speed contest or exhibition of speed on a highway in violation of Subsection (1). | Utah Code Ann. § 41-6a-606(3)(a) |
| Obstruction or barricade for speed contest | Class B Misdemeanor | Applies to a person who obstructs, places a barricade or obstruction, or assists or participates in placing a barricade or obstruction on a highway for purposes of a speed contest or exhibition in violation of Subsection (2). | Utah Code Ann. § 41-6a-606(3)(b) |
Common questions about speed contest or exhibition on highway in Utah
Is speed contest or exhibition on highway a felony or a misdemeanor in Utah?
It depends on the circumstances: speed contest or exhibition on highway ranges from a Class B Misdemeanor to a Class A Misdemeanor in Utah under Utah Code Ann. § 41-6a-606.
Speed contest or exhibition of speed: Class A Misdemeanor (Utah Code Ann. § 41-6a-606(3)(a)) · Obstruction or barricade for speed contest: Class B Misdemeanor (Utah Code Ann. § 41-6a-606(3)(b))
What are the penalties for speed contest or exhibition on highway in Utah?
Penalties for speed contest or exhibition on highway in Utah depend on how it is classified — from a Class B Misdemeanor up to a Class A Misdemeanor — with the ranges set by Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-204; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Utah statute covers speed contest or exhibition on highway?
Speed contest or exhibition on highway is governed by Utah Code Ann. § 41-6a-606 (Speed contest or exhibition on highway - Barricade or obstruction - -- Spectators of a speed contest - Seizure of non-street legal vehicles).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.