traffic
What is illegal about illegal street racing?
<p>Would an arrangement between two (or more) parties to get from point A to point B in the fastest way possible <strong>without</strong> breaking any laws and the fastest party would receive a price pool made up of equal deposits by all parties -taxes be considered illegal street racing?</p>

<p>The usual law which pertains to (outlaws) racing is stated in terms of comparing speeds, and the speeds do not have to be above the legal limit. <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=46.61.530" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Washington law</a> confuses people because it has the exception that</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>any comparison or contest of the accuracy with which motor vehicles
  may be operated in terms of relative speeds not in excess of the
  posted maximum speed does not constitute racing</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Some locations (esp. Kent WA) have ordinances prohibiting presence in a street-racing area (there is a <a href="http://www.codepublishing.com/WA/Kent/mobile/?pg=Kent09/Kent0943.html#9.43.030" rel="nofollow noreferrer">list</a>), with fines for observers up to $1000. Simultaneously testing alternative routes (e.g. "I'll take 405, you take the back roads") is perfectly legal. The question of gambling is not so clear (it involves local law which is more variable). Skill is involved in the aforementioned activity. A <a href="http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=9.46&amp;full=true#9.46.0335" rel="nofollow noreferrer">sports pool</a> may be legal, but there are many conditions on such a pool which make it unlikely that a "race" would qualify (for betting without a license). Since Washington law is fairly specific, I would assume that they interpret the lack of permission to have an pool on the outcome of a race as an activity requiring a license, though I can't find an explicit ban.</p>

<p>Street racing is illegal in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Street_racing#By_country" rel="nofollow noreferrer">most of the world</a>, although the way laws deal with it may differ.</p>

<p>A couple of examples:</p>

<p>In <strong>Brazil</strong> a <a href="https://aurineybrito.jusbrasil.com.br/artigos/121937002/lei-12971-14-e-as-novas-regras-para-homicidio-culposo-e-racha-no-transito" rel="nofollow noreferrer">law was passed in 2014</a> to deal with "rachas" (street races) that modified both the road code. The road code (<a href="http://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/L9503.htm" rel="nofollow noreferrer">art. 173</a>) forbids races ("<em>disputar corrida</em>") without more details, qualifies it as a very severe offence and punishes it with a fine, cancellation of drivers license and vehicle apprehension. If the race involves risk (art. 308), it becomes a crime punished with 6 months to 3 years imprisonment. If it has consequences the sentence can be longer.</p>

<p>In summary, in Brasil street racing is illegal even not breaking any other law and not causing risky situations. If risk is involved, it's a crime in addition of being illegal.</p>

<p>In <strong>Spain</strong> the road code (<a href="http://Se%20proh%C3%ADbe%20entablar%20competiciones%20de%20velocidad%20en%20las%20v%C3%ADas%20p%C3%BAblicas%20o%20de%20uso%20p%C3%BAblico" rel="nofollow noreferrer">art. 22.5</a>) forbids speed competition in public ways or public used ways. That is, it's a general prohibition similar to that of Brazil that works even if no other law is broken. It is also punished with fines.</p>

<p>Anyway, in both Spain and Brazil the law allows that for competitions in streets or roads to be authorized.</p>
