Street Racing Attorney in Indianapolis
Former Marion County Prosecutor. 30+ Years Defending Drivers in Indianapolis.
A street racing charge in Indiana isn’t a traffic ticket. It’s a criminal offense that can put jail time, a license suspension, and a permanent record on the table. If you’ve been charged in Indianapolis or anywhere in Marion County, I’m Christopher Grider, and I’ve spent over 30 years handling exactly these kinds of cases in these courts.
Before I defended drivers, I prosecuted them. My time as a Marion County Deputy Prosecutor and public defender gave me a direct view of how the state builds street racing cases and where those cases are weakest. That background shapes every defense strategy I develop for clients today. Free consultations are available by phone, in-person, or virtually.
Facing a street racing charge? We are former prosecutors offering free consultations and affordable services. Contact a street racing attorney in Indianapolis to protect your future. Call (317) 637-9000 or reach out online.
What Indiana Law Prohibits Under I.C. § 9-21-6-1
Indiana Code § 9-21-6-1 makes it a crime to engage in a motor vehicle speed contest on a public highway. The statute reaches further than most people expect. A “speed contest” is defined broadly, so the charge isn’t limited to a two-car drag race with a formal start line.
To convict, the prosecution must prove three elements beyond a reasonable doubt: that you were operating a motor vehicle, on a public highway, in a speed contest or drag race. That last element is where the case often hinges. Officers don’t need to observe a starting point, a finish line, or a timer to claim a race was underway. That subjectivity is also what makes the charge genuinely contestable.
What the prosecution must establish at trial:
- Operation of a Motor Vehicle: The state must prove you were driving.
- On a Public Highway: The alleged conduct must have occurred on a public road.
- Speed Contest: The state must prove competitive intent, not just speed. Without an admission or evidence of coordination, this element can be difficult to establish beyond a reasonable doubt.
Common prosecution evidence includes officer observations, dashcam and bodycam footage, and witness testimony. All of it is subject to challenge. Street racing is a crime of intent, and proving a shared racing agreement between drivers without an admission from either one is a heavier burden than it might appear.
Penalties for Street Racing Charges in Indianapolis
The consequences scale with the offense. Under Indiana Code § 9-21-6-3, a first street racing conviction is a Class B misdemeanor, carrying up to 180 days in jail, a fine up to $1,000, and a license suspension of at least six months. A subsequent offense escalates to a Class A misdemeanor, with up to one year in jail and a fine up to $5,000 (the Indiana Class A misdemeanor maximum under I.C. § 35-50-3-2), along with a license suspension of at least one year.
When street racing results in serious bodily injury or death, the charge can be elevated to a felony. That connects to charges like reckless homicide or causing serious bodily injury, both of which carry significant prison exposure. Vehicle impoundment may also follow an arrest, and street racing charges are frequently filed alongside related offenses such as reckless driving or criminal mischief, which increase total exposure.
WHAT SETS CHRISTOPHER GRIDER APART WHEN YOU'VE GOT A TICKET, I'VE GOT A PLAN
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Deep Roots in the Legal Community
Having practiced law in both Indiana and Illinois for years, I’m very familiar with the area courts and the BMV, helping me guide my clients through the process with ease.
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Tens of Thousands of Happy Clients
I handle a large volume of traffic-related cases each year, from tickets to license reinstatements, and I’m accustomed to managing multiple cases across various courts in Indiana.
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Exclusively Focused on Traffic LawMy practice is dedicated solely to traffic law and criminal defense related to driving offenses. This focus allows me to stay well-versed in the laws and procedures that impact my clients.
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Former Prosecutor on Your TeamAs a former Deputy Prosecutor within the Marion County courts, my experience gives me a unique perspective on both sides of the law, helping me navigate your case effectively.
How an Indianapolis Street Racing Case Moves Through the Courts
After an arrest, the case follows a defined sequence. Understanding each stage helps you make informed decisions rather than reactive ones. My job is to work strategically at every point in that process.
- Traffic Stop & Arrest: The process begins with the stop. Whether the officer had probable cause for that stop is the first question I examine. Exercise your right to remain silent from the moment of contact.
- Initial Hearing: At arraignment, you’re formally notified of the charges, and bond is set. I advise you on your plea and begin laying the foundation for your defense immediately.
- Discovery: I obtain and review every piece of evidence the prosecution intends to use: police reports, dashcam footage, bodycam recordings, and witness statements. This is where weaknesses in the state’s case surface.
- Pre-Trial Motions & Plea Negotiations: Depending on what discovery reveals, I may file motions to suppress illegally obtained evidence or statements taken without proper rights advisement. Simultaneously, I pursue negotiations that may result in a charge reduction to a lesser offense, such as reckless driving, which may avoid a street racing criminal record.
- Trial or Sentencing: If no agreement is reached, the case goes to trial in Marion County courts. My prosecution background means I know how the other side argues these cases. If sentencing follows a conviction, I present mitigating evidence to pursue the most favorable outcome possible.
Defense Strategies Against Street Racing Charges
Every street racing arrest has its own facts, and those facts determine which defenses apply. I review all evidence the prosecution intends to use, including officer observations, radar data, and video footage, to identify where the state’s case is most vulnerable.
Defense approaches I examine in street racing cases include:
- Challenging the Race or Contest Element: Driving fast isn’t a crime. Without evidence of a shared competitive agreement between drivers, the prosecution may not be able to prove the intent element beyond a reasonable doubt.
- Challenging Speed Measurement Devices: Radar guns and speed detection equipment must be properly calibrated and maintained. A failure in calibration can render speed evidence inadmissible at trial.
- Challenging Video Evidence: Dashcam, bodycam, or surveillance footage must be clear and conclusive. Low-quality or ambiguous footage is grounds for raising reasonable doubt about what actually occurred.
- Challenging the Lawfulness of the Stop: If the officer lacked probable cause for the traffic stop, evidence obtained during that stop may be suppressible under the Fourth Amendment.
- Mistaken Identity: When identification rests on a brief observation or a flawed witness account, I challenge whether the charged driver was actually the person involved.
- Insufficient Evidence: The beyond-a-reasonable-doubt standard is high. Inconsistent testimony or purely circumstantial evidence may not meet it, and I argue that directly when the record supports it.
Why Choose Me as Your Street Racing Attorney in Indianapolis
My practice focuses on traffic law and criminal cases involving driving, not general criminal defense. That focus matters in Marion County courts, where driving offense cases have their own procedures and tendencies. A practitioner who handles these cases every day navigates them differently than one who encounters them occasionally.
My background covers both sides of the courtroom. As a former Marion County Deputy Prosecutor, I built street racing and reckless driving cases. As a public defender and now as defense counsel, I dismantle them. That dual perspective, built over more than 30 years, has helped me pursue dismissals and charge reductions for clients facing traffic violations and criminal driving charges across Indianapolis. I offer free consultations by phone, virtually, or in person, and I provide bilingual support in English and Spanish.
Schedule a Free Consultation About Your Street Racing Charge
A street racing charge moves quickly through the system. The earlier I can review the evidence, the more options may be available before the prosecution’s case hardens. Contact me to discuss what happened, what the state has, and what the realistic defense paths look like for your situation.
Call (317) 637-9000 or reach out online for a free consultation. The sooner I can look at the evidence, the more I may be able to do for you.