Is drifting in your car illegal?
SOME drivers test their car’s performance limits through drifting.
Drifting is when a driver intentionally oversteers to skid sideways through a turn — but this maneuver can land you in legal trouble.
Is drifting illegal?
Drifting is illegal on all public roads.
It’s only legal to drift on a private or abandoned parking lot if the area exists separately from a public road.
Why is drifting illegal?
Drifting remains illegal on public roads due to safety concerns.
Drifters regularly lose control of their car while turning — even if they’re experienced in the activity.
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This danger factor draws crowds to watch illegal sideshows and street races where drifting is known to occur.
If drivers lose control while drifting on a public road, they risk colliding with nearby vehicles and other environmental objects.
Most track drifters use heavily modified cars to optimize their ability to perform this skilled maneuver.
What’s the penalty for drifting?
Drivers caught drifting on a public road are typically charged with reckless driving, street racing, or speeding DriveAndReview reports.
Certain drifting instances can result in a driver being charged with all three of these traffic violations.
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Reckless driving and street racing are classified as misdemeanors, while speeding is labeled an infraction.
The penalties for reckless driving, street racing, and speeding vary by state.
Misdemeanors generally result in a driver paying a fine and spending up to a year in jail.
A speeding infraction won’t show up on most criminal background checks — but you’ll have to pay a fine and may receive license points, Off The Record reports.
Rack up too many driver’s license points, and you’ll get your license suspended.
