2014 Delaware Code
Title 21 - Motor Vehicles
CHAPTER 41. RULES OF THE ROAD
Subchapter VIII Speed Restrictions
§ 4172. Speed exhibitions; drag races and other speed contests

(a) No person shall drive any vehicle in any race, speed competition or contest, drag race or acceleration contest, test of physical endurance, exhibition of speed or acceleration and no person shall aid, abet, promote, assist or in any manner participate in any such race, competition, contest, test or exhibition. A violation of this subsection shall be an unclassified misdemeanor.

(b) No person shall accelerate or try to accelerate a vehicle at a rate which causes the drive wheels to spin or slip on the road surface. This subsection shall not apply during periods of inclement weather.

(c) No owner or person in charge of a vehicle shall permit that vehicle or any vehicle under the person's control to be used by another person for any of the purposes listed in subsection (a) or (b) of this section. If any vehicle is witnessed by a police officer to be in violation of this section and the identity of the operator is not otherwise apparent, the person in whose name such vehicle is registered as the owner shall be held prima facie responsible for such violation.

(d) Whoever violates this section shall be fined for the first offense not less than $25 nor more than $200, or imprisoned not less than 10 days nor more than 30 days or both. For each subsequent like offense, the person shall be fined not less than $50 nor more than $400, or imprisoned not less than 15 days nor more than 60 days or both. Upon receiving notice of a conviction for a first offense, the Secretary shall forthwith suspend the driver's license of the person convicted, for a period of not longer than 6 months. Upon receiving notice of a conviction of a subsequent like offense, the Secretary shall suspend the driver's license for a 1-year period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, there shall not be a suspension of driver's license upon conviction for a first offense under subsection (b) of this section.

21 Del. C. 1953, § 4172; 54 Del. Laws, c. 160, § 1; 56 Del. Laws, c. 315; 57 Del. Laws, c. 670, § 13B; 60 Del. Laws, c. 702, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 77 Del. Laws, c. 60, § 12.;

§ 4172A Malicious mischief by motor vehicle.

(a) No person shall operate a motor vehicle in such a manner as to cause wilful, wanton or reckless damage to or destruction of property owned by another person, party, company or corporation.

(b) No owner or person in charge of a motor vehicle shall permit that motor vehicle or any motor vehicle under the person's control to be operated by another person in such a manner as to cause wilful, wanton or reckless damage to or destruction of property owned by another person, party, company or corporation, nor so as to cause or threaten to cause injury or death to any person.

(c) Whoever being an operator violates this section shall be guilty of an unclassified misdemeanor, and shall be fined for the first offense not less than $25 nor more than $200, or imprisoned not less than 10 days nor more than 30 days or both. Upon receiving the notice of such conviction, the Secretary shall forthwith suspend the driver's license of the person convicted, for a period of not longer than 6 months. For each subsequent like offense, the person shall be fined not less than $50 nor more than $400, or imprisoned not less than 15 days nor more than 60 days or both. Upon receiving a court record of conviction for a subsequent like offense, the Secretary shall suspend the driver's license for a 1-year period.

(d) Whoever being the owner or person in charge of a motor vehicle who permitted such motor vehicle to be operated in violation of this section shall be guilty of an unclassified misdemeanor, and shall be fined for the first offense not less than $28.75 nor more than $230, or imprisoned not less than 10 days nor more than 30 days or both. For each subsequent like offense the person shall be fined not less than $57.50 nor more than $460, or imprisoned not less than 15 days nor more than 60 days or both.

(e) This section shall apply to the operation of motor vehicles on public highways and elsewhere throughout the State.

60 Del. Laws, c. 702, § 4; 62 Del. Laws, c. 153, § 1; 68 Del. Laws, c. 9, § 30; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 77 Del. Laws, c. 60, § 13.;