Speed Racing Ticket Manitoba

What is a speed racing ticket in Manitoba?

If you’ve been charged with speed racing, stunt driving, or street racing in Manitoba, you are facing one of the most serious provincial traffic offences. These charges can lead to heavy fines, licence suspensions, and long-term insurance consequences.

In Manitoba, a speed racing ticket is often referred to as stunt driving or street racing. Under Manitoba law, subsections 98(1) to (5), stunt driving includes:

• Driving 50 km/h or more over the posted speed limit.
• Lifting the vehicle’s tires off the road.
• Intentionally losing traction (burnouts, drifting, fishtailing).
• Spinning or performing stunts.
• Street racing with another vehicle.

It can also include aggressive driving behaviours, such as:

• Blocking other vehicles from passing.
• Following too closely at a high speed.

If you’ve been charged with any of these behaviours, you will be ticketed under Manitoba’s stunt driving/street racing laws and can face fines and other penalties. 

What are the fines for speed racing?

If you are caught speeding in Manitoba, you may be fined under The Highway Traffic Act (HTA). Manitoba will fine drivers $7.70 for every kilometre over the speed limit, plus court costs and surcharges. 

For example, if you are 10 km/h over the limit, your fine would be $181.

If police believe you were racing, your vehicle can be impounded for seven days, your licence suspended for up to one year, and you can be fined up to $5,000.

Speeding at least 30 km/h but less than 50 km/h over the speed limit results in 2 demerit points, while speeding 50 km/h or more over the speed limit results in 10 demerit points.

Careless driving is a separate HTA offence in Manitoba. It means your driving fell below the standard of a competent driver or showed a lack of reasonable consideration for others.

It can include speeding and other violations, such as passing without signalling or making an illegal U-turn. Careless driving can result in a fine of up to $5,000 and a possible licence suspension of up to one year.

Penalty for speed racing offences under the Manitoba Highway Traffic Act

Under Manitoba’s Highway Traffic Act, the penalties for certain speeding offences are set out in section 238:

• General speeding penalties: s. 238(2)
Anyone who contravenes or fails to comply with subsection 95(1), section 96, or subsection 98(5) or (7) commits an offence and is liable, on summary conviction, to a fine of up to $7.70 for each kilometre per hour that the vehicle was driven over the maximum permissible speed at the location of the offence.
• Speeding when road workers are present: s. 238(2.1)
Anyone who contravenes or fails to comply with subsection 95(1.2) commits an offence and is liable, on summary conviction, to the same fine set out in subsection 238(2), plus an additional $5 for each kilometre per hour that the vehicle was driven over the maximum permissible speed at the location of the offence.
• Additional licence suspension: s. 238(3)
If a person is convicted of an offence under subsection 95(1), 95(1.2), 95(2), or subsection 98(5) or 98(7), the judge or justice who convicts them may, in addition to any other penalty under the Act, suspend their driver’s licence.

Does racing lead to automatic licence suspension in Manitoba?

Under section 242.4(17) of the Highway Traffic Act, if a peace officer has reason to believe that a motor vehicle is being or has been driven in a race on a highway, the officer may impose a driver’s licence suspension or driving disqualification under subsection (18). This means:

• You can face an immediate roadside licence suspension if the officer believes you were racing.
• You may be disqualified from driving even before your case is fully resolved in court.
• This suspension is in addition to any fines, demerits, vehicle impoundment, or court-imposed penalties.

For many drivers, this comes as a shock; you don’t need to be convicted first for a suspension to be imposed.

Speed racing vs speeding fines in Manitoba

Stunt driving is a serious and dangerous offence that puts not only the driver, but also passengers, pedestrians, and other road users at extreme risk. The high speeds and reckless behaviour involved dramatically increase the likelihood of severe collisions, life‑altering injuries, and fatalities. 

As this chart shows, the impacts of stunt driving extend far beyond a single moment of thrill, resulting in significant legal, financial, and personal consequences.

Offence	Consequences
Stunt Driving	– Seven-day vehicle impoundment. – Licence suspension of up to a year. – Fine of up to $5,000. – Impact on your Driver Safety Rating (DSR). – Increased licence and insurance costs. – 10 demerit points
Speeding	– Fines starting at $181.50 for 10 km/h over the speed limit. – Impact on your Driver Safety Rating (DSR). – Increased licence and insurance costs. – 2-9 demerit points

How to fight a speed racing ticket in Manitoba

If you’ve been charged with speed racing, stunt driving, or street racing in Manitoba, it’s important to act quickly and understand your options. Here is how to contest a speed racing ticket.

Step 1: Review your options

When you receive an offence notice, you can:
You can plead guilty and pay the ticket, plead guilty with an explanation to ask for a reduced fine or more time to pay, or dispute the charge and request a trial by pleading not guilty.

Step 2: Understand the consequences


Speed racing and stunt driving are treated seriously in Manitoba and can affect your Driver Safety Rating (DSR), licence status, and insurance premiums. Note that photo radar tickets in Manitoba generally do not affect your licence or insurance, but officer-issued speed racing or stunt driving tickets can have significant consequences.


Step 3: Request a hearing




To fight the ticket, you must dispute the charge by contacting the Provincial Offences Court within the time limit on your ticket (usually 15 days) at 204-945-3156 (Winnipeg) or toll-free at 1-800-282-8069. They will help you set a hearing date. If you do not respond in time or miss your court date, you may be convicted by default and face extra fees.


Step 4: Gather evidence



Work on collecting any evidence that may help your case, such as your own notes about what happened, witness statements, and any dashcam or surveillance footage. For officer-issued tickets, you (or your representative) can also request disclosure, which may include police notes and calibration records for radar or laser devices used to measure speed.


Step 5: Seek legal representation



Consider hiring a traffic court agent or paralegal at JUSTICEJOLT to explain the possible outcomes and penalties, identify legal defences or technical issues, negotiate for reduced charges, demerit points, or fines, and represent you before a justice of the peace or a judge.

Step 6: Ask for a fine reduction (if you’re not disputing the charge)


If you do not want to fully fight the charge but hope to reduce the fine or get more time to pay, you can appear before a justice of the peace and ask for a reduced fine or an extended deadline to pay.

Acting quickly, understanding your rights, and getting proper legal help can improve your chances of reducing or successfully fighting a speed racing ticket in Manitoba. Every case is different. Even if the evidence seems strong, you may still have defences or options to reduce the consequences.

Contact JUSTICEJOLT to fight a speed racing ticket

Facing a stunt driving or racing allegation can be overwhelming. The combination of large fines, licence suspensions, insurance consequences, and potential criminal record makes it important not to simply plead guilty without legal advice.

A traffic court agent or paralegal experienced with Manitoba Highway Traffic Act offences can:

• Explain your rights and options.
• Help you understand the possible penalties in your specific situation.
• Guide you through the court process.
• Work to protect your licence, your record, and your insurance.

If you’re ready to contest a speed racing ticket, contact our team of paralegals and lawyers to get started.