Road Rage

Road rage differs significantly from aggressive driving under D.C. traffic laws. Aggressive driving typically refers to multiple violations such as speeding, improper lane changes, or tailgating, often driven by impatience or recklessness. However, road rage includes intentional acts of violence or threats using a vehicle, focusing on targeted malice against a single person rather than general unsafe operation. This crucial difference in intent—from recklessness to deliberate aggression—is the key legal factor determining prosecution for road rage.

The following behaviors may be prosecuted as road rage crimes under Washington D.C. criminal statutes:

• Sudden deceleration after overtaking another driver ("brake-checking"), which is a deliberate attempt to cause a collision or alarm.
• Swerving toward another vehicle or intentionally blocking their path, maneuvers that intentionally put others at risk.
• Following the victim and tailgating with high-beam headlights or aggressive honking, designed to intimidate.
• Forcing the victim onto a sidewalk, curb, or into a barrier, a highly dangerous act.
• Intentionally ramming or attempting to collide with the target vehicle, often charged as assault with a dangerous weapon.
• Threatening gestures or verbal abuse from inside the vehicle, especially when combined with unsafe maneuvering, demonstrating malicious intent.

These aggressive actions can be charged under offenses such as assault with a dangerous weapon (a motor vehicle), reckless endangerment, or threats to do bodily harm, carrying significant penalties for road rage.

Depending on the nature of the act, the following charges may apply to instances of road rage:

• Assault with a Dangerous Weapon (D.C. Code § 22–402): Up to 10 years in prison if a motor vehicle is used to commit the assault. This is the most serious charge when the vehicle is intentionally used to threaten or cause physical contact.
• Felony Threats (D.C. Code § 22–1810): Up to 5 years in prison for credible threats of bodily harm. Verbal threats combined with aggressive driving maneuvers can lead to this serious charge.
• Destruction of Property (D.C. Code § 22–303): Up to 10 years imprisonment if the vehicle causes $1,000+ in damages. Ramming another vehicle or causing property damage during a road rage incident justifies severe penalties.
• Reckless Driving (D.C. Code § 50–2201.04): Misdemeanor, up to 90 days in jail and/or $500 fine. This often acts as a supporting charge in road rage cases.

Additional administrative penalties may include driver’s license suspension or revocation, based on D.C. DMV regulations, especially in incidents involving injury, DUI, or repeat road rage offenses.

Legal defenses against road rage charges must be built around the facts of the incident, including: objective evidence such as dashboard cameras, eyewitness accounts, and traffic footage; disputing intent by demonstrating accidental conduct or evasive driving; disproving weapon use if the vehicle was not used in a threatening or violent manner; and pursuing victim settlement if appropriate, to mitigate sentencing. Failure to appropriately respond may result in aggravated sentencing, including longer prison terms or a felony criminal record for the road rage conviction. Beyond the courtroom, the D.C. DMV may suspend or revoke driving privileges based on a criminal conviction involving vehicular aggression. Individuals in professional driving occupations (e.g., taxi, delivery, commercial licenses) may lose work certification or permits. Finally, civil lawsuits may follow the criminal case, seeking compensation for injuries, emotional distress, or property damage. Even first-time offenders may experience long-term disruptions in employment, insurance premiums, and legal reputation, highlighting the severe consequences of road rage.