There is not a criminal offense called road rage in most states, but there are criminal offenses for the aggressive, reckless driving motivated by anger, rage, and frustration that often leads to motor vehicle accidents and dangerous or deadly confrontations between drivers in road rage incidents. Aggressive driving behavior may also lead to traffic tickets and driver’s license suspensions for related offenses such as speeding, reckless driving, tailgating, lane blocking, illegal passing, racing, and assault with a deadly weapon (motor vehicle). And some states have passed laws that include significant fines and potential jail or prison time for such reckless driving.

In New York, while there is no specific criminal offense termed 'road rage,' behaviors typically associated with road rage can lead to criminal charges under various traffic and criminal statutes. Aggressive driving actions such as speeding, reckless driving, tailgating, improper lane changes, and illegal passing can result in traffic citations. More severe conduct, such as engaging in a motor vehicle chase or using a car to intimidate or harm another person, could be charged under New York's reckless endangerment or assault statutes, potentially leading to significant fines and incarceration. New York Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 1212 defines reckless driving as driving in a manner that 'unreasonably interferes with the free and proper use of the public highway, or unreasonably endangers users of the public highway,' which can be applied to road rage incidents. Penalties for these offenses can include points on a driver's license, fines, driver's license suspension, and in serious cases, jail or prison time.