Reckless driving is a serious offense. If you are charged with reckless driving it is important to quickly find out how to fight a reckless driving ticket and reduce the fines and charges levied against you. Is reckless driving a felony? Does a reckless driving misdemeanor mean mandatory jail time?
Hiring a reckless driving lawyer helps you reduce your charges or waive your ticket. Reckless driving ticket amounts are often high and reflect the seriousness of the charges against you. A reckless driving charge also temporarily costs your driving privileges. Read on to find out how to fight a reckless driving ticket today.
Each U.S. state has its own definition for reckless driving. When road conditions are dry reckless driving charges are sometimes different than when conditions are wet. When road conditions are wet and reckless driving occurs, penalties and fines are also affected. Dry reckless, and wet and reckless driving are also alternate legal terms used for describing reduced charges granted in lieu of a more serious DUI violation.
The speed for reckless driving charges also affects the penalties and fines levied against you. Driving any speed at least twenty-five MPH above the posted limit warrants a reckless driving charge regardless of the state in which you were cited, however.
Reckless driving is considered a moving traffic violation at a minimum in every U.S. state. If you are charged with reckless driving, you do not necessarily receive misdemeanor or felony charges.
Reckless driving charges combined with DUI/DWI violations, or when causing an accident involving injury or death results in misdemeanor or felony charges. Your reckless driving ticket cost is also impacted by the severity of the charges brought against you and other varying conditions. Because each state has its own definition of what constitutes reckless driving, charges for a reckless driving misdemeanor or felony are possible.
It is important to understand the reckless driving laws in your state to know what legal ramifications you are facing.
Reckless driving is different and more serious of an offense than careless driving. Reckless driving commonly involves driving with the intention of doing harm or a willful disregard for the safety of yourself and others on the road.
Speeding reckless driving involves driving a minimum of twenty-five MPH above the area speed limit. Other violations potentially qualified as reckless driving include:
- Racing/drag racing.
- Driving without headlights when headlights are required by law.
- Illegally passing a school bus.
- Passing on the shoulder of a road or highway.
- Evading police at high speeds.
- Intentionally running traffic lights or not using traffic signals, resulting in an accident.
- Driving on a sidewalk.
- Driving into or through a crowd of pedestrians.
- Texting while driving.
- Speeding or swerving through active construction zones.
