Reckless Driving Attorney

Reckless driving tickets can be issued for a number of reasons, including for driving 30 mph or more over the speed limit, driving while intoxicated, or damaging property with a vehicle. The state of New Jersey defines reckless driving as a person who was found to “drive a vehicle heedlessly, in willful or wanton disregard of the rights or safety of others, in a manner so as to endanger, or be likely to endanger, a person’s property,” as stated in N.J.S.A. 39:4-96. If property is damaged or a person is injured, it may be strong evidence of reckless driving. However, there does not need to be any damage or injury to be guilty of reckless driving.

If you are found guilty of reckless driving in the state of New Jersey, the penalties are severe. Of course, the more offenses of this infraction you have on your record, the more severe the consequences become. A person’s first reckless driving offense will result in up to 60 days of imprisonment and/or a fine between $50.00 and $200.00. A second or subsequent conviction will be punished with up to 3 months of imprisonment and/or a fine between $100.00 and $500.00. The offense of reckless driving also carries a 5-point violation on your driving record. Not only may you have to pay fees and higher insurance premiums if you receive 6 or more points within three years, but you may also lose your license if you accumulate 12 points or more on your record.

Reckless driving is also a lesser-included offense of vehicular homicide. The only difference between reckless driving and vehicular homicide is that the person’s reckless driving must be shown to have caused the death of another in the latter offense. Careless driving is a lesser-included offense of reckless driving. A person is guilty of careless driving if they drive a vehicle “without due caution and circumspection, in a manner so as to endanger, or be likely to endanger, a person or property,” according to N.J.S.A. 39:4-95.