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Being pulled over by a police officer is stressful no matter what situation you are in. Perhaps you are being pulled over for rolling through a stop sign, speeding 7 mph over the limit, or you have a taillight out. Any of these situations can cause your heart to race as you maneuver your car to the shoulder. However, being pulled over and charged with reckless driving can leave you wondering what options you have. Are you going to jail? Will you have exorbitant fines? Is it slightly worse than getting a speeding ticket? Reckless driving is considered to be a serious offense that is often punished with hefty fines or even imprisonment. Contacting an attorney should be one of the first things you do after receiving this ticket.
Penalties for Reckless Driving
Although it varies by state, there are different penalties you could receive if convicted with reckless driving. Some of the maximum penalties you could receive are:
Fines. While you can be served with a massive fine, this will depend on a number of factors. In many cases, specific judges will impose different standards on fines. For example, one judge might make you pay $10 for every mph over the speed limit that you were going (not including court fees).
License Suspension. In typical reckless driving cases (or for first-time offenders), getting your license suspended is not something you usually have to worry about. This can depend on your driving record and how many miles per hour over the speed limit you were going.
DMV Points. This will vary by state, but if convicted of reckless driving, you could receive the maximum number of points lost on your driving record (like 6). This conviction can also remain on your driving record for many years, and you might need to take driving improvement classes.
Jail Time. Although not as common, receiving jail time for reckless driving is always a possibility. Although you should know that this could happen, it is usually reserved for speeding an excess of 30 mph over the limit or for other issues that resulted from the accident (like injuries).
What Are Other Concerns With a Reckless Driving Conviction?
Other concerns you might have if convicted of reckless driving could be insurance premiums and a criminal record. If convicted, your insurance premium might go up a huge amount. Because a reckless driving conviction could be a misdemeanor, this would go on your criminal record. This could mean hardships in the future when trying to get a job or getting a security clearance. In other cases, if you work for a company where you have to drive, you could even lose your job with a reckless driving conviction.
What Can I Do About a Charge?
If you were charged with reckless driving, this does not mean you have been convicted. A law firm can help answer any questions you might have regarding reckless driving, or they can review your case. Set up an appointment today with a reckless driving lawyer Abingdon, VA relies on at The Law Offices of Mark T. Hurt.
