Reckless Driving and Your License

Reckless driving, termed as dangerous driving or careless driving in certain states carries, significant implications on a driver’s ability to maintain a valid driver’s license in most cases. Although state laws vary, reckless driving involves any operation of a vehicle that shows a willful and wanton disregard for the safety of the other drivers, passengers, and pedestrians on the roadway. In practice, certain events witnessed by a law enforcement officer, such as speeds in excess of twenty-five (25) miles per hour of the posted speed limit, passing in a no-passing zone with oncoming traffic, aggressive driving (road rage incidents), evading or fleeing law enforcement in a vehicle, or racing a vehicle on a public roadway, constitute grounds for a reckless driving citation.

The way a responding law enforcement officer handles the reckless driving citation will also widely vary per the specific situation. Certain drivers may face incarceration and must bond out, while other drivers may be issued a summons to appear in court, but are free to leave the scene. The reality of a reckless driving citation, however, is that if uncontested, it will most likely result in the driver’s loss of license in most cases.

State Laws on Automatic License Suspension

Certain offenses tantamount to reckless driving, such as public racing and eluding law enforcement, automatically suspend a driver’s license in certain states. Other offenses, and in most cases, reckless driving citations cannot be paid by mail, but rather, a driver is required to attend an administrative hearing or court date concerning their citation. Certain states will automatically suspend a license for a pre-determined period based on the outcome of an administrative hearing or court hearing. However, certain cases allow drivers to incur consequences for their citation, assuming they plead guilty or are convicted, which do not automatically suspend driving privileges outright.

State Laws on Points-Based Suspensions

In the very best scenario following a guilty plea or conviction of a reckless driving citation, a driver faces significant fines, fees, and other administrative actions. These other administrative actions, which often include mandatory traffic school attendance and points being placed on one’s license, will complicate a driver’s ability to driver. Most states contain driving laws that issue a sufficient number of points to a driver’s license for a reckless driving citation that the driver faces immediate suspension based on points, or is one minor citation away from this occurring.

Getting Legal Help with Reckless Driving Citations

In reality, the mandatory court hearing or administrative panel hearing often works in the favor of a driver. The courts and administrative boards are often willing to negotiate with a driver the terms of a plea bargain, and in many cases, alternative sentences are possible, such as attendance in traffic school and others. In essence, the idea following any reckless driving citation is for a driver to mitigate the potential for their loss of license, which is a very real possibility in light of such a serious charge. Drivers should consult with a traffic violations lawyer before taking any action concerning an impending reckless driving citation.

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