Reckless driving is typically considered a severe traffic violation that carries more significant penalties than most other driving offenses. Someone can be charged with reckless driving if they risk other people’s safety or their property while operating a motor vehicle, or if they flee from law enforcement while operating a motor vehicle.
The severity of a reckless driving charge depends on whether you have a previous conviction of reckless driving and if someone was seriously injured or property was damaged as a result. Additionally, charges can be influenced by drugs or alcohol playing a role in the incident.
If you were charged with reckless driving in the State of Florida, you may be at risk of losing your license, paying hefty fines, facing increased insurance premiums, imprisonment, probation, and possibly the loss of employment and educational opportunities that may require a clean background check. To reduce the chance of incurring life-altering consequences, contact a Boca Raton reckless driving defense lawyer at Leifert & Leifert for assistance building a credible defense and preserving your rights. Let a skilled traffic lawyer fight for you.
Penalties for Reckless Driving in Florida
According to Florida Statutes §316.192, the legal consequences associated with a reckless driving conviction may include imprisonment for up to 90 days and a fine ranging from $25 to $500 in value for a first conviction. If a person is facing a second charge of reckless driving after a prior conviction, they may incur an imprisonment term of up to six months and a fine ranging from $50 to $1,000.
If an individual’s reckless driving results in damage to someone else’s property, the charges filed against the offender might be elevated to a First-Degree Misdemeanor. If someone is seriously injured in an incident that resulted from another person’s reckless driving, the individual could be charged with a Third-Degree Felony. Penalties for such a conviction may include an incarceration period of up to five years and fines of up to $5,000, not including court costs.
Furthermore, if an incident occurs from a combination of reckless driving and the driver’s usage of drugs, alcohol, or another illegal substance while operating the motor vehicle, they may be charged with reckless driving and a DUI.
Value of Legal Representation
Regardless of the circumstances surrounding someone’s reckless driving charge, the accused could benefit from legal representation. Boca Raton reckless driving attorneys may combat the Prosecutor’s case against someone. This could help mitigate the possibility of lofty insurance premiums—which could double or even triple after a reckless driving conviction—or the potential loss of their driver’s license.
Depending on the circumstances, a Boca Raton reckless driving lawyer could argue that the individual accused of reckless driving did not act in a wanton or willful manner as stated in the language used in the Florida statute centered on reckless driving. A skilled attorney could also scrutinize the reliability of witnesses who claimed to see the incident unfold.
Talking to a Boca Raton Reckless Driving Attorney
If you were accused of reckless driving in the State of Florida, a dedicated Boca Raton reckless driving lawyer who is knowledgeable of the State’s laws surrounding reckless driving could possibly help build a solid defense in court. Contact an attorney from Leifert & Leifert today for a free consultation and case review.
