Charged with Reckless Driving Out of State

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Making the choice to drive from one state to another can save you money, give you the chance to enjoy the scenery, and allow you to spend time with friends and family as you make your way to a destination. Unfortunately, when you're driving, just about anything can happen to transform your beautiful day to one that you'd happily forget today. You see, when you're driving, you're responsible for following all of those laws of the road—including the speed limit and not driving recklessly. If you've been cited for driving recklessly in a state other than your own, things can become complicated.

What is reckless driving?

What constitutes reckless driving, also referred to as careless or dangerous driving, varies from state to state. One state may consider driving 80 mph a reckless driving charge, but others may not. Generally speaking, driving in a manner that puts other drivers in danger may constitute a reckless driving charge. The following things are examples of what may give you such a charge:

• Excessive speeding
• Street racing
• Passing in a double-yellow line area
• Texting while driving
• Passing a stopped school bus with flashing lights
• Evading police
• Driving under the influence

What are the consequences of reckless driving charges?

A reckless driving charge comes with various penalties depending on the exact situation and the laws that were broken. Penalties could include the following:

1. Fines – The amount will be set by the judge and can be quite substantial.
2. Jail – Oftentimes, the average driver charged with reckless driving that didn't lead to any accidents or injuries will not be sentenced to jail, but it is completely possible if the incident was serious.
3. Loss of driver's license – The driver's license may be suspended or revoked.

How can this affect you personally?

If you're charged with reckless driving and fail to win the fight, your personal and work life may suffer. Expect things like the following:

1. Increase in insurance premiums – You'll likely get points on your driver's license which will cause your rates to increase for the next several years. If the incident is serious enough, you may lose your insurance through your current company.
2. Security clearance denial – If your job requires a security clearance, it could be denied.
3. Loss of your job – If your job requires you to drive a company vehicle, or has a strict code of conduct, you could lose your job.

What do you do if you're cited for reckless driving?

The first thing to do when cited with reckless driving is to look for a reckless driving attorney that practices in the state in which you've been sited. They will know the laws in that state and can practice law in that state. After you have an attorney, you'll have a resource to tell you what comes next and how to best proceed.

16 April 2019