Careless Driving vs. Reckless Driving

Careless Driving vs. Reckless Driving

People frequently confuse the terms “careless driving” and “reckless driving.”

This leads them to use the terms interchangeably. However, these are different moving violations. One generally is considered more serious than the other, carrying with it potential criminal consequences.

A driver may receive a ticket for careless driving when they do things like get into an accident, speeding, or running a stoplight. The police officer may give a citation for speeding and careless driving, or running a stop sign and careless driving, which means that the driver may have to pay fines and may have points added to their record, if not taken care of properly.

Reckless driving is a more serious offense.

In fact, Reckless Driving is considered a crime. This means that the driver could be facing a fine, points on their driving record, and a jail sentence. Clearly, this is the more serious situation. What sets reckless driving apart from careless driving is the intent of the person behind the wheel. If the driver demonstrates a wanton or willful disregard for the safety of others and their property, they may be facing reckless driving charges.

Whether you are facing charges of careless driving or reckless driving, you soon may be dealing with a suspended license if you ignore the problem. The consequences become harsher and the fines are more expensive with a suspended license, which means that you may need legal representation in these circumstances.

Let us help you

A speeding ticket attorney from Ferrer Shane Gonzalez can help you if you are facing careless or reckless driving charges. While you may be able to deal with the problem on your own with minor careless driving charges, it is inadvisable to do so when you are charged with reckless driving. With criminal consequences being a very real possibility, it is imperative that you work with a traffic ticket attorney from Ferrer Shane Gonzalez.