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Perhaps you or someone you know was recently charged with reckless driving in New Jersey. Understandably, you have several questions about this charge and what it actually means.
What kind of actions on the road lead to reckless driving? What penalties could you face if you’re arrested for reckless driving? We answer these questions and more, so join our discussion below to learn more.
Also, if you were arrested for reckless driving and need legal counsel, be sure to stick around until the end of this article. We show you how easy it is to hire an attorney in NJ.
What Is Reckless Driving in NJ?
To answer this question, let’s go right to the source by examining the state of New Jersey’s statutes to see what it has to say about reckless driving.
According to N.J.S.A. 39:4-96, reckless driving relates to someone driving their vehicle “heedlessly, in willful or wanton disregard of the rights or safety of others, in a manner so as to endanger, or be likely to endanger, a person or property.”
In other words, you’re aware that the manner in which you are driving is dangerous, yet you continue to do so anyway. A common scenario that often results in reckless driving is someone getting behind the wheel when they’re drunk or intoxicated. However, this isn’t always the case.
The driver knows they could potentially cause harm to someone or damage property, but they decide to drive dangerously regardless. As you can imagine, this kind of blatant disregard for others carries serious consequences.
Penalties for Reckless Driving?
If you are pulled over for reckless driving, you face a multitude of charges depending on whether it’s your first conviction or a repeat offense. Let’s explore the penalties for each charge so you can see the differences between them.
First Conviction
As a first-time offender, the charges you face aren’t as severe compared to if you are arrested for a second offense. Still, they aren’t to be taken lightly, as you can see below.
● License suspension for up to 90 days
● Increased vehicle insurance
● Court fees (amount varies)
● 5 points on your license
● Up to 60 days in jail
● $50 to $200 fine
It’s important to note that it takes just two points to raise your insurance rates. As such, five points could increase your insurance exponentially.
As you can see, New Jersey’s first conviction penalties for reckless driving are bad enough. But how do they stack up against a second offense?
Second Conviction
With much more at stake, a second conviction can cause you to lose your driver’s license for as much as half a year. But that’s not all—see below for what you could potentially be facing if you’re arrested for a repeat reckless driving offense.
● License suspension for up to 6 months
● Increased vehicle insurance
● Court fees (amount varies)
● 5 points on your license
● Up to 3 months in jail
● $100 to $500 fine
Most notably, the jail time, amount of the fine, and license suspension period are considerably greater than first convictions. If you want to avoid these issues, it’s essential that you take your driving responsibilities seriously.
It’s worth noting that there are different degrees of potentially dangerous driving. Just because you’re pulled over for driving irresponsibly doesn’t mean you’ll be charged with reckless driving.
Let’s take a look at another driving charge in New Jersey that’s not quite as problematic as reckless driving but is still a concern that needs to be taken seriously.
Careless Driving in New Jersey
Careless driving can also result in penalties, but they aren’t as stiff compared to reckless driving. What constitutes careless driving in New Jersey? Once again, let’s turn to the state’s statutes so there’s no confusion over what it means.
As per N.J.S.A. 39:4-97, careless driving refers to anyone “who drives a vehicle carelessly, or without due caution and circumspection, in a manner so as to endanger, or be likely to endanger, a person or property, shall be guilty of careless driving.”
Essentially, careless driving is when someone doesn’t realize that their driving is putting others in danger. If you are cited for careless driving in New Jersey, the penalties include two points on your driver’s license and a fine of $85.
As you’ll recall, two points is enough to increase your insurance rates, so it’s important to make every effort to ensure that you are obeying the rules of the road at all times. In doing so, you can ensure your own safety, as well as the safety of others.
If you still aren’t clear on the differences between these two, let’s briefly go over what each one means.
Difference between Careless and Reckless Driving in NJ?
Careless driving is less serious and therefore carries lighter charges if you’re convicted. Moreover, a driver’s negligence is an example of careless driving, such as failing to use a turn signal during a lane change and hitting another driver as a result.
Reckless driving, on the other hand, occurs when the driver is well aware that their actions are dangerous to others but proceed to drive anyway. What’s more, reckless driving can involve alcohol consumption or drug use, but not always.
Here, the driver knows that they legally shouldn’t be behind the wheel. However, they disregard their better judgment and drive anyway, thereby putting other drivers at risk. As such, reckless driving is more severe than careless driving but not as severe as a DUI.
Wrap Up
Reckless driving is indeed a serious matter. But not all reckless driving charges are legitimate. If you believe you were incorrectly charged, you should hire an attorney and fight your reckless driving case. To get the legal counsel you deserve and take a stand, visit appwinit.com today and get the WinIt app.
It’s easier than ever to fight parking and driving violations, thanks to WinIt. But you should act fast—the sooner you take action, the sooner you can get your case dismissed and put this problem behind you.
