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Have you found yourself charged with reckless driving in the state of Washington?
This article will explain everything you need to know about your reckless driving charge, including the penalties and how to fight your reckless driving ticket.
What is Considered Reckless Driving?
According to the official Washington State Legislature website, reckless driving is a penalty defined by someone “drives any vehicle in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.” In other words, if someone is driving in a manner that puts others or their property in danger, they may be charged with reckless driving.
There are many different forms reckless driving can take. Reckless driving is a broad category and depends in part on the police officer’s interpretation of your act. Some examples of reckless driving include:
● Racing with other vehicles
● Running a light
● Zig-zag driving on different lanes
● Driving while intoxicated with drugs or alcohol
● Ignoring stop signs of buses
If a police officer sees you driving in what they consider to be a reckless way, this is enough of a reason for them to legally stop and arrest you, and it is also enough for you to receive criminal charges. A reckless driving charge may also be added to a DUI as an additional charge if you were recklessly driving while under the influence of alcohol.
Penalties for Reckless Driving
There is a long list of penalties someone may face depending on the circumstance for reckless driving in the state of Washington. It is important to be aware and learn of these penalties if you are caught recklessly driving in Washington so you can know what to expect from court.
Mandatory License Suspension
No matter what the circumstances are, if you are convicted in court for reckless driving, you will have your license suspended for at least 30 days according to the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 46.61.500. To continue driving during your license suspension, you will need to receive either an ignition interlock license or an occupational restricted license.
Jail Time and Fines
The punishment for a gross misdemeanor is defined by RCW 9.92.020. For a gross misdemeanor, you could be sentenced to up to one year in prison. You could also face up to $5,000 in fines for reckless driving if the circumstances were deemed dangerous.
Additional consequences of a reckless driving conviction may include:
Installing an Ignition Interlock Device
According to RCW 46.61.5055.3, If you were recklessly driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you will be required to install an ignition interlock device on all of your vehicles. You will also be required to do so if you have “one or more prior offenses” in the seven years preceding the charge.
Increased Auto Insurance Premiums
With charges such as reckless driving, auto accidents or traffic violations, it is possible for you to face increases on your auto insurance premiums, including SR-22 high risk auto insurance. This is because your insurance company may deem you to be more likely to get into a car crash or engage in dangerous behavior while driving.
Troubles with Employment
Given that reckless driving is a gross misdemeanor in Washington State, if you are charged with reckless driving it will appear on your criminal record. This means that some employers may be less likely to hire you, or, if you accumulate a large number of criminal offenses on your record, you may lose your job.
Impact on Immigration Status
As with employment status, having a criminal record can affect your immigration status. Although a single reckless driving charge may not result in the cancellation of your immigration status, it may make it more likely for you to be faced with immigration status problems.
What is better? Reckless Driving or DUI?
No one wants to have a reckless driving or DUI charge appear on their criminal record. However, many people will try to get their DUI charge changed to a reckless driving one because it is more lenient than a DUI charge.
Get Professional Help
If you find yourself having to deal with a reckless driving charge in Washington, it is crucial that you seek out professional help immediately in order to get the best support and defence possible. Luckily, there is an easy-to-use and reliable way to help you get all of the support you may need and more: App WinIt.
The process is easy. First, you will begin by filling out basic information about yourself, the penalty, and what exactly happened. You will also send in a photo of the traffic ticket. Once everything is submitted, you will be contacted within 48 hours with a free quote for your dispute. You will then have the chance to select a professional attorney to work with from.
Hiring a professional attorney will not only greatly increase your chances of having your charges diminished or dismissed, it will also help you avoid the time and energy consuming hassle that fighting a case can be. Getting help has never been easier than with App WinIt.
Conclusion
Although getting a ticket is always a hassle, it does not have to be the end of the world. If you find yourself charged with reckless driving in Washington, it is important for you to read about what reckless driving means and what kinds of penalties and consequences you may face. Remember, with App WinIt, you can receive low-cost, professional, and high-quality support to help you fight a reckless driving charge in the state of Washington.
