New York Reckless Driving Defense Lawyer
Speeding, running a red light, and other moving violations can land you a ticket, points on your license, and even affect your insurance rate. More serious driving offenses, however, may lead to criminal charges. If a police officer believes you’ve been driving in an especially dangerous manner, you can be charged with reckless driving. Reckless driving is much more than an expensive ticket–it can leave you with a criminal record and land you in jail.
If you’ve been arrested or cited for reckless driving, or if you’ve been charged with any driving offense, you need a solid legal team on your side as soon as possible. Call the seasoned New York reckless driving defense lawyers at Dupée & Monroe to help you build the strongest defense and fight to have the charges reduced or dropped entirely.
What Is Reckless Driving Under New York Law?
New York Vehicle and Traffic Law (VTL) section 1212 codifies “reckless driving.” According to the statute, reckless driving means operating any motor vehicle “in a manner which unreasonably interferes with the free and proper use of the public highway, or unreasonably endangers users of the public highway.” VTL 1212 certifies that reckless driving is a misdemeanor, rather than simply an infraction like other traffic tickets.
From the definition, it’s clear that police and prosecutors have significant discretion in choosing to pursue reckless driving charges. Depending on the context, speeding, making unsafe lane changes, swerving, driving the wrong way on a road, running a stop sign, or any other lesser driving offense can be “elevated” to a criminal charge should the government believe the defendant’s conduct was especially dangerous.
If you are facing unfair charges of reckless driving, an experienced New York moving violation defense lawyer can help you contest the prosecution and prove that a normal traffic ticket is more than appropriate.
Penalties for Reckless Driving
Reckless driving is not a traffic ticket. It’s chargeable as a misdemeanor, a proper criminal offense. A defendant convicted of reckless driving can be punished with fines and even jail time, depending on whether it’s a first offense. Penalties for reckless driving include:
- First Offense: Up to $300 in fines and up to 30 days in jail.
- Second Offense: Up to $525 in fines and up to 90 days in jail.
- Third Offense: Up to $1,125 in fines and up to 180 days in jail.
Drivers convicted of reckless driving can also expect to pay administrative fees/mandatory surcharges of close to $100, as well as to receive upwards of five points on their driving record. Points on your license can increase your insurance rates, impact your ability to get new insurance, and lead to license suspension or revocation.
Defending Against Reckless Driving Charges With Help from a Seasoned Driving Offense Defense Attorney
Reckless driving goes beyond mere negligence. It’s not enough to show you simply made a mistake–the prosecution must show that you were aware of a significant risk of danger to others and that you disregarded that risk. We’ll make sure you do not face the worst consequences of a criminal conviction for a simple driving error.
The reckless driving defense team at Dupée & Monroe has decades of experience helping clients defend against a wide range of misdemeanor and felony charges. We’ll work to undermine the prosecution’s case as appropriate, poke holes in their theories and evidence, and prove that you should be cited for a traffic violation, at most, if not have your case dropped entirely. We’ll fight to get your charges dropped or negotiate for a favorable plea bargain where possible, and we’ll take your case all the way through trial where necessary to defend your rights.
For Help Fighting Your Reckless Driving Charges, Call Our Hudson Valley Criminal Defense Lawyers
If you have been arrested and charged with reckless driving or other serious offenses, contact Dupée & Monroe, P.C., in Goshen. We represent clients charged with reckless driving, DWI, DWAI, and other serious offenses in Orange County and throughout the Hudson Valley.
