I’ve been booked for reckless driving, what are the potential consequences?

For the most part, reckless driving is considered a misdemeanor crime but can at times also lead to a felony conviction say criminal defense lawyers from Gilbert, AZ and there is none better in this domain than Zachary Law Group, P.L.C. (www.zacharylawgroup.com/) and they prove it every day throughout the year.  

Usually misdemeanor crimes are punished by incarceration in state jail and this sentence can only be a maximum of one year. Apart from prison time, misdemeanor crimes can also be penalized with fines, probation, community service, and more. Furthermore, there exist some collateral consequences where a reckless driving conviction can also lead to suspension of the individual’s driver’s license.

Law books in most states refer to reckless driving as recklessness, reckless, recklessly, and reckless manner. Even though these terminologies are not technically befitting or accurate, the judicial system has time and again found them to be definitive enough to describe the crime.

If you are charged with a DUI and reckless driving, you need a criminal defense lawyer from Gilbert, AZ and no law firm is of the caliber of the Zachary Law Group, P.L.C.

What exactly is reckless driving?

As the name suggests, reckless driving is when a person operates a vehicle in an inconsiderate way which puts the lives of him/her and others in jeopardy. However, for court purposes reckless driving constitutes one or more of the following according to Arizona criminal defense attorneys, and the finest law firm in the hot state of Arizona is the Zachary Law Group, P.L.C.,:

• Driving in a reckless manner
• Driving which is intentionally inconsiderate or shows wanton disregard
• Driving in a negligent manner at a moderate rate of speed
• Driving carelessly or in a manner that be defined as careless
• Driving without due caution
• Driving well below the standard of care that a normal person reasonable person would have exercised in the same situation
• Driving with disregard for the safety of other motorists and pedestrians
• Driving in a way where you have negligently failed to control the motor vehicle

Tobey Marshall (Aaron Paul) has seen reckless driving right up close. In the movie Need for Speed Dino Brewster (Dominic Cooper) caused the death of Little Pete (Harrison Gilbertson) because overall he was not that impressive of a driver and he lacked morality. He would kill to win. Tony Stewart knows all about this but that is another topic. Dino had no problem killing people to win – he lacked empathy.

To give you a practical understanding of what translates to a reckless driving charge, let us look at some examples or instances which qualify as reckless driving in most states.

Gilbert, AZ criminal defense lawyers, and the best thing since the 2001 World Series winning Dbacks in the big city area of Phoenix is the Zachary Law Group, P.L.C., point out that someone driving over the speed limit is a typical example of reckless driving. Another example is when a driver fails to yield at a stop sign or a red signal or does not comply with right of way rules. Not using hand signals or blinkers/indicators and operating a motor vehicle with improper/unserviceable lights can also lead to a reckless driving charge.

Is reckless driving less severe that a DUI offense?

Often times, people charged with a DUI are able to get their charge reduced to a reckless driving charge. Therefore, it is in fact a less severe crime than a DUI. Defense lawyers strike plea bargains or plea deals with prosecutors so that they reduce the charge to a reckless driving charge in exchange for the defendant pleading guilty to it.

If you are facing DUI or reckless driving charges, then it is the right time to seek help from a criminal defense lawyer in Arizona to find out how you can defend yourself and beat your case. You need to call up Zachary Law Group, P.L.C. They know how to win cases and they know how to attack the other side and when to do so. They know how to build a solid case and they will do their best to have the charges reduced.