New York City Reckless Driving Lawyer
Reckless driving charges can result in paying fines, serving time in prison, and having insurance companies significantly increase your rates. If you have been charged with reckless driving in New York City, contact a New York City reckless driving lawyer to review the charges against you, determine what legal defenses may apply to your situation, and find out if there is a way to have the charges dismissed altogether or have them mitigated through a plea bargain. Consult a skilled traffic lawyer and know that you are in capable hands.
What Does It Legally Mean to Drive Recklessly?
New York City has a very broad definition of what it means to drive recklessly. According to NY Vehicle & Traffic Code section 1212, reckless driving means:
“Driving or using any motor vehicle (including motorcycles) and those propelled by any power other than muscular power or any appliance or accessory in a manner which unreasonably interferes with the free and proper use of a public highway or endangers others.”
What that means is, essentially, anyone who is driving a car, truck, bus, motorcycle – whether gas-powered, electric, or a hybrid – who endangers others by operating it recklessly can be guilty of the crime.
In reality, that generally refers to speeding, racing, drag racing, driving on the wrong side of the road, driving on the shoulder of the road, or engaging in other activities (other than driving) – while driving.
Reckless Driving Penalties
New York City imposes severe consequences on those who drive recklessly. New York City reckless driving offenses are considered misdemeanors and can result in paying significant fines, spending up to 30 days in prison, and having a criminal record which generally cannot ever be expunged.
Reckless driver convictions can also result in license suspension, license revocation, and five points against a license. While the latter might not seem to be a big deal, it is. Insurance companies generally raise someone’s rates when points are charged against their license.
However, insurers also may look at the type of violation behind those points when deciding how much to increase rates. Common sense dictates that insurers will increase rates more for a reckless driving charge than for a parking ticket. A skilled New York City reckless driving lawyer can work to mitigate the penalties that an individual may face.
Working With a New York City Reckless Driving Attorney
Anyone who has been charged with reckless driving in New York City can fight those charges with the help of an experienced New York City reckless driving lawyer. A qualified attorney can begin to build a robust defense for you.
The stakes are high when it comes to New York City reckless driving convictions as they leave you with a permanent criminal record which can never be expunged and you may have to report the incident to prospective employers, landlords, and financial institutions – forever. Furthermore, reckless driving convictions also result in points on your license and higher insurance rates.
The bottom line is that anyone facing a criminal charge should make sure they know all the legal options available to them. In many cases, people simply do not know and end up paying for a crime – figuratively and literally – because they did not ask for help. Contact a skilled New York City reckless driving attorney that can advocate for you.