In California, Vehicle Code section 23103 defines reckless driving as driving a vehicle in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property. You can be charged with reckless driving on public roads, or in a public or private parking facility. A person acts with wanton disregard for safety when such person is aware that his or her actions present a substantial and unjustifiable risk of harm, and the person intentionally ignores that risk. The person does not have, however, to intend to cause damage to another person or property to be convicted of this offense.

Reckless driving is a misdemeanor charge carrying imprisonment from 5 to 90 days, a fine of $145 to $1,000, or both. If someone was hurt or killed as a result of reckless driving, or if a person has a prior reckless driving conviction on his or her record, those penalties can increase. For example, reckless driving that caused an injury is punished by imprisonment in a county jail for a period of 30 days to six months, or by a fine of $220 to $1,000, or by both the fine and imprisonment. In addition, the DMV will put two points on that person driver’s license, and may count this violation as a conviction against such individual in any future license suspension hearing or other legal matters.

If you have been accused of reckless driving, you will need an experienced criminal defense attorney to vigorously represent you. At Wallin & Klarich, we have helped people accused of this crime for over 30 years. Call us today at (877) 4-NO-JAIL or (877) 466-5245. We will be there when you call.