You’d be surprised at what is considered to be “reckless driving” in the state of Florida. Your average citizen might believe that this is just a civil offense. Think again! Reckless driving is a criminal charge. Getting caught speed is usually the reason why drivers are charged with reckless driving. Other ways to get busted include weaving across lanes, cutting off another driver without using a signal and driving so aggressively that you may possibly cause an accident. Reckless driving tickets may also be issued to other violations like speeding or running a red light. What about texting or falling asleep at the wheel? That usually follows under “careless driving”.
What makes reckless driving such a tough judgment call is that it really depends on the officer’s mindset. This is why it can be contested with help from a defense attorney experienced enough in these driving matters. A lawyer will remind you that a citation, such as Reckless Driving, is not evidence of guilt and that you have the right to contest the citation. If you are charged with reckless driving, you must consider it a serious allegation. If property damage is involved in a reckless driving incident, or if you cause serious bodily harm to a passenger or another driver, you could face a third degree offense. Third degree offenses in the state of FL are punishable by a fine of up to $5000 and even up to five years in jail. The good news is that these are common charges against drivers, so you are not alone.