Subsequent offense $300 to $1,000, Imprisonment - First offense not more than 1 year. You may lose your license for a year or more and be required to pay steep fines. But generally, the possible penalties are: In addition to these fines, the court must also impose "assessment" fees ranging from $35 to $1,010. 1 A conviction carries: up to 6 months of jail time, between $500 and $1,000 in fines, a driver's license suspension of up to 1 year, 50 hours of community service, and; a mandatory DUI education program. For instance, if there is heavy traffic or poor visibility, driving even a small amount over the limit can be dangerous and constitute reckless driving. 20-140.First, a person who drives a vehicle on a highway or public vehicular area carelessly and heedlessly in willful or wanton disregard of the rights or safety of others is guilty of reckless driving. 6months in jail and/or a maximum $750 in fines. We provide free consultations for cases in our area. Physical Control v. Reckless Operation - Skip Potter Law Office FindLaw.com Free, trusted legal information for consumers and legal professionals, SuperLawyers.com Directory of U.S. attorneys with the exclusive Super Lawyers rating, Abogado.com The #1 Spanish-language legal website for consumers, LawInfo.com Nationwide attorney directory and legal consumer resources. It can be difficult to get new insurance if you're dropped for a felony or misdemeanor, but it's not impossible, just expensive. The consequences of a reckless driving conviction depend on the circumstances. Select Your State. Enter your zip code below and fill out a quick questionnaire. f 12 months for misdemeanor reckless driving and five years for felony reckless driving. A second or subsequent violation within 24 months is a Class 1 misdemeanor, Imprisonment - I. Non-Injury-related offense: first offense 5 to 90 days. Alabama's Reckless Driving Laws and Penalties Any person who drives any vehicle upon a highway, alley, public park, recreational area, or upon the property of a public or private school, college, or university carelessly and heedlessly in disregard of the rights or safety of others, or without due caution and circumspection and at a speed or in a manner so as to endanger or be likely to endanger any person or property. Many reckless driving cases in Virginia are resolved in one single court appearance. Andrew wrote the book on DWI. Deciding whether or not to actually hire an attorney for your speeding ticket comes down to a cost-benefit analysis, in my opinion." This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style byFindLaws team of legal writers and attorneysand in accordance withour editorial standards. We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. Where a reckless driving offense involves unlawfully passing a school bus, it's a class B misdemeanor. Derek has over 10 years of experience writing web content for a variety of online publications. , it may qualify as a misdemeanor offense and stay on your permanent criminal record. Most cases do not result in a jail sentence, but if you are convicted of traveling 30 mph or more over the limit, many judges will impose jail of up to 12 months.