If you use your car on a regular basis, chances are that you will receive a traffic ticket at some point in your life.
While many road violations are minor, reckless driving is a serious offense that can wreak havoc on your life if left unchecked.
Should police ticket you for reckless driving in Texas, take the matter seriously and consult with a Kingwood defense attorney as soon as possible.
Without proper legal guidance, you could lose your driving privilege, face costly fines, and even go to jail.
What is reckless driving?
According to Texas Transportation Code §545.401 reckless driving occurs when, “…a person drives a vehicle in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.”
Here are some examples of reckless driving behaviors:
- Texting and driving
- Driving excessively over the speed limit
- Speeding to “beat” yellow lights at an intersection
- Failing to yield the right of way to other cars, pedestrians, or cyclists
- Failing to stop for a stopped school bus
- Driving while using alcohol or drugs
- Weaving in and out of lanes
- Running stop signs
- Passing over a double yellow line on a highway
- Street racing
- Driving the wrong way down the road
It is important to understand that for the state to convict you of reckless driving in Texas, it must prove that your actions were willful or wanton and not just negligent.
Penalties for reckless driving in Texas
Reckless driving is a criminal offense as well as a traffic violation and thus carries a wide range of repercussions.
If convicted, you face very real consequences that will affect nearly every aspect of your life.
An experienced lawyer can fight to protect your rights and help you avoid the following penalties:
- Misdemeanor charge — Reckless driving is a misdemeanor criminal offense penalized by $200 in fines and/or up to 30 days in jail.
- Other consequences — In addition to the misdemeanor charges, you could face license suspension, license points, probation, community service, traffic school, victim restitution, increased car insurance rates, and other penalties.
What may seem like a minor traffic violation can turn out to be a serious legal matter.
A competent defense lawyer can safeguard your rights.
Contact an experienced reckless driving defense lawyer in Kingwood
At the Law Office of Andrew J. Williams, we have decades of experience defending motorists just like you.
Knowledgeable and straight-forward, we swiftly evaluate your case and help you plot a course for success.
Contact our firm online or call 281-358-9111 to schedule your free initial consultation.
