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A New Jersey Reckless Driving Lawyer Discusses Reckless Driving Charges

Don’t let the fact that your appearance is in a municipal court fool you; a reckless driving conviction can have significant consequences on your license and cost you a hefty fine. In some cases you can even spend time in jail. A New Jersey reckless driving lawyer knows the importance of fighting a reckless driving conviction, and has the experience and understanding that it takes to do so successfully.

Reckless Driving Defined by a New Jersey Reckless Driving Lawyer

New Jersey statute 39:4-96 defines reckless driving as operating a motor vehicle “heedlessly, in willful or wanton disregard of the rights and safety of others.” The statute further qualifies reckless driving as that which is likely to place a person or property in danger. It is important to note that the law does not require that someone actually is placed in danger. In other words, there does not need to be a victim for a charge of reckless driving.

A New Jersey Reckless Driving Lawyer Discusses Penalties for Reckless Driving

As a New Jersey reckless driving lawyer can tell you, reckless driving charges are in some ways similar to those for careless driving; the distinction is more a matter of degree. Reckless driving is the more serious of the two, and is treated as such in penalties. To begin with, a motorist convicted of reckless driving will have five points added to his or her driving record. This will, in itself, lead in most cases to an increase in your insurance premiums.

Other potential penalties for reckless driving include a fine of between $50 and $200, and jail time of up to 60 days. A person convicted of a second offense, as your New Jersey reckless driving lawyer will tell you, can spend up to 90 days in jail and receive a fine of up to $500.

A New Jersey Reckless Driving Lawyer Can Help Fight Your Charge

Motorists are often reluctant to turn to a reckless driving lawyer for assistance with what they regard as a mere traffic ticket. However, a reckless driving charge is a serious matter. Moreover, an effective attorney can help you fight the charge.

One key area that your New Jersey reckless driving lawyer will likely explore in investigating your case is how the officer determined that you were driving recklessly in the first place. Reckless driving, while a more serious charge than careless driving, nonetheless in practice is not all that easy to distinguish in many instances. Officers in essence make a judgment call when writing up the ticket on whether they consider the offense serious enough to warrant the more substantial charge. An officer may even opt for the more serious charge simply because he believes this will help make some sort of offense “stick” should you decide to fight in court.

The fact that the two charges are so similar provides a legal professional with ample room to negotiate down the more serious one. Indeed, he might even be able to help prevent a conviction on either charge.

Call a New Jersey Reckless Driving Lawyer for Help With Your Ticket

Your New Jersey reckless driving lawyer has valuable experience and knowledge which can be used to help you fight a reckless driving charge. Call the Clark Law Firm, PC today to arrange a consultation at 877-841-8855.

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