Driving through Mays Landing and seeing the familiar red and blue lights behind your car can be a very scary experience. When the police walk away you might find yourself looking at a ticket that says, “reckless driving” and think that you got off easy and that this is not much of an issue. However, reckless driving is not just an ordinary ticket in New Jersey. A reckless driving charge can carry serious penalties and fines. That is why we always advise drivers in Mays Landing to contact and hire an experienced attorney to help them with their case.
Facing Reckless Driving Charges?
Under New Jersey law charges for reckless driving under NJSA 39:4-96 can be imposed when any driver operates a vehicle in a “willful or wanton disregard for the rights or safety of others” in a way that endangers or is likely to cause the endangerment of life, injury, or property.
If you are pulled over for reckless driving in Mays Landing and are subsequently convicted of reckless driving, then you could potentially be facing harsh penalties, fines, and even jail time. In addition to facing these fines and penalties, a driver who is convicted of reckless driving will also have 5 points added to their New Jersey Driver’s license.
However, drivers who are convicted of reckless driving do not just have to worry about their wallet. Drivers who are convicted of reckless driving can even be sentenced to a term in jail. The judge who will hear your reckless driving case has the discretion to order a convicted driver to serve up to 60 days in jail for their first reckless driving offense. If a driver is convicted more than once of reckless driving, then the judge has the ability to sentence a driver to serve up to three months in jail.
While these consequences can seem severe, they are meant to deter drivers from engaging in potentially risky behavior when they are on the road. However, as mentioned above, reckless driving is a very common traffic charge. With the potential penalties, fines, and even jail terms at risk it is important to work with a skilled attorney who can work with you and who can help you establish the best case possible for your defense. Because the judge has such broad discretion, they or the prosecutor may even reduce a ticket to a lower charge based on all of the mitigating factors of your case. While not every reckless driving charge can be pleaded down to a lesser offense, there are many that can, which can result in a lower amount of points added to your license, as well as decrease a number of fines and eliminate potential jail time. Some common lesser charges that a judge might find include obstructing traffic or unsafe driving.
Can You Lose Your License for Reckless Driving in Mays Landing?
This is always a chief concern when people have been handed a reckless driving ticket and receive a notice from the court that they are required to appear. Many New Jersey residents rely on their car to be able to get to work, and the thought of losing their license is something that can give a person a great deal of anxiety. While it is scary to think about, if you are convicted of reckless driving then there is the possibility that you could lose your license as a result of your conviction. If a judge believes that your propensity to engage in reckless driving is a danger to the community, then he or she can order a license suspension. This means that you will not be legally permitted to drive a car, and if you chose to ignore this regulation and are caught driving, then you could be subject to further sanctions, and even jail. As noted above, a reckless driving conviction will result in 5 points added to your New Jersey driver’s license. Any driver in New Jersey who accumulates 12 or more points on their license will be subjected to having their licenses suspended. It is important for drivers to be aware of this before they step foot into the courtroom. As reckless driving usually is accompanied by other charges, then it is very likely that you could receive more than 5 points on your New Jersey Driver’s license.
Because there is the chance that you could lose your license from the very first reckless driving conviction, we always advise working with an experienced attorney who can inform you of your rights and the potential methods you can use to avoid losing your license.
Our Mays Landing Reckless Driving Lawyers Can Help
If you are facing reckless driving charges after spending time in the Atlantic City area, the strategic and experienced lawyers of the Law Firm of John J. Zarych can fight for you. We are experienced in standing up to prosecutors and will pursue a legal strategy that is likely to result in the reduction or elimination of the penalties you face. To schedule a free and confidential initial consultation for your reckless driving ticket or citation call our firm at (609) 616-4956 or contact us online today.
