Missouri Reckless Driving

Believe it or not, driving is a privilege and not a right. While driving, every person has a legal duty to use the “highest degree of care” when on the roadways. Everyone must operate their vehicle in a careful and prudent manner, in a careful and prudent rate of speed and must not operate with the intent of endangering the property or personal safety of another person. Violating these laws could end up in a hefty misdemeanor charge. Failure to exercise the highest degree of care is a Class B Misdemeanor with up to 6 months in jail and fines up to $500. Failure to exercise the highest degree of care and causing an accident is a Class A Misdemeanor with a penalty of up to 1 year in jail and fines up to $1,000. In addition to criminal charges, you can also receive 4 points on your driver’s license. While it may seem easier to just pay the fine and move on with your life, too many points on a driver’s license could have alternative affects; higher insurance payments or even a license suspension. Please read my blog post The Side Effect of Pleading Guilty to Traffic Violations for more information. Before you plead guilty to your reckless driving charge, contact Howard Haake at (314) 325-9868 or (636) 332-5555 for a free consultation and learn what rights and remedies are best for your situation.