Reckless Driving Attorney in Middlesex County
Accompanied by some of the stiffest penalties in New Jersey traffic law, reckless driving is a serious charge, as exemplified by the five (5) points that go on your driving record if you plead guilty or are found guilty. The courts have broad discretion when it comes to prosecuting reckless driving tickets. The court’s discretion may range from reducing the points completely to suspending your driver’s license or even sentencing you to jail. Incarceration is imposed in limited situations that typically involve a victim who has been seriously injured or killed as a result of the alleged reckless driving. However, municipal judges will often suspend driver’s licenses if the reckless driving involved exceedingly high speeds or property damage.
An experienced municipal court defense lawyer is your best chance to mitigate or avoid these charges altogether. At William Proetta Criminal Law, our attorneys are often able to work with the prosecution in order to get reckless driving tickets downgraded or amended to lower offenses such as careless driving or unsafe operation. We represent clients for reckless driving and other traffic violations throughout Middlesex County and New Jersey including Edison, Woodbridge, South Brunswick, North Brunswick, Plainsboro, Sayreville, South Plainfield and Old Bridge. For more information about how we can help you beat your reckless driving case, contact our office at (732) 659-9600 for a free consultation with an experienced reckless driving defense lawyer.
Reckless Driving in New Jersey N.J.S.A. 39:4-96
Under New Jersey law, N.J.S.A. 39:4-96, reckless driving is defined as operating a motor vehicle with “willful or wanton disregard of the rights or safety of others, in a manner so as to endanger, or be likely to endanger, a person or property.” In other words, if you are issued a ticket for reckless driving, the State is alleging that you knowingly drove a vehicle in a manner that put others at risk. As such, the penalties for reckless driving in New Jersey are extremely severe.
For a first offense of reckless driving, you face up to 2 months in the county jail, a fine ranging from $50 to $200, and potential suspension of your driver’s license. For a second or subsequent reckless driving offense, you are exposed to up to 90 days in jail, a fine ranging from $100 to $500, and driver’s license suspension for up to 180 days. You are also saddled with an 5 additional points on your driver’s abstract with the NJ Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), which can lead to financially crushing increases in your insurance premiums.
Speak with a Middlesex County Reckless Driving Attorney about Your Case
Under many circumstances, a reckless driving ticket will be accompanied by other motor vehicle violations such DWI, speeding, or leaving the scene of an accident. We have defended clients for reckless driving under a wide array of circumstances and differing facts. Whatever the facts of your particular case, we will work with the prosecutor and any other involved parties to effectuate a successful resolution. Will Proetta, our firm’s founding attorney, has successfully represented clients against countless municipal court and traffic violations including reckless driving. We handle reckless driving cases throughout Middlesex County and New Jersey and we are fully prepared to help you. Contact our office in Edison today at (732) 659-9600 for a free consultation with a traffic defense attorney to build a case strategy designed to meet your needs.