Orlando Reckless Driving Lawyer

Defense for Reckless Driving in Orlando, FL

Under Florida law, reckless driving charges will be brought against any person who:

• Drives a vehicle in “willful or wanton disregard for the safety  of persons or property”; or
• Flees a law enforcement officer in a motor vehicle

Many people do not realize that reckless driving is a considered a serious traffic crime. Law enforcement officials take reckless driving charges very seriously, and will not hesitate to punish an offender to the fullest extent of the law. 

Penalties for Reckless Driving

The penalties for reckless driving will depend on the nature of the offense.  Simple charges for reckless driving include up to 90 days in jail and $25-$500 in fines.  Any person who causes property damage due to the fact that they were driving recklessly will face first degree misdemeanor charges, which is punishable by up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.  In the event that reckless driving leads to serious bodily injury, the driver will be sentenced to up to 5 years in prison and a $5,000 fine.  In addition to these penalties, 4 points will be assessed to a person’s driving record.

Reckless Driving & DUI

Reckless driving charges are often filed in conjunction with DUI charges.  In fact, in many DUI cases the defense will try and negotiate for a reduction of the charges to reckless driving.  This is because although reckless driving is a crime in and of itself, it’s not as serious of an offense as DUI, and generally warrants lesser penalties.   If a driver is charged with reckless driving in a DUI case, he or she will be required to complete a DUI substance abuse program in addition to paying a fine and possibly serving time in jail.

Contact an Orlando Reckless Driving Defense Attorney

Because of the way the law is written, it can be tricky to defend someone against reckless driving charges.  The police may claim you were “willfully disregarding” the safety of others, but how can that be proven?  It takes an Orlando reckless driving defense lawyer who has considerable experience in this area of criminal traffic law to effectively defend someone against reckless driving charges. At Rivas Law Firm, P.A, we have defended many clients against reckless driving, and are familiar with many viable defenses that have proven to be effective in helping our clients avoid a conviction.  You can trust that we will vigorously challenge the prosecution’s accusations, and demand that they show the evidence that proves you were intentionally driving recklessly. 

Contact an Orlando reckless driving defense attorney at Rivas Law Firm, P.A. for more information about our defense services.