Operating a motor vehicle is a major responsibility for which you should have a healthy respect. After all, you are in control of a vehicle that weighs thousands of pounds and has the potential to cause severe bodily damage or death. Most people take this duty seriously, but almost everyone occasionally has a lapse in judgment while behind the wheel.
Mistakes like reading a text message while in control of your car or exceeding the speed limit by more than a few miles an hour could lead to traffic fines and penalties. Driving without a careful eye on risks and potential consequences could lead to accusations of reckless driving, which are far more serious than a minor speeding ticket. For those facing allegations of reckless driving in Hawaii, the penalties are particularly steep.
Reckless driving charges do not require injury to anyone else
There’s a common misconception when it comes to reckless driving. Many people seem to think that these charges only occur in the event that there is an accident. In reality, you don’t need to cause injury to another person or property damage to face reckless driving charges.
Instead, law enforcement only needs a firm belief that you were disregarding potential dangers or driving in a way that could cause elevated risk to others. In many areas, especially residential neighborhoods, a speeding event that involves going more than 10 or 15 miles over the posted speed limit could be grounds for reckless driving charges.
Similarly, using the wrong ramp to get on or off the highway or driving the wrong way on a one-way street could also result in reckless driving charges.
Reckless driving is more than a low-cost ticket
Some minor traffic infractions will only cost you a couple hundred dollars. Reckless driving is not a minor ticket that you can simply ignore or pay. Instead, reckless driving allegations come with serious consequences.
The fine for a reckless driving charge could be up to $1,000. The penalties for reckless driving don’t stop there. It is possible for those accused of reckless driving to also face up to 30 days in jail for the offense. That can mean the loss of your job and other social consequences.
Clearly, this is more than a minor traffic infraction. Reckless driving is one of the many tickets that you need to take seriously in the state of Hawaii. Your need to consider how this citation could impact your life.
Mounting a defense to reckless driving charges may be in your best interest. Not only could it save you money from fines and help you avoid potential jail time, it can also help keep your driving record clear and insurance rates low.