Is Reckless Driving a Felony in Seattle?
You might get arrested for reckless driving when you drive your car, which could pose others at risk. Compared to other laws regarding someone’s way of driving, including speeding violations, the case of reckless driving will depend on each case of a driver.
It cannot be denied that modern life made people to be encouraged to drive their car. That’s why most countries enforce strict systems of law. These traffic laws and regulations govern the way drivers operate their cars. Considering that vehicle should be operated properly if you will drive it unsafely and recklessly, you are committing a crime. Any driver who is charged with a crime of reckless driving will be fined with penalties.
In Seattle, the crime of reckless driving is deemed to be a serious traffic offense. If you get charged with reckless driving, you will receive substantial consequences. Therefore, understanding the law is as important as learning how to drive properly.
As the RCW 46.61.500 stated that “Any person who drives any vehicle in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property is guilty of reckless driving.”
Different driving behaviors, such as erratic driving and street racing that could lose the driver’s control over the car, can lead to an arrest for reckless driving. In some states and other drivers think that reckless driving is the same as “negligent driving.” The great difference between these two traffic laws is that the latter has a lesser charge.
Important Things to Know About Reckless Driving in Seattle
Here is the essential information that you need to keep in mind about reckless driving in Seattle. Read on to know further.
Factors
When you are charged with reckless driving, then your case is sent to court. When the case is in court already, the judge will weigh several factors that will determine the right penalty for the crime you committed. The different factors include the familiarity of the driver with the road, the vehicle’s quality, the presence of animals and other individuals, the weather condition present when the crime was committed, and many more factors.
Safety Risk
As we mentioned earlier, reckless driving can pose a high risk to other individuals present on the road. But it is imperative to keep in mind that reckless driving is possible even people or other animals are not around. Not only that, you can still be arrested for reckless driving even there is no damaged property. You will be considered a reckless driver if you have risked yourself in danger.
Beyond Negligence
Reckless driving can be defined as simple as being negligent or creating a mistake that could risk their lives and others. To avoid being fined for reckless driving, you must pay close attention to the traffic rules and regulations enforced in your state. On the other hand, the court will not recognize the driver’s mental state when the crime was committed. It is enough for the court to recognize the situations of the event, which leads the driver to determine that he or she is driving unsafely.
Penalties
As we mentioned a while ago, reckless driving is one of the serious crimes on the road that you can commit. When you are arrested for the crime of reckless driving, you will face several penalties, which include license revocation, fines, jails, and more. But it is important to know that the penalties will depend from one state to another. Not only that, but the penalties also vary in the case circumstances. In other words, the charges for reckless driving could depend on different circumstances.
Imprisonment
Reckless driving is considered to be a misdemeanor offense. This means that a driver can be charged with the crime and convicted to at least one year of imprisonment. On the other hand, some states considered the crime as a felony, including Seattle. This means that the driver could be convicted to be in jail for two or more years. Keep in mind that the crime would be considered a felony only if the committed crime injured other drivers or people around it.
Fines
Aside from imprisonment, reckless driving causes fines. But take note that the fines will depend on different cases as well as the driving history of the driver. But the fine is ranging from hundreds to even thousands of US Dollars.
Probation
One of the common convictions for reckless driving is probation sentences. But this will depend on different factors. If you are sentenced with probation, you are required to follow and comply with their term, including not committing other traffic crimes, talk to a probation officer regularly, and find a job. If you violate the terms and conditions of probation, it will revoke the court and will be forced to get you in jail. Take note that the probation sentences could last for more than one year.
Suspension of License
If you are charged with reckless driving, your license may set for revocation or suspension. The laws in every state vary. But one of the common laws they share is that the driver’s license suspension who is charged with reckless driving could last for about one month. On the other hand, if the driver has been charged with reckless driving or other traffic violations before, the suspension of license could be lengthier or worse. It can lead to possible license revocation.
Conclusion
If you are charged with reckless criminal driving and end up in court, you will need a professional lawyer or attorney. There are lots of law firms that you can find in your place, especially in Seattle. An attorney will help you to get free from a traffic ticket given to you by a traffic enforcer.
If you still have questions about your traffic ticket, we advise you to call us. Our lawyers will help you to get out of the traffic crime you committed. To answer whether or not reckless driving is a felony in Seattle, the answer is yes.
