Q: I received a ticket for reckless driving after I was caught speeding which I have to go to court for.
Should I get a lawyer? This is my first offense and I’m extremely lost and unsure it was the middle of the night no cars were on the road and I never wish to harm others this is the first time I got fines let alone pulled over and got a ticket.
A:
Reckless driving is a very serious ticket. With a reckless driving ticket in NJ you face the following penalties:
1st Offense : Up to 60 days in Jail and a $50.00 to $200.00 Fine
2nd Offense : Up to 90 days in Jail and a $100 to $500 Fine
In addition to the possibility of jail, if convicted you will also receive 5 points on your license. Luckily unlike some other states NJ does not consider Reckless Driving a Criminal or Misdemeanor offense even though jail is possible. So you will not have a criminal record from NJ. But if you are licensed in another state or plan to move to one, you will need to check your states law to understand how and if a reckless driving conviction may effect your record. Most of us traffic ticket lawyers offer a free in office consultation. I would suggest that you set one up now that you know some of the penalties you are facing.
A: In addition to the penalties described by my colleague, a conviction for Reckless Driving involves serious collateral consequences. These include 5 insurance eligibility points, a 10-year ban on vanity plates, a lifetime ban on courtesy plates, and a 3-year prohibition against driving for a company like Uber or Lyft. A prosecutor might also demand a period of license suspension, and unless you have an attorney then you might not have the ability to argue persuasively against this additional penalty before the judge. Therefore, it seems to be a good idea to retain counsel when faced with Reckless Driving.
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