Q: Consequences of pleading guilty to speeding and reckless driving in NJ; no past offenses.
I received a speeding ticket for driving 84 mph in a 50 mph zone, along with a reckless driving ticket. I want to plead guilty to the speeding charge, but I believe the reckless charge is unnecessary. This is my first offense, and I have no history of past tickets. My court date is in the first week of April, and I have not yet made any contest. I do not want to end up with 10 points on my license. Can you advise on the consequences if I plead guilty to both charges, and whether consulting a traffic attorney could help reduce the reckless charge?
A:
The consequences are the same whether or not you have a past traffic ticket unless you have a second offense for reckless driving. Reckless driving is one of the few offenses with distinct penalties for first and second offenses. A good lawyer can definitely help you reduce or eliminate the penalties you face. However, the ten points are probably the least of your concerns, as many judges will also suspend your license for driving that fast. This is often considered a lesser penalty compared to the possible 60 days in jail for the reckless driving ticket that the judge could give you.
Points accumulate toward a suspension, and at that speed, a suspension is highly likely. In fact, your insurance company may hit you much harder if you face a suspension than if you only accumulate the full ten points. Unfortunately, depending on the court, the suspension may be unavoidable, which is why these tickets generally require a mandatory court appearance rather than just a fine and points.
I recommend hiring a good lawyer with a proven track record of successfully reducing the penalties you're facing. I have seen many people try to represent themselves with these serious ticket, and walk out with a 4 or 6 month suspension.
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