Whether you commute to work each day or drive for a living, your license is essential. Driving offenses can place this in jeopardy.
Perhaps you have heard the term reckless driving before but don’t quite know what it means? Understanding the terms of the charges against you is one of the starting points of building your defense. Outlined below is a more in-depth analysis of reckless driving in South Carolina.
Disregard for the safety of others
Reckless driving is outlined in S.C. Code § 56-5-2920. The statute defines recklessness as showing a “willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.” While this definition is somewhat useful, it does leave some room for interpretation. What are some precise driving actions that may fall within this category?
Excessive speeding
If you are caught driving 5-10mph over the speed limit, then you may be pulled over and given a citation. If you’re lucky, you may even get off with a stern warning. Excessive speeding is a different matter, however. Speeds recorded over 25mph above the legal limit are likely to be met with reckless driving charges.
Other driving actions that are worthy of note include failing to pull over at the request of law enforcement, pulling out in front of moving traffic, driving in the wrong lane or reckless overtaking maneuvers. Importantly, this is not an exhaustive list.
The potential penalties for reckless driving
The penalties you face for a reckless driving conviction depend on numerous factors. Have you been charged with driving offenses before? How severe was your infraction deemed to be? It’s possible that you could face penalty points on your license, and your license may even be suspended or revoked.
Fighting driving charges
If driving is vital to your way of life, then it’s worth defending your license. Having an experienced criminal defense attorney on your side will give you the best chance of achieving a more favorable outcome in your case.
