Bethesda Reckless Driving Lawyers

Skilled Attorneys Defending Against Reckless Driving Charges in Bethesda, MD

A charge of reckless driving in Maryland can have long-term consequences. If convicted, you could face serious penalties ranging from a criminal record to the potential loss of your driving privileges. To protect your long-term best interests, consider working with a Bethesda, Maryland reckless driving defense lawyer.

At Salvado Law Offices, our highly experienced criminal defense lawyers can provide you with in-depth counsel and representation to challenge a reckless driving charge. We can meet with you to discuss your case, strategizing for the best possible outcome based on your unique circumstances. Since our firm was first established, we have successfully protected many clients from criminal charges and traffic offenses.

What Is Reckless Driving?

Some states have comprehensive definitions of reckless driving that include various acts. In Maryland, the statute for reckless driving is fairly broad, in such a way that many different behaviors could be classified as reckless driving. Specifically, you could be charged with reckless driving if:

• You were driving with "wanton or willful disregard" for the safety of other people or property.
• You were driving "in a manner that indicates" a disregard for the safety of people or property.

This means that you could theoretically be charged with reckless driving even if nobody was around at the time of your arrest. If you are convicted of reckless driving, you will receive a fine of up to $1,000 and be left with a misdemeanor on your record.

Examples of reckless driving include ignoring traffic lights, excessive speeding, and tailgating. In some cases, a charge of driving under the influence could be reduced to reckless driving.

Administrative Penalties for Reckless Driving

A reckless driving charge can also have significant penalties for your driver's license. If convicted, six points will be added to your license, which means that you will have to enroll in a Driver Improvement Program. If you accumulate 8 points or more due to other traffic offenses on your record, your license will be suspended by the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration. At 12 points, your license will be revoked. Note that the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration keeps track of all points within a two-year period when assigning penalties.

Points on your record can also lead to higher insurance premiums, which can be more expensive in the long term than a $1,000 fine. With that in mind, it is critical that you fight a reckless driving charge to the fullest extent of the law with an attorney at your side.

Defenses Against a Reckless Driving Charge

A skilled attorney can help you challenge a reckless driving charge in court to minimize the damage. For instance, you may be able to get the charge reduced to negligent driving, a lesser offense.

When you work with our firm, we will explore all possible defenses based on the facts of your case. We may argue that:

• There is not enough evidence to prove that you were driving recklessly
• You were careful to avoid endangering the safety of people or property
• You were not actually driving the vehicle
• The officer's testimony does not line up with witness statements
• You were driving recklessly out of necessity to avoid an accident or some other hazard

We will go over the prosecution's case in detail to anticipate possible counter-arguments. Rest assured that our lawyers will seek the best possible outcome no matter how dire the case may seem.

At Salvado Law Offices, we provide strong defense against reckless driving charges, working to safeguard your driving privileges and protect your future.