Stamford Reckless Driving Lawyer
As defined by Stamford law, reckless driving constitutes driving over 85 miles an hour. Usually, people who are pulled over on the Merritt Parkway or I-95 are charged with reckless driving.
On the Merritt Parkway, which is two lanes, people will try to pass on the right. When someone speeds and goes 85 miles an hour, they will get pulled over. These individuals may be charged with reckless driving.
To combat such penalties, you should consult with an experienced Stamford reckless driving attorney as soon as possible. A knowledgeable Stamford traffic lawyer will be able to best advise you on how to challenge the prosecution’s allegations.
Types of Speeding
If a person goes anywhere from 1 to 19 miles an hour over the speed limit, they will be charged with traveling unreasonably fast. If they go over 20 miles an hour over the speed limit, it is considered speeding. Over 85 miles per hour is reckless driving.
To better understand the classifications of a speeding charge in Stamford, it is crucial to contact a reckless driving attorney as soon as possible.
Severity of the Charge
Reckless driving is incredibly serious but people do not usually realize it because it is given in the form of a summons ticket. They think they just have to go to court for it, but it is a misdemeanor charge. If a person does not go to court or just goes to court and pleads guilty, they will have a misdemeanor on their permanent record.
More importantly, the charge automatically triggers a 30-day license suspension if the person is found guilty. If they go to court and try to work out a disposition where they do not plead guilty, the license suspension will not be triggered. To combat this suspension, an individual should be sure to contact a Stamford reckless driving lawyer immediately.
Reckless Driving vs. Speeding
To determine whether they have been charged with reckless driving or speeding, the person can check the statute on the ticket. Besides the reckless driving statute, it should say “reckless driving” or “speeding” on it.
On a reckless driving ticket, it will say a person has to appear in court on a certain day and time. Reckless driving tickets do not have to be paid before the court date.
On a speeding ticket, it will say a person has to pay a fine or plead not guilty by a certain date. To determine such differences, an individual should hire a reckless driving attorney in Stamford immediately.
For a speeding ticket, if an individual pleads not guilty, they are not going to have a criminal record. If they go to court and plead guilty to reckless driving, they will have a misdemeanor charge on their criminal record.
The fines are different, as well. Speeding tickets can be from $100 to $150. Reckless driving is usually around $300 and up. Also, there can be jail time for reckless driving, because it is a misdemeanor. To combat such penalties, an individual must consult with a Stamford reckless driving lawyer.