Reckless driving is considered a misdemeanor in New York, and police may charge you with it if they catch you speeding. But while this is a less serious crime than a felony, a conviction still carries significant legal and personal consequences.
Basically, any driving activity that deliberately disregards and threatens public safety is deemed to be reckless. Examples of this would be excessive speeding, tailgating, weaving in and out of your lane to beat traffic or fleeing from law enforcement. If you are charged with reckless driving, it is in your best interest to understand and exercise your defense options.
Here are two defense approaches that you want to avoid:
Saying you were running late
Running late for a job interview appointment cannot be a strong justification for speeding or running the red light. If you are driving in a manner that is risking your life as well as public safety, law enforcement will certainly pull you over and charge you with applicable traffic violations. The only time this line of defense might hold, however, is when a medical emergency is involved.
Claiming there was no speed limit sign
New York has an absolute speed limit in place. This means that you will be breaking the law if you exceed it, regardless of whether there were signs or not.
Reckless driving may seem like a minor offense. However, you still need to treat the charges seriously. Understanding all your defense options and the missteps to avoid can help you build an effective defense and get out of trouble when facing reckless driving charges.