Germantown, MD Reckless Driving Lawyer

Attorney Assisting With Charges of Reckless Driving in Germantown, Maryland

A person who receives a traffic ticket may decide to pay a fine, accept points on their record, and move on. However, when a person is charged with reckless driving, the matter will be more serious than a minor traffic violation. In Maryland, reckless driving is a criminal offense. A conviction can lead to a permanent criminal record, the possibility of jail time, and other consequences.

The attorney at the Law Offices of Mallon Snyder works with people who are facing serious traffic charges and other types of criminal charges. We provide the representation needed to ensure that our clients can resolve these matters while protecting their records and minimizing the ways their lives may be affected.

Reckless Driving Is a Criminal Charge, Not a Traffic Ticket

A speeding ticket or another type of minor traffic offense will usually be treated as a civil infraction. These violations may lead to fines and points that could affect a person's driver's license, but they are not considered to be criminal offenses.

Reckless driving, on the other hand, is a misdemeanor offense. A conviction will stay on a person's criminal record, and it may lead to penalties that could include a fine of up to $1,000 and a potential sentence of 60 days in jail.

Reasons for Reckless Driving Charges

A person may be charged with reckless driving based on accusations that they engaged in "wanton or willful" behavior in which they did not take the proper steps to protect the safety of others. Some potential reasons that a person may be arrested for reckless driving include:

Excessive Speeding

Speed is one of the most common factors in reckless driving charges. A person may be charged with reckless driving if they were traveling at least 30 miles per hour above the speed limit. Even if a person did not exceed this threshold, they could be charged with reckless driving based on claims that they were traveling at a dangerous speed in a way that put others at risk, such as in a residential area, near pedestrians, or in a construction zone or school zone.

Aggressive Driving and Road Rage

Aggressive behaviors behind the wheel may lead to reckless driving charges. These may include tailgating at high speeds, making repeated lane changes in an unsafe manner, cutting off other vehicles, or deliberately intimidating other drivers. When a driver is accused of engaging in intentional conduct that put others at risk, they may be more likely to be charged with reckless driving.

Racing on Public Roads

Street racing and speed competitions on public roads can lead to arrests and reckless driving charges. Maryland law prohibits motor vehicle races on public highways. Because vehicles that engage in racing will often travel at high speeds and make sudden maneuvers, others may be placed at risk of injury.

Distracted Driving

Texting while driving and other distractions may lead to traffic violations and fines. However, when a person's behavior is especially dangerous, they could face reckless driving charges. These charges may apply if a person allegedly engaged in erratic behavior, came close to causing a collision, or was responsible for causing an accident.

Running Red Lights and Stop Signs

Drivers who ignore or disobey traffic signs and signals may face traffic violations, but charges may escalate to reckless driving in cases where a person is accused of behaving dangerously. A person who blew through a stop sign at a high speed or ran a red light in heavy traffic could face reckless driving charges. These charges may be more likely if a violation led to an accident.

Passing on Curves or Hills

Attempting to pass another vehicle in a situation where the driver's view is obstructed can increase the risks of head-on collisions or other dangerous accidents. Illegal passing may serve as a reason for reckless driving charges, including when a driver passes in a no-passing zone or on a curve or hill where they cannot see oncoming traffic.

Failing to Yield to Emergency Vehicles

Drivers are required to pull over when emergency vehicles like ambulances and fire trucks approach with their lights flashing. While failing to pull over when required may be considered a traffic violation, charges may escalate to reckless driving if a person allegedly took actions that blocked an emergency vehicle from passing or put emergency responders at risk.

How Our Attorney Can Help With Reckless Driving Cases

At the Law Offices of Mallon Snyder, our legal team understands that every reckless driving case will involve a different set of facts. We will carefully review the circumstances surrounding an arrest to determine the best approach to take during a case.

Our lawyer can look at a police officer's report detailing the basis for stopping and arresting a driver. He can review dashcam or bodycam footage or footage from nearby security or traffic cameras to see if it conflicts with an officer's reported observations. He can also look at traffic and road conditions at the time of the alleged offense and any other factors that may have played a role in a case. By evaluating the evidence, he can determine whether there is a basis to challenge accusations of reckless driving.

Throughout the process, our attorney keeps clients informed and prepared. He will explain what will happen at each court date and make sure that a person will be fully prepared, including advising them on how to dress and how to answer questions they may be asked. He will work to ensure that a reckless driving case can be resolved while minimizing the penalties a person may face.

Contact Our Germantown Reckless Driving Defense Attorney

The potential consequences of a reckless driving charge can be serious, and legal representation can be crucial to help ensure that these cases can be resolved successfully. At the Law Offices of Mallon Snyder, our attorney can provide effective legal help, advocating for a client's interests from the beginning to the end of a case. Contact our Germantown, MD reckless driving defense lawyer at 301-762-7500 to set up a free consultation.