New Jersey has two separate statutes defining the similar-sounding traffic violations “reckless driving” and “careless driving.” Reckless driving carries much harsher penalties than careless driving, though. It is defined in NJSA 39:4-96 as “driv[ing] a vehicle heedlessly, in willful or wanton disregard of the rights or safety of others, in a manner so as to endanger, or be likely to endanger, a person or property.”
The main difference between reckless driving and careless driving (aside from the difference in penalties) is intent. Obviously, few people intend to get in a car crash, but the law differentiates between driving “without due caution and circumspection” (in the case of careless driving) and driving “in willful or wanton disregard of the rights or safety of others” (in the case of reckless driving).
Penalties for Reckless Driving in New Jersey
Reckless driving is one of the New Jersey traffic violations with the most severe punishment. A person who is guilty of first-time reckless driving can be imprisoned up to 60 days in county or municipal jail and/or fined between $50 and $200. A second or subsequent conviction of the same offense will result in imprisonment up to three months and/or a fine of $100 to $500.
In addition to fines and possible jail time, a person who is convicted of or pleads guilty to reckless driving will have five points added to his New Jersey driving record. If you get six points added to your record in one three-month period, you will be fined $150, plus $25 for each point beyond six. If you have 12 points on your record at any time, your license will be suspended.
Points don’t expire, so a number of offenses over time can add up to a big penalty. However, three points will be deducted from your total for each year you go without a driving violation or a license suspension. You can also earn point deductions by participating in a defensive driving course (two points), a driver improvement program (three points), or a probationary driver program (three points), but there are limits to how frequently you can use these options.
Insurance Rates Will Increase
New Jersey auto insurers use a similar point system to determine how much a driver will have to pay for coverage. The more points you accumulate, the greater risk you present and the more you will have to pay. If you accumulate too many “insurance eligibility points,” you may be unable to buy insurance at all on the voluntary market and may have to go through the more expensive New Jersey Personal Automobile Insurance Plan (NJPAIP).
What to Do If You Are Charged With Reckless Driving in New Jersey
Reckless driving is a very serious offense that can mean fines, increased insurance premiums, the loss of your driving privilege, or even imprisonment.
Wrong way on a one-way street (NJSA 39:4-85.1)
Driving the wrong way on a one-way street is against the law in New Jersey. In f
Tailgating (NJSA 39:4-89)
Tailgating is when your car follows another car too closely, so closely that it
Stopping at a Railroad Crossing (NJSA 39:4-127.1)
Section 39:4-127.1 of the New Jersey Annotated Statutes provides that a driver i
Slow Speed Blocking Traffic (NJSA 39:4-97.1)
Exceeding the speed limit on a highway in New Jersey is one of the most commonly
Racing on a Public Highway (NJSA 39:5C-1)
New Jersey has two statutes forbidding racing on a highway, and NJSA 39:5C-1. 39
Racing on a Highway (NJSA 39:4-52)
If you live in New Jersey and get a speeding ticket for racing your car on a hig
Leaving the Scene of an Injury Accident (NJSA 39:4-129)
Leaving the scene of an accident that resulted in an injury or death is one of t
Leaving the Scene of a Non-Injury Accident (NJSA 39:4-129(b))
Leaving the scene of an accident (commonly referred to as “hit-and-run”) is
Improper U-Turn (NJSA 39:4-125)
New Jersey Annotated Statute 39:4-125 prohibits making a U-turn in certain locat
Improper Turn From Approved Turning Course (NJSA 39:4-124)
New Jersey Annotated Statute 39:4-124 gives the State Highway Commissioner and l
Improper Turn at Traffic Light (NJSA 39:4-115)
Section 39:4-115 of the New Jersey Annotated Statutes describes turning at an in
Improper Right or Left Turn (NJSA 39:4-123)
In this article, New Jersey traffic attorney Dan Matrafajlo will discuss New Jer
Improper passing on right or off roadway (NJSA 39:4-85)
If you’re going to pass a car that’s driving in the same direction as you, y
Improper Passing of School Bus (NJSA 39:4-128.1)
On a New Jersey undivided highway, when approaching or overtaking a stopped bus
Improper Passing of a Frozen Dessert Truck (NJSA 39:4-128.4)
Section 39:4-128.4 of the New Jersey Annotated Statutes deals with passing a fro
Improper passing in no passing zone (NJSA 39:4-86)
When you’re driving your car along a New Jersey roadway, you must overtake and
Improper operating of vehicle on divided highway or divider (NJSA 39:4-82.1)
Driving on or across a safety island or any other physical barrier on a divided
Improper Crossing of Railroad Grade Crossing by Certain Vehicles (NJSA 39:4-128)
NJSA 39:4-128 applies only to drivers of certain commercial vehicles, including
Improper Crossing of Bridge (NJSA 39:4-127.2)
A movable span bridge or “swing bridge” is a bridge that can pivot horizonta
Improper Backing or Turning in Street (NJSA 39:4-127)
In this article, New Jersey traffic ticket attorney Dan Matrafajlo will explain
Failure to yield to overtaking vehicle (NJSA 39:4-87)
When you’re driving along a New Jersey roadway and you see that another car is
Failure to yield to emergency vehicles (NJSA 39:4-91 and 39:4-92)
When you’re driving along a New Jersey roadway and you see an emergency vehicl
Failure to yield at intersection (NJSA 39:4-90)
When you approach an intersection, there are several rules governing who should
Failure to use proper entrances to limited-access highways (NJSA 39:4-90.1)
Improperly entering or leaving limited-access highways is against the law in New
Failure to Stop for Police Whistle (NJSA 39:4-122)
Section 39:4-122 of the New Jersey Annotated Statutes mandates that a driver mus
Failure to Stop for a Traffic Light (NJSA 39:4-105)
In this article, Dan Matrafajlo will explain the color system used for New Jers
Failure to Stop at a Flashing Red Signal (NJSA 39:4-119)
When a New Jersey driver approaches a traffic control signal that is flashing re
Failure to Signal a Stop or Turn (NJSA 39:4-126)
In this article, New Jersey traffic ticket attorneys Dan Matrafajlo will explain
Failure to keep right (NJSA 39:4-82)
As a driver, you must drive your car on the right side of the roadway unless it�
Failing to Observe a Police Officer's Directions (NJSA 39:4-57)
Although you might think that traffic tickets are mainly for failing to obey tra
Driving While License Suspended (NJSA 39:3-40)
Section 39:3-40 of the New Jersey Statutes prohibits a person from operating a m
Driving on sidewalk (NJSA 39:4-71)
According to New Jersey law, with a few exceptions, you are not allowed to drive
Driving on public or private property to avoid a traffic sign or signal (NJSA 39:4-66.2)
If you’re driving along a road and you see a red light ahead of you, you might
Driving in an Unsafe Manner (NJSA 39:4-97.2)
NJSA 39:4-97.2 is a catch-all provision that simply states, “Not with standing
Careless Driving NJSA 39:4-97
New Jersey Annotated Statute 39:4-97 says, “A person who drives a vehicle care
