Long Beach Island is a bustling area during the summer, with a spike in travelers enjoying the beach, quaint shops, and pleasant restaurants the island has to offer. Needless to say, the roadways become extremely congested and frustrated drivers might become hostile and impatient. This poses a danger because pedestrians and bicyclists fill the LBI streets during long summer days and nights. Long Beach Island law enforcement, in attempts to keep the roadways and LBI visitors safe, has been cracking down on drivers who may not be traveling as safely as they should be.
It may seem difficult to understand the difference between “reckless” and “careless” driving. Where do we draw the line between the two? In many cases, law enforcement will charge a driver with both offenses at the same time. It is important to understand the difference between reckless and careless driving in order to protect yourself against these charges and ensure that you are traveling New Jersey roadways in a manner compliant with traffic law. Failure to comply with New Jersey traffic rules may expose you to numerous motor vehicle violations, points on your driver's license, and ultimately driver's license suspension. If you have been charged with reckless or careless driving in Long Beach Island while on a weekend trip, you should speak with an Ocean County traffic defense attorney as soon as possible.
Reckless and Careless Driving: A Comparison
Careless drivingis defined under N.J.S.A. 39:4-97.The law states that a “person who drives a vehicle carelessly, or without due caution and circumspection, in a manner so as to endanger, or be likely to endanger, a person or property, shall be guilty of careless driving.” The penalties for a first-time careless driving charge include a $200 fine and 2 points on the driver's driving license.
On the other hand, reckless driving under N.J.S.A. 39:4-96 is a more serious offense. Reckless driving is defined as when an individual “drives heedlessly, in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of others, in a manner that can endanger or is likely to endanger a person or property.” Penalties for a first offense reckless driving charge include a fine up to $200, 5 points to be added to the driver's license, potential license suspension, and up to 60 days in jail.
As you can see, reckless driving offenses carry more penalties than a careless driving charge. This is because reckless driving involves an element of intent—the driver engages in willful disregard of the safety of others. If you are driving in an unsafe way and are aware of this danger, you expose yourself to reckless driving charges. In contrast, if a driver was merely negligent or accidental in their conduct, a careless driving charge would be more appropriate. An illustrative example to consider is when a driver decides to tailgate someone in a risky way in order to make the other driver in front of them speed up. This would be considered reckless driving, as it intentionally poses a risk to person and property. A careless driving example is when a driver fails to check behind them before they drive in reverse.
Traffic Defense Attorneys for Reckless and Careless Driving Charges
It is not uncommon for drivers to be bombarded with other motor vehicle violations after being stopped for reckless or careless driving. In one traffic stop, a driver may find themselves facing charges for speeding, failure to maintain lanes, or even DWI. This kind of stacking of charges may lead to a driver's license suspension, as each individual offense carries with it points for moving violations. With the addition of fines and possible jail time, one traffic incident becomes an overwhelming predicament. Our traffic defense attorneys are here to help you mitigate these kinds of consequences. The traffic defense attorneys at Villani & DeLuca have focused their practice in Ocean and Monmouth County for over 20 years.
If you have been charged with reckless driving, careless driving, or both, call Villani & DeLuca at 732-782-9833 today. The first consultation is free! Do not let any more time go to waste before you seek the help you need to fight your New Jersey motor vehicle offenses.