Delaware County Reckless Driving Lawyer
A conviction for reckless driving has serious consequences in Pennsylvania. A Delaware County reckless driving lawyer can help you take steps to try to protect your license and avoid being convicted of this summary offense. Contact a lawyer in Delaware County today.
Benefits of a Delaware County Reckless Driving Lawyer
Pennsylvania law is not very specific in its definition of reckless driving, and many motorists in Delaware County are surprised to find that the offense is much more serious than just a traffic ticket. When you are facing the loss of your license and other potential penalties, you need an experienced attorney on your side to help you decide how to protect your rights.
A reckless driving lawyer in Delaware County will help you determine if you have defenses available or if there is a way to get the charges against you dropped. The goal is to try to get the case dismissed before trial or to get a verdict of not guilty. Your lawyer will help you to explore any legal arguments you can make or steps you should take to maximize the chances of these outcomes. Your attorney can also speak to the prosecutor on your behalf to explore options for negotiating a favorable plea agreement.
When you are at risk of losing your driver’s license, you need to act quickly and make strategic choices in how you respond to charges. A Delaware County reckless driving attorney will be there to help every step of the way.
Reckless Driving Laws in Delaware County
The offense of reckless driving is defined in Pennsylvania Code Section 3763 to include driving a vehicle with “willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.” This statute imposes a $200 fine for someone convicted of reckless driving.
The question of what is willful or wanton disregard for safety is up for debate, leaving motorists in a bad position because they may be unaware of the fact that they were breaking this law by their driving behavior. A prosecutor could still try to secure a conviction for a reckless driving offense even if the driver was not aware that his actions could lead to these serious consequences.
The fine is just the start of the penalties that could be imposed for reckless driving. Code Section 1532 addresses license suspensions, stipulating that a conviction for reckless driving should result in a mandatory six month driver’s license suspension for reckless driving, as well as for similar offenses like careless driving or highway racing.
Repeat offenders can face a longer license suspension. A third conviction could lead to the revocation of a driver’s license for as long as five years and thousands in fines and penalties.
Avoiding even a first conviction for reckless driving should be a top priority because a reckless driving conviction on a driving record can lead to much higher insurance rates and can be disqualifying for jobs that require a clean record. Let a Delaware County reckless driving lawyer help you fight to keep your clean driving record.
Getting Help From a Reckless Driving Lawyer
A Delaware County reckless driving lawyer will help you argue that you were not driving recklessly or that your actions were justified because of necessity. Your attorney can assist in raising a number of defenses to help you try to avoid being found guilty of reckless driving. To learn more about your legal options, call today.