CARELESS,  RECKLESS DRIVING & AGGRESSIVE DRIVING

If you have been charged with a criminal traffic offense, you are facing serious consequences and have much greater concerns than restrictions on your driving privileges and payment of fines and increased insurance premiums.  Serious traffic offenses carry serious penalties that can affect you for the rest of your life. Securing the skill of a traffic offense attorney experienced in handling serious traffic offenses in North Carolina is the best investment you can make to preserve your freedom and protect your future.

Careless Driving, Reckless Driving, and Aggressive Driving

Careless driving is considered a lesser included offense of reckless driving, reckless driving is a lesser included offense of aggressive driving, and these three offenses can often be the source of some confusion. These driving offenses are each separate crimes under North Carolina law.  Even so, these offenses are frequently referred to interchangeably.

Careless driving is commonly referred to as “Careless and Reckless Driving” and is often prosecuted as reckless driving.  North Carolina law makes clear, though, that careless driving is a separate criminal offense from that of reckless driving or aggressive driving.  Careless driving generally includes driving in a manner that could result in damage to another person or to property. A charge for careless driving implies that the driver lacked any motive or intent to cause injury or accident.

Reckless driving in North Carolina is defined broadly and gives law enforcement wide discretion in bringing criminal charges and a certain advantage in securing convictions.  Reckless driving can be charged whenever a driver operates any “vehicle” in a manner that is carelessly and heedlessly in willful or wanton disregard of the rights or safety of others. In addition to proving reckless driving, a charge for aggressive driving requires proof of a speeding violation under North Carolina law. Charges for reckless driving and aggressive driving imply knowledge regarding the dangerous nature of the driving and a disregard for the safety of other people or property.

Even if you are not necessarily driving in a careless or reckless manner, you may still be charged with reckless driving.  Driving 15 miles over a posted speed limit of less than 55 mph, or speeding over 80 mph, can result in a charge of reckless driving.  reckless driving is a Class 2 misdemeanor and results in:

  • an automatic suspension of your license for 30 days
  • the possibility of a prison sentence of up to 60 days
  • the accumulation of 4 points on your license
  • a license suspension of up to 1 year
  • and over $1000 in fines and fees for court-ordered programs

Classified as a Class 1 misdemeanor, a charge of aggressive driving is an even greater offense than reckless driving.  All of these charges will result in a severe spike in your insurance premiums that can last for years.

The criminal defense attorneys at DeMent Askew Johnson & Marshall regularly defend charges of careless driving, reckless driving, and aggressive driving.  We will thoroughly review the facts of your particular case with you, and we will get to work on your best defense right away. Even as we work with the prosecutor’s office towards getting your charges dismissed or significantly reduced, our defense attorneys are first and foremost trial attorneys with the skills and experience to put together your best defense to prevail in the event of a trial. Call us today to speak with one of our traffic attorneys for a free consultation at 919-833-5555.   

We are now DeMent Askew Johnson & Marshall

(919) 833-5555

We are now DeMent Askew Johnson & Marshall

RALEIGH | MOREHEAD CITY

919-833-5555

Contact Us

CRIMINAL DEFENSE SUCCESSES

Not Guilty on DWI

September 13, 2022

More on this ...

Client found not guilty in DWI case.

June 4, 2019

More on this ...

DWI Dismissed After Unlawful Search

September 13, 2022

More on this ...

Violent Felony Dismissed

September 13, 2022

More on this ...

Motion to Suppress and Dismiss Granted for Lack of Probable Cause; No Reliable Evidence Suggesting Impairment After Speeding Stop

February 12, 2019

More on this ...

Not Guilty, Refusal Revocation Rescinded; Willful Refusal to Take Breathalyzer Test

February 12, 2019

More on this ...

No prison sentence for client facing 1 year.

June 4, 2019

More on this ...

Defendant charged with 2 counts after his 7th impaired driving offense.

June 4, 2019

More on this ...

Felony Larceny Charge Dismissed

September 13, 2022

More on this ...

71% reduction in jail time acquired.

March 26, 2019

More on this ...

Not Guilty of DWI with Serious Collision

February 12, 2019

More on this ...

7th Offense; Sentence reduction of 75%

June 4, 2019

More on this ...

Not Guilty DWI – No Probable Cause

March 26, 2019

More on this ...

No Consent, No Conviction on DWI

September 13, 2022

More on this ...

Not Guilty on DWI

September 13, 2022

More on this ...

Evidence Suppressed in DWI Case; Court Holds “No Reasonable and Articulable Suspicion” for Traffic Stop

February 12, 2019

More on this ...

Jumping to conclusions… No PC on DWI

January 6, 2023

More on this ...

Guilty Verdict of Less Significant Charges of Driving with License Revoked and Lane Violation; No Jail Time for DWI Charge

February 12, 2019

More on this ...

Driving Too Fast, Moving Too Slow… DWI dismissed

January 6, 2023

More on this ...

Possession with Intent to Sell or Deliver Marijuana Dismissed

January 5, 2023

More on this ...