Most traffic tickets that are issued by police officers are for minor traffic violations such as speeding or a rolling stop at a stop sign. Some offenses like aggravated speeding or reckless driving are serious though. If you’re charged with reckless driving, it’s a criminal offense, and it can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a class 3 or class 4 felony. If a person is stopped for reckless driving, a police officer can even take him or her into custody and jail to await a bond hearing.
The Controlling Statute
The Illinois reckless driving statute is found at 625 ILCS 5/11-503. As per that statute, a person commits class A misdemeanor reckless driving when he or she drives a vehicle with “willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.” A driver can be charged with felony reckless driving if he or she knowingly causes a vehicle to become airborne.
Penalties
According to our s, A class A misdemeanor is punishable by up to 364 days in jail and a fine not to exceed $2,500. A class 3 felony in Illinois is punishable by a prison sentence of between two and five years and a fine of up to $25,000. A class 4 felony is punishable by one to three years in prison and a fine of up to $25,000.
A reckless driving charge is no laughing matter. It’s a criminal offense, and if a person is found guilty of the charge, he or she will carry a criminal record. That record could adversely affect employment, educational and housing opportunities. If you have been charged with reckless driving in Cook County, DuPage County or Lake County, you’ll be needing the assistance of experienced and effective reckless driving lawyers. Driver Defense Team defends Illinois drivers aggressively and effectively.
