You may not think that carelessly driving is a big deal, but it is. There is a law in our state (section 304.012) that says, "Every person operating a motor vehicle on the roads and highways of this state shall drive the vehicle in a careful and prudent manner and at a rate of speed so as not to endanger the property of another or the life or limb of any person and shall exercise the highest degree of care."
Reckless driving is considered a class b misdemeanor in Missouri. This class of misdemeanor is punishable by up to six months in jail and up to a $1000 fine. It could go on your driving record and cause spikes in your insurance rates, as well.
This is why, if you receive an imprudent driving ticket, you need traffic ticket defense on your side. You may recognize that driving above the speed limit, failing to pay attention to the road, participating in distracted driving, or driving under the influence are dangerous things to do, but you may not recognize just how much a ticket for these things could impact your life.
A short way of describing reckless driving in Missouri is, “Driving without concern for the safety of others.” Since the precise legal definitions are fairly broad, police officers have full discretion in deciding what is or is not unsafe driving. That means you’re going to need a strong defense if you want to avoid the penalties of these particular tickets.
Thankfully, you’re in the right place. Our team at Missouri Traffic Tickets is highly educated and ready to help you tackle this charge of careless and imprudent driving. We can provide you with legal representation, which means that our team will appear before a Missouri judge on your behalf, armed with years of knowledge and experience.
Be sure to contact Missouri Traffic Tickets at 417-501-0653 for a free legal consultation today. Rest assured that any information you provide us will remain confidential.
Careless and Imprudent Driving in Missouri
As stated above, it is written into Missouri law for drivers to “exercise the highest degree of care” when on the road. Any situation where someone is driving unsafely can violate this law, and police officers are empowered to decide what is or what isn’t careless and imprudent driving.
Here is a list of some common examples of traffic violations that get charged under this law (they’re especially enforced when the activities result in injury or death):
- Speeding to the point where you are endangering other persons or property
- Distracted driving
- Texting while driving
- Road rage
- Racing someone on the road
- Dangerously passing someone on the road
Driving while under the influence (DWI) is a more serious charge than careless and imprudent driving. It will result in a harsher penalty.
You might have received a basic speeding ticket at some point in your driving career, in which case you know that, should you choose not to contest the ticket, you will have to pay a fine and potentially do something else the judge requires such as attending driving school. You may have points added to your driving record depending on how fast you were going. However, careless and imprudent driving charges can be much more severe.
- First of all: you can receive up to four-point penalty on your driving record, depending on the jurisdiction
- Second: you may either be charged with careless and imprudent driving or careless and imprudent driving involving an accident
You know that a Class B misdemeanor under Missouri state law can land you up to six months in jail or $1,000 in fines, but what about a Class A? Careless and imprudent driving is qualified as a Class A misdemeanor when it involves an accident. Class A misdemeanors can get you up to a year in jail or $2,000 in fines.
If you get charged with careless and imprudent driving in Missouri, you should immediately seek legal help. Qualified traffic attorneys in your area, such as our team at Missouri Traffic Tickets, can help you reduce the consequences of this charge. We could potentially be able to reduce points on your driving record, lower your fines, and even save you from jail time.
Hire Top-Rated
Traffic Lawyers in Missouri
You might be wondering, "Do I really need to hire a lawyer for careless and imprudent driving?" The answer is, "Absolutely yes."
If you try to handle this on your own, you could make a bad situation worse. What you need is a Missouri traffic lawyer who's comfortable crafting a defense that's steeped in local knowledge of state laws and jurisdiction.
An experienced lawyer could be the only line of defense between you and hefty fines and a criminal conviction. Give yourself the peace of mind that comes with knowing your legal case will be handled well, and hire one of our attentive lawyers.
Call Missouri Traffic Tickets Today
Don't waste any more time. You can hire our firm today to represent you and your case. Our team will bring more than 20 years of experience in Missouri traffic law to the table, as well as our compassion and our attention to detail.
Our streamlined process and online portal make it easy for clients to check their progress and it allows us to offer our excellent representation at a lower cost than many other firms.
Call Missouri Traffic Tickets at 417-501-0653 to get help from licensed traffic lawyers in Missouri. Our office hours are Monday through Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
