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Is careless driving a misdemeanor in Florida?
I was charged with careless driving after I ran a red light in Tampa. The officer told me I can pay the ticket or go to court over the charge. I’m just worried that if I plead guilty and pay the ticket, I’ll have a criminal record. Is careless driving considered a misdemeanor in Florida?
Eric Schad · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Don’t worry about careless driving going on your criminal record. In
Florida
, careless driving is akin to a speeding ticket or moving violation and is not a misdemeanor.However, careless driving can carry some hefty penalties, including:
- A fine of $160 to $500
- Court costs if you decide to fight the ticket and lose
- 3 points on your license
If you get 12 points on your license in a 12-month period, the state suspends your license for 30 days—so keep that in mind. In the future, try to limit distractions so you don’t get another careless driving ticket or other citation.
Since you ran a red light, you should be glad that the officer only gave you a single ticket for careless driving. He could have easily given you another ticket for running the red light. Pay the fine and chalk it up as a learning experience.
The main fallout from careless driving is that you’re going to see a rise in your car insurance rates. That’s when
Jerry
can help.A licensed broker, Jerry helps you compare quotes from over 50 top providers like Nationwide and Allstate in minutes. When you find a better rate, Jerry can help you buy your new coverage and even cancel your old policy.
View full answer
- Gregory R.
WHY YOU CAN TRUST JERRY
Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
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