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What is the penalty for careless driving?
I’m a new driver and I’m learning about some of the traffic violations you can get. I didn’t realize you can get fined with a careless driving citation if you speed fast enough! What penalties could you face for careless driving?
Shannon Fitzgerald · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Welcome to the road, new driver! Your research has taught you well—you can indeed get fined with careless driving if you’re caught excessively speeding. However, it’s important to note there is a crucial distinction between careless driving and reckless driving. Let’s break that down:
- A careless driver does not intentionally drive negligently
- A reckless driver does intentionally drive negligently
Because of this, if you “wantonly disregard” the speed limit, like purposefully going 70 mph in a 20 mph residential zone, you’ll face a higher penalty for reckless driving. But if you don’t intend to speed and end up going 90 mph on a 60 mph stretch of empty highway, you could face a careless driving charge with the following consequences:
- Points on your license (in states that use thepoint system
- A fine—usually a couple hundred dollars
- Possible order from a judge to do community service or take adefensive driving course
If you get a careless driving charge, you might have to deal with increased insurance rates, as well. But even if you do end up with a careless driving ticket,
Jerry
can find the lowest rates available to you. The app is free to use and offers custom quote comparisons from over 50 top insurance companies. The average user ends up saving $887 a year on
car insurance
, so it’s always worth a look! View full answer
- Gregory R.
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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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