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Will my speeding ticket say reckless driving?
I just got pulled over recently and got a speeding ticket. How do I know if my ticket citation will say reckless driving?
Tiffany Leung · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Sorry to hear about your
speeding ticket
! Your ticket may say reckless driving if you were driving in a particularly irresponsible manner that endangered others. You will need to look over the ticket from the officer to see if it says “reckless driving” or “R.D.” Each state has different legal definitions and penalties for reckless driving. In many states, you could be charged with reckless driving if:
- You were driving more than 20 mph above the speed limit
- You were driving above 80 mph
- You were texting while driving
- You ran a red light or disobeyed a traffic sign
- You were racing another driver
A reckless driving conviction could lead to a misdemeanor charge in most states. There could be hefty penalties such as fines, jail time, and/or license suspension. This can also potentially affect your job or future employment—especially for commercial drivers, public-facing roles, or positions that require a security clearance.
It’s important to figure out if your ticket is a simple speeding ticket or a reckless driving ticket. If your ticket indeed says reckless driving, you should seek legal counsel to discuss the next steps as soon as possible. If you get an attorney, they could negotiate for a reduced charge or even have the case dismissed.
Traffic tickets and violations can lead to increased insurance premiums. However, the car insurance broker app,
Jerry
, can still find you cheap car insurance
. Jerry will help you compare competitive quotes sourced from over 50 top insurers and switch policies for you. The average Jerry user saves $887 every year.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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