Racing and Reckless Driving

Speeding is a major traffic concern in Florida. Typically young people with fast cars are targeted for racing and reckless driving violations, but anyone can be the victim of racing and reckless driving allegations. You need to contact an experienced St. Petersburg attorney if you are accused of racing or reckless driving in Pinellas County or the Tampa Bay area.

St. Petersburg Reckless Driving Attorney

Melinda Morris is a former prosecutor who is familiar with the prosecution of racing and reckless driving cases. She is able to craft an effective defense to racing and reckless driving charges because she has insight on the prosecution’s arguments. Racing and reckless driving convictions have serious consequences such as license suspension or even jail time. You must contact Melinda Morris at (727) 388-4736 for a consultation about your case.

What is reckless driving?

Under Florida statute 316.192, reckless driving is defined as anyone who drives a car, truck, or other vehicle with a complete disregard for the safety of other individuals on the road. This statute is pretty subjective and broad in order to encompass a great deal of driving behaviors that can be considered “reckless” by law enforcement.

Fleeing from a law enforcement officer in a car or other type of motor vehicle is automatically considered reckless driving. You do not even have to engage in a high speed chase. As soon as the officer alerts you to stop and you continue to drive, it can be considered fleeing from a law enforcement officer.

What is racing?

Under section 316.192 of the Florida Motor Vehicle statutes, racing is defined at the use of a car or other type of motor vehicle to do any of the following things:

• Outgain or outdistance another motor vehicle
• Prevent another car or motor vehicle from passing
• Arrive at a set destination before another motor vehicle
• Test the endurance or physical stamina of drivers over long distances on public streets and highways.

Under Florida law, an individual is prohibited from driving any car, truck, motorcycle or other type of motor vehicle in a drag race, speed race on any highway, roadway or parking lot. Drag races include but are not limited to:

• Speed competitions
• Speed contests
• Tests of physical endurance
• Exhibitions of speed
• Breaking speed records

It is also important to note that you cannot conduct these races on highway, roadways or parking lots. You cannot try to block traffic or intentionally obstruct traffic to carry out a speed race or competition.

What are the penalties for racing and reckless driving?

Generally a racing citation is a first degree misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year and a fine between $500-$1000 dollars. In addition to jail time and the fine, the department of public safety may revoke the driver’s license of a person convicted of racing for one year.

Reckless driving the penalties are harsher and more specific than racing penalties.

• Reckless Driving 1st offense
  • $25-$500 fine
  • Up to 90 days imprisonment
  • Four points on your driver’s license
• Reckless Driving 2nd offense
  • $50-$1,000 fine
  • Up to six months imprisonment
  • Impounding of your vehicle
• Reckless Driving with property damage
  • Maximum of $1,000 fine
  • Up to one year imprisonment
• Reckless Driving with bodily injury to an individual
  • $5,000 fine
  • Up to five years imprisonment

It is important to contact an experienced St. Petersburg lawyer if you have any type of racing or reckless driving charge. Usually racing and reckless driving charges can be reduced or dismissed altogether if you get legal representation quickly. In addition to the criminal consequences, your car insurance rates can go up and your driver’s license can be suspended if you get a racing and reckless driving conviction on your record.

How we can help

Law enforcement and prosecutors have an ideal profile that they look for in racing and reckless driving cases. Typically the offender is young, male, and driving a “muscle” car or a “sports car.” Even if the individual was just speeding, the officer might add racing and reckless driving charges because the individual fits the “profile” of a defendant that would usually be involved in racing and reckless driving. It is important to get the racing and reckless driving charges dropped because they are not mere traffic violations. A conviction for racing and reckless driving can have serious consequences such as license revocation. You must retain an experienced Florida criminal defense attorney to fight these charges.

Morris Law Firm | St. Petersburg Reckless Driving Defense Attorney

The Morris Law Firm is committed to representing persons who are faced with racing and reckless driving charges. If you are accused of racing or reckless driving in Pinellas County or St. Petersburg, contact the Morris Law Firm. You need to talk with an experienced St. Petersburg traffic violations defense attorney. Our goal is to protect your constitutional rights and defend your case to obtain the lowest possible punishments.