Howard County Reckless Driving Lawyer
Reckless driving occurs when a person is driving a motor vehicle in wanton or willful disregard of the safety of other people or property around them. A Howard County reckless driving lawyer can combat any penalties that accrue related to the charge. Call a professional attorney today.
Scenarios of Reckless Driving
An example of reckless driving could be a person driving five miles over the speed limit in poor weather condition, when a reasonable person would be going five miles under the speed limit. This could be considered reckless driving. Talk to a Howard County reckless driving lawyer for more examples or if there are questions on a specific situation.
Reckless Driving vs. Speeding Ticket
Reckless driving and speeding tickets are separate offenses. Reckless driving is a “must appear” ticket and there is no choice for a driver. They have to go to court. More often than not, because Howard County law enforcement is serious about traffic violations, the officer issuing the reckless driving offense will appear at the hearing.
The tickets for reckless driving cannot be paid ahead of time because it is a “must appear” ticket. Any “must appear” ticket outside of reckless driving, in general, cannot be prepaid. If a driver prepays, they will still get a “failure to appear” and the court will open a warrant out on the person. Reckless driving charges cannot be prepaid. A Howard County reckless driving lawyer can offer more insight.
Penalties for Reckless Driving
In Maryland, reckless driving is classified as a misdemeanor. As of October 2025, the Sergeant Patrick Kepp Act imposes stricter penalties for reckless driving than previously established, including the possibility of up to 60 days in jail and a fine of $1,000 for any allegation of exceeding the speed limit by 30 mph. In addition, anyone charged with reckless driving would be subject six points accrued against their driver’s license. The accumulation of eight points or more within a period of two years would lead to license suspension.
Treatment of Reckless Driving
Howard County takes traffic violations very seriously. It is known for its strict stand on traffic matters. The violation can be negotiated down, the officer or judge may be willing to reduce the charges and, thus, the number of points can be reduced on a person’s license.
Again, it is important to understand that a person can expect for the officer to appear at the hearing. It will make the situation more difficult, but a Howard County reckless driving lawyer will challenge the violation to try to get the best outcome for an individual.
Role of an Attorney
It is important to retain an experienced attorney who understands how Howard County treats traffic violations. Not everyone would understand the courts of each county. With a qualified Howard County reckless driving lawyer, a person will be more reassured, will be well-informed on legal implications, and they will not face the hearing on their own. Consult with a lawyer today to see what you can do about your situation.
