Tennessee Criminal Lawyer Blog

Our Tennessee attorneys understand that receiving a citation for reckless driving can have long-term implications for Tennessee drivers. In the experience of our Tennessee traffic citation attorneys, a charge of reckless driving can increase insurance rates and can even affect driving privileges. If you’ve been charged with reckless driving, consulting an experienced Tennessee attorney can help you understand your legal options and resolve your situation in the best way possible.

According to Tennessee law, any person who drives a vehicle in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property commits reckless driving. Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-10-205. In the experience of our Tennessee attorneys, willful or wanton disregard for safety must be determined from all the circumstances of the situation. Our Tennessee attorneys know that a conviction for reckless driving can be maintained for speed alone. However, driving at a high speed is not automatically sufficient to sustain a conviction for reckless driving.

In addition, a person commits reckless driving who drives a motorcycle with the front tire raised off the ground in willful and wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property on any public street, highway, alley, parking lot, or driveway, or on the premises of any shopping center, trailer park, apartment house complex, or any other premises that are generally frequented by the public at large; provided, that the offense of reckless driving for driving a motorcycle with the front tire raised off the ground shall not be applicable to persons riding in a parade, at a speed not to exceed thirty miles per hour (30 mph), if the person is eighteen years of age or older. Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-10-205.

Reckless driving is a Class B misdemeanor and can be punishable by imprisonment of up to six months and fine of five hundred dollars ($500.00). In the experience of our Tennessee attorneys, the implications of a reckless driving citation can have consequences beyond the initial sentence. The Tennessee Department of Safety maintains a Driver Improvement Program to monitor Tennessee driving records. Every time a Tennessee driver is convicted of a traffic violation that driver is assigned a specific number of points. A Tennessee citation for reckless driving accumulates six points on the driver’s license. Any driver who accumulates twelve or more points on their license within one year faces proceedings which may lead to suspension of driving privileges. If you are convicted of two reckless driving charges within one year, you are subject to having your license suspended. Additionally, Tennessee drivers convicted of a reckless driving charge may face dramatic increases in their automobile insurance rates.

If you are facing a charge of reckless driving in Tennessee, it’s important for you to understand the long-term implications of a conviction. A Tennessee attorney can help you deal with your legal options and bring your situation to the best resolution possible for you and your family. Our office handles not only reckless driving charges, but all moving violations, speeding tickets, and traffic citations in the East Tennessee area. If you are charged with reckless driving, contact a Tennessee traffic attorney. Our lawyers assist clients with these charges and citations in Knoxville, Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, Newport, Maryville, Johnson City, Morristown, and Loudon.