Washington State Traffic Crimes

Reckless Driving

Reckless driving is defined as driving any vehicle in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property. The crime is a gross misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and/or a $5,000.00 fine.

License suspension and insurance consequences: In addition to the criminal penalties, the license of any person convicted of Reckless Driving shall be suspended at least 30 days. A reckless driving conviction means a driver will need to carry 3 years of "high risk" (SR-22) insurance following the suspension.

Unlike the infraction of Negligent Driving in the Second Degree, to prove someone guilty of the crime of Reckless Driving, the prosecutor must show the driver knew of a risk to persons or property and deliberately disregarded the risk. Prosecutors sometimes charge a driver with Reckless Driving when two or three traffic infractions such as excessive speeding, following to close, and failing to stop can be proved from the same driving event.