Source: http://www.drivinglaws.org/resources/wisconsin-reckless-driving-laws-penalties.htm
Timestamp: 2017-07-27 06:41:13
Document Index: 425324475

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 346', 'in fine', 'in fine', 'in fine', 'in fine', '§ 343']

Wisconsin’s Reckless Driving Laws and Penalties | DrivingLaws.org
Wisconsin’s Reckless Driving Laws and Penalties
Read about Wisconsin’s reckless driving laws and the consequences of a conviction. by John McCurley, Attorney Share on Google Plus
Wisconsin’s “reckless driving” law states that “no person may endanger the safety of any person or property by the negligent operation of a vehicle.” As used in the statute, the term “negligent” basically means the person should have known the driving posed a substantial risk of harm to a person or property.
(Wis. Stat. Ann. §§ 346.62, 939.25 (2017).)
The consequences of a Wisconsin reckless driving conviction depend on the circumstances. But generally, the possible penalties are:
First offense. A first reckless driving conviction carries $25 to $200 in fines.
Repeat offense. For a second or subsequent reckless driving conviction within a four-year period, the driver faces up to a year in jail and/or $50 to $500 in fines.
Offenses involving minor injuries. Reckless driving offenders who cause minor injury to another person are looking at $300 to $2,000 in fines and the possibility of 30 days to a year in jail.
Offenses involving serious injuries. A reckless driving offender who causes “great bodily harm” to another person can be convicted of a class I felony. A conviction carries up to three-and-a-half years in prison and/or a maximum $10,000 in fines. The motorist’s driver’s license will also be suspended for up to a year.
A reckless driving conviction adds six demerit points to the motorist’s driving record. Accumulating 12 or more points within a 12-month period leads to license suspension.
(Wis. Stat. Ann. §§ 343.30, 343.31, 346.65, 939.50 (2017).)
In some states, it’s possible for a driver who’s charged with operating while intoxicated (OWI), also called “driving under the influence” (DUI), to “plea bargain” for a lesser charge. When an OWI is plea bargained down to a reckless driving charge, it’s sometimes called a “wet reckless.”
Wisconsin law doesn’t prohibit plea bargaining in OWI cases. So, for someone who’s accused of drunk driving in Wisconsin, convincing a prosecutor to reduce the charge to reckless driving might be possible.
(Read more about plea bargaining in Wisconsin OWI cases.)