Reckless Driving Defense in Wyoming

Wyoming Reckless Driving Defense Attorney

Reckless driving in Wyoming is a criminal charge, not a traffic infraction. It carries jail time, fines, and a permanent record. It deserves a real defense.

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    Home » Criminal Defense » Reckless Driving

    What Reckless Driving Means Under Wyoming Law

    A lot of people in Wyoming who get charged with reckless driving think it’s like getting a really bad speeding ticket that they can just pay and forget about. No, it isn’t. In Wyoming, reckless driving is a criminal misdemeanor. This means it goes on your permanent criminal record, can land you in jail, and carries fines higher than normal traffic fines. If the same behavior results in an accident that injures or kills someone, a reckless driving conviction can lead to more serious charges.

    How Wyoming Defines Reckless Driving

    Under Wyo. Stat. § 31-5-229, reckless driving occurs when someone drives a car without regard for the safety of people or property. “Willful or wanton” disregard is a higher standard than ordinary negligence. It means that the person knew the behavior was dangerous or didn’t care about the risk at all. Driving too fast, especially in busy or residential areas; making aggressive lane changes; running red lights at high speeds; and driving in a way that forces other drivers to take evasive action are all common reasons for reckless driving charges.

    Penalties for Reckless Driving in Wyoming

    In Wyoming, a first-time offense of reckless driving can land you in county jail for up to six months and cost you up to $750. If you are convicted a second time or more, the possible jail time goes up to one year. In addition to criminal penalties, being found guilty of reckless driving will add points to your driving record, could result in your license being suspended, and will leave you with a permanent criminal record that shows up on background checks. Under federal CDL rules, reckless driving has more serious consequences for commercial drivers.

    How Reckless Driving Charges Connect to More Serious Charges

    Reckless driving is the threshold allegation that underlies more serious charges when an accident occurs. If reckless driving results in an accident causing serious bodily injury, Wyoming prosecutors can charge aggravated assault by vehicle (which is a felony). If someone dies because of reckless driving, the driver can be charged with homicide by vehicle. It is clear why it is in your best interest to fight a reckless driving charge aggressively, even if it seems like a small issue on its own, when you understand how it relates to these more serious possible charges

    Defending Reckless Driving Charges in Wyoming

    The most important part of any reckless driving charge is the “willful or wanton” standard. The prosecution must show that you were driving with a conscious disregard for safety, not just being careless or having a lapse in judgment. This is an important legal standard, and many people who drive recklessly are charged too much. We disagree with the description of the driving behavior, the reliability of the witness accounts, and whether the evidence really supports the willful or wanton standard. In many cases, we can have reckless driving charges reduced to less serious traffic violations that don’t result in a criminal record. Get in touch with Just Criminal Law today for a free case review.

    Related Charges We Also Defend

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    Vehicular Assault Reckless driving that causes serious injury can be charged as vehicular assault.
    Vehicular Homicide Reckless driving that causes death results in homicide by vehicle charges.
    DUI / DWUI DUI charges and reckless driving charges frequently arise from the same traffic stop.
    Misdemeanors Reckless driving is a criminal misdemeanor — not a civil infraction.
    Felonies Repeat reckless driving or reckless driving causing serious harm can reach felony territory.

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      District Court denied motion to suppress. Wyoming Supreme Court accepted certiorari on appeal.

      Barney v. State of Wyoming — Wyoming Supreme Court

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      Reckless Endangering / Domestic Battery / Child Endangering — Wyoming

      Client charged with reckless endangering, domestic battery, and child endangering. All charges dismissed.

      State v. Quezada-Lopez — Wyoming Circuit Court

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      DUI / DWUI — Wyoming

      Client charged with DUI. State unable to lay foundation for the breath test. Case dismissed.

      State v. Von Olnhausen — Wyoming Circuit Court

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      Felony Child Abuse — Wyoming

      Client charged with accessory after the fact and aggravated child abuse — a felony. State unable to meet its burden of proof at preliminary hearing. Felony count dismissed.

      State v. Bullinger — Wyoming District Court

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    Frequently Asked Questions About Reckless Driving Charges in Wyoming

    Yes. Reckless driving in Wyoming is a criminal misdemeanor under Wyo. Stat. § 31-5-229, not a civil traffic infraction. This means that if you are found guilty, you will have a criminal record for life, not just a traffic ticket. It shows up on background checks, could affect your professional license, and could even get you jail time. If you have been charged with reckless driving in Wyoming, you should take it as seriously as any other criminal charge. Many people are surprised to learn this.

    There is a difference between reckless driving and careless driving in Wyoming. To drive recklessly, you have to “willfully or wantonly” not care about the safety of other people. This means you know the risk and don’t care about it. Driving carelessly means driving without taking the proper precautions, which is a lower standard. Driving carelessly is usually a civil offense that comes with a fine, while driving recklessly is a criminal offense. The way your behavior is described makes a big difference in the consequences you face.

    Yes. Federal CDL rules state that commercial drivers found guilty of certain traffic offenses, such as reckless driving, will face additional penalties. If you are caught driving a commercial vehicle while reckless, you may lose your CDL. Depending on the circumstances, even a conviction involving a personal vehicle can affect your CDL. If you are a commercial driver and are found guilty of reckless driving, the penalties go beyond what the state says and can directly affect your ability to make a living.

    Yes, in a lot of cases. Sometimes you can negotiate your reckless driving charges, especially if it’s your first offense and the evidence of “willful or wanton” behavior isn’t very strong. We often get reckless driving charges reduced to careless driving or other traffic offenses that aren’t crimes and don’t appear on your criminal record. It depends on the facts, your history, and the jurisdiction, whether you can get a reduction. This is the exact result we want in every case of reckless driving.

    To be found guilty of reckless driving in Wyoming, you must have been “willful or wanton” in your disregard. It means more than just being careless or not paying attention. The driver had to have known that what they were doing was dangerous to other people, or they had to have acted in a way that showed they didn’t care about the obvious risk. The prosecution must prove this important legal standard beyond a reasonable doubt. The willful or wanton standard may not be met if the driving was unsafe but not intentionally reckless, like when someone speeds without doing anything else dangerous or when they make a mistake or are in a hurry.

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    Request Your Free Reckless Driving Defense Consultation

    If you have been charged with reckless driving charges in Wyoming or South Dakota, the sooner you speak with an attorney, the more options you have. Call Just Criminal Law today for a free, confidential case review.

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