Careless driving is considered a traffic violation in Kentucky. You could be ticketed for it if a police officer feels you were driving without exercising caution on the road.

Speeding, improper passing, or failing to check your mirrors before changing lanes might seem like minor driving mistakes, but they’re red flags for careless driving—and could land you a ticket with a hefty fine. If you’ve received a careless driving ticket in Kentucky, here’s everything you want to know about how it can affect your driving record (and your

Kentucky car insurance costs

What is considered careless driving in Kentucky?

The definition of what constitutes careless driving in Kentucky is a broad one. Under the

Kentucky Revised Statute 189.290

, careless driving is defined as follows:

“The operator of any vehicle upon a highway shall operate the vehicle in a careful manner, with regard for the safety and convenience of pedestrians and other vehicles upon the highway.”

“No person shall willfully operate any vehicle on any highway in such a manner as to injure the highway.”

Careless driving in Kentucky encompasses a variety of unsafe driving practices that are at the discretion of the officer at the scene. Whether you’re speeding or changing lanes improperly, it’s not a criminal charge in Kentucky, just a traffic violation.

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Careless driving vs. reckless driving in Kentucky

The lines between careless driving and reckless driving are a bit blurry, but the latter comes with steeper penalties.

According to the Kentucky Revised Statute 189.290, careless driving is the operation of a vehicle in an unsafe manner. However, the definition of reckless driving includes the following:

Driving 15 miles per hour or more above the speed limit

Unsafe lane changing and passing

Following too closely behind another vehicle

Drag racing

The consequences for careless and reckless driving both come with monetary and license penalties, but reckless driving carries a higher point penalty. The minimum penalties for a reckless driving conviction in Kentucky are up to a $100 fine, four driving penalty points, and up to 90 days of license suspension.

MORE: Kentucky reckless driving

Careless driving vs. DUI in Kentucky

Careless driving is also different from a

DUI

or DWI. In Kentucky, the charge associated with a DUI depends on the offense number but still carries harsh punishments. After the fourth offense in ten years, a DUI is considered a class D felony and comes with up to 120 in prison, one year of treatment for alcohol or substance abuse, and 60 months of license suspension.

MORE:

SR-22 in Kentucky: what you need to know

Penalties for careless driving in Kentucky

A careless driving charge in Kentucky carries three driving record points and up to $100 in fines.

On top of the upfront costs of a careless driving ticket, you’ll also see your insurance rates increase once your insurance provider learns about the ticket. The offense could disqualify you from some discounts you may have on your insurance policy.

MORE: 5 driving violations that could land you in jail

Can you lose your license for careless driving in Kentucky?

Under Kentucky’s point system, if a driver accumulates 12 points (7 points if under age eighteen) within two years, they may have their driving privileges suspended, but they are eligible to meet with a hearing officer before a suspension.

Points allotted under the Kentucky Point System expire two years from the original conviction date, but the charge will remain on your

driving record

for five years from the conviction date.

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FAQs

How do I get careless driving dismissed in Kentucky?

As with most traffic tickets, you can contest your ticket in court, but it may be worth hiring a Kentucky law firm to fight it for you if you're trying to have your ticket dismissed. Alternatively, if the court approves, some drivers may be eligible to take

Kentucky traffic school

once a year to have the ticket dismissed from their three-year public driving record.

Is careless driving a felony in Kentucky?

No—careless driving in Kentucky is considered a traffic violation. Reckless driving, however, is classified as a misdemeanor with penalties that may include a 90-day license suspension, a possible jail sentence, and four points on your license.

What are the penalties for driving without a license in Kentucky?

If you’re caught driving without a valid driver’s license in Kentucky, you’ll be cited with a class B misdemeanor conviction, which comes with up to 90 days in jail and/or a maximum fine of $250. However, drivers with valid licenses from other states are exempt from this conviction.

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