carries a fine of $20 to $200 and/or two weeks to two years in prison. If you’re convicted of reckless driving, your license will be suspended for a minimum of 60 days and five points will be added to your

driving record

Every driver knows that speeding can get you a ticket—reckless driving is a more serious citation that covers a variety of traffic offenses. A reckless driving charge stays on your record for years and comes with heavy fines, Safe Driver Insurance Program (SDIP) points, and even jail time.

In this article,

car insurance

super app

Jerry

breaks down Massachusetts's reckless driving laws so you can steer clear of this serious charge.

Make safe driving pay

Get rewarded for safe driving. Earn points and unlock benefits. Totally free.

Start earning now

How does Massachusetts define reckless driving?

Under Massachusetts’s General Law Chapter 90 Section 24, a reckless driver operates a motor vehicle recklessly so that the safety of the public is endangered.

The law also includes drivers who commit

hit-and-runs

, lend their licenses to other drivers, or make false statements when applying for a

driver’s license

vehicle registration

Reckless driving is any act of dangerous driving that puts the public at risk. Some examples of reckless driving are:

Excessive speeding, 20 mph over the posted speed limit

Unsafe lane changes

Drag racing

Illegal passing

Passing a stopped school bus

Leaving the scene of an accident

Negligent driving is a related charge that comes with some additional penalties. A negligent driver operates their vehicle in a way that endangers others but does not intend to break the law (i.e.

texting while driving

The main difference between negligent driving and reckless driving is the driver’s state of mind. If they break the law knowingly and willfully, they are guilty of reckless driving. If they are merely driving carelessly or without paying attention, they are driving negligently.

MORE:

14 safe driving tips

What are the penalties for reckless driving in Massachusetts?

A reckless driving charge is a misdemeanor. If you get a ticket for reckless driving, you will face some serious penalties.

The penalties for a reckless driving charge are:

Fines of $20 to $200

Possible jail time of two weeks to two years

License suspension

of at least 60 days

Five SDIP points on your Massachusetts driving record

If it’s not your first reckless driving charge, your license could be suspended for up to one year.

Penalties for negligent driving are slightly different:

Fines of $20 to $200 plus an additional $250 fine

Possible jail time of two weeks to two years

License suspension of at least 60 days

Two SDIP points on your Massachusetts driving record

"I’m earning

awesome rewards

every week, just for driving safe!”

How can I remove a reckless driving charge from my record?

A reckless driving charge adds five SDIP points to your Massachusetts driving record. These

driver's license points

will remain on your record for six years.

Massachusetts’s “Clean in 3” provision allows a driver to remove one SDIP point per year. However, a driver has to meet the following criteria:

Three or fewer offenses in the five years before your current insurance plan’s effective date

Your most recent traffic offense is over three years old

You have at least three years of driving experience

You also have the option of contesting your reckless driving ticket. Since reckless driving covers many kinds of traffic violations, there isn’t just one way to get your charges reduced.

Some of the following arguments may convince the court to reduce the penalties for your reckless driving charge:

An otherwise spotless driving record

If you can prove that your

speedometer was broken

You were unaware of a malfunction in your car that led to the reckless driving charge

You were speeding because of an emergency

MORE: How to get car insurance with a bad driving record

Key Takeaway: You can contest a charge in order to keep your driving record clean, wait six years for the points to be removed, or avoid future traffic violations to qualify for the “Clean in 3” provision.

Will reckless driving make my insurance go up?

A reckless driving charge will increase your insurance rates. In Massachusetts, you can expect your insurance to go up by an average of $1,192 per year after a reckless driving charge. That’s 99% higher than the typical insurance rates in Massachusetts.

Because of the serious consequences of a reckless driving charge, it’s best to maintain good driving practices and be aware of what constitutes reckless driving.

Keeping charges off your record by contesting traffic tickets can also keep your insurance manageable. Taking a

defensive driving course

can also help keep your driving record clean and your insurance rates low.

MORE:

Car insurance for high-risk drivers

How to find affordable car insurance rates in Massachusetts

If you want to save money on car insurance,

Jerry

is a good place to start. A

trustworthy licensed broker app

, Jerry does all the hard work of finding cheap quotes from the top name-brand insurance companies and buying new car insurance. Jerry will even help you cancel your old policy.

And to ensure you always have the lowest rate, Jerry will send you

new quotes

every time your policy comes up for renewal, so you’re always

finding the best and cheapest coverage options

. This level of service is why Jerry earned a 4.6/5 rating on the App Store and made it the top insurance app in the country.

“I have a really bad record, so all of my previous insurance quotes were pretty high. I started using
Jerry
and the fantastic app saved me $130 a month on my insurance.” —Jett A.

RECOMMENDED

Haven’t shopped for insurance in the last six months? There might be hundreds $$$ in savings waiting for you.

Judith switched to Progressive

Saved $725 annually

Alexander switched to Travelers

Saved $834 annually

Annie switched to Nationwide

Saved $668 annually

FAQs

What is a “wet reckless” charge in Massachusetts?

A wet reckless charge in Massachusetts is when an OUI charge is reduced. If a driver is charged with operating under the influence, they can plea bargain their charge down to a reckless driving charge.

What’s the difference between reckless driving and negligent driving in Massachusetts?

The main difference between reckless driving and negligent driving is the driver’s state of mind. If the driver knowingly and intentionally breaks a traffic law, they are driving recklessly. Negligent driving occurs when a driver is careless and breaks a traffic law.

Are you overpaying for car insurance?

Compare quotes and find out in 45 seconds.

Try Jerry