Reckless driving in Washington comes with fines of up to $5,000 and jail time of up to 364 days. A reckless driving charge will probably result in a license suspension of 30 days, depending on the severity of the infraction.

In addition, a reckless driving charge will be added to your criminal record, affecting everything from your job prospects to your car insurance rates.

Speeding can get you a ticket

—but reckless driving is a more serious charge. Reckless driving covers a variety of infractions—from

running a red light

to racing. Typical penalties include heavy fines, license suspension, a criminal record, and even jail time.

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How does Washington define reckless driving?

According to the Revised Code of Washington

46.61.500

, the state of Washington defines reckless driving as “any person who drives any vehicle in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.”

What does this mean? “Willful” indicates that the driver knowingly breaks the law. For example, knowing you should stop at a red light, but choosing to run it anyway. “Wanton disregard” means that the driver acted without considering the harm they could do to others.

Reckless driving is any type of dangerous driving that has the potential to destroy property or cause harm to others.

Some examples of reckless driving include:

Extreme speeding

Sudden braking

Failure to yield

Running red lights

Erratic driving

Racing

Tailgating

In Washington, the officer who issues you the ticket decides if you were guilty of reckless driving. Ultimately, the court will determine if your infraction warrants a reckless driving charge.

Key Takeaway Reckless driving is a serious charge that covers any dangerous driving that could cause harm to people or property.

What are the penalties for reckless driving in Washington?

In Washington, reckless driving is a gross misdemeanor. Even though reckless driving is not a felony, it still counts as a criminal charge.

The penalties for reckless driving are:

Up to $5,000 in fines

Up to 364 days in prison

License suspension for 30 days

A gross misdemeanor on your criminal record

Usually, a

license suspension

will only be considered after multiple minor traffic violations. However, a reckless driving charge will result in license suspension, even if it’s your first ticket.

MORE:

The top 4 benefits of taking a defensive driving course

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

As a reckless driving charge is a criminal offense, it’s harder to remove from your record than a mere speeding infraction. You may want to find a lawyer to help you through the process.

The best way to keep a reckless driving charge off your record is to prevent the charge in the first place. A range of

traffic infractions

fall under reckless driving, so there’s more than one way to deal with a reckless driving charge. You can argue to reduce your charges if:

You can prove your speedometer was malfunctioning at the time

You were unaware of the problems with your vehicle that led to the charge, for example, unresponsive brakes

You were speeding because of an emergency

Once you have been convicted of reckless driving, it will be part of your criminal record. It’s possible to vacate the charge if you fulfill the following criteria:

No new pending or convicted criminal charges

Never had another charge vacated

Not currently under a restraining order or have not been under a restraining order in the past five years

Three years have passed since you fulfilled the consequences of the charge

If the charge was not the first offense, ten years must have passed between the first and subsequent offense

Even if you don’t qualify for vacating the charge, you can still work on your driving record. You can take defensive driving courses to avoid future traffic violations and improve your standing with your insurance company.

You can also order a driving record report from the DMV to check on your driving status to make sure you keep your infractions low.

Key Takeaway Vacating a reckless driving charge is complicated, but it’s possible. You may need to hire a lawyer to help you through the process.

Will reckless driving make my insurance go up?

A reckless driving charge has a significant impact on your insurance rates. Insurers in Washington increase rates after a reckless driving charge by around 45%. That’s around $540 more than the average car insurance rate in Washington!

In Washington, you are required to carry

SR-22 insurance

for three years after a reckless driving charge. The rates for this kind of coverage are generally more expensive than your typical insurance rates.

SR-22 in Washington: what you need to know

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FAQs

Can you go to jail for reckless driving?

Jail time is one of the penalties for reckless driving in Washington. A driver can face up to 364 days of jail time for a reckless driving charge. The charge will also appear on your criminal record as a gross misdemeanor.

Will a reckless driving charge prevent me from getting a job?

In Washington, a reckless driving charge is a gross misdemeanor that is added to your criminal record. Depending on what the job is, a reckless driving charge may affect how your application is viewed by an employer.