A friend just told me that reckless driving is a misdemeanor where I live. That sounds way more serious than I realized. How much does a ticket for reckless driving cost?
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Your friend is right! Reckless driving is a very serious charge in most states, and even first offenses come with potential jail time and hefty fines typically ranging from $25 to $1000. The fines vary state by state, so see the chart below for your state’s specific costs.
| State | Fine amount for first offender reckless driving charges |
| ——- | ————————– |
| Alabama | $25 to $500 |
| Alaska | Up to $1000 |
| Arizona | Up to $750 |
| Arkansas | $25 to $500 |
| California | $145 to $1000 |
| Colorado | Up to $300 |
| Connecticut | $100 to $300|
| Delaware | $100 to $300 |
| D.C. | Up to $500 |
| Florida | $25 to $500 |
| Georgia | Up to $1000 |
| Hawaii | Up to $1000 |
| Idaho | Up to $1000 |
| Illinois | Up to $2500 |
| Indiana | Up to $1000 |
| Iowa | $25 to $625 |
| Kansas | $25 to $500 |
| Kentucky | $20 to $100 |
| Louisiana | Up to $175 |
| Maine | At least $575 |
| Maryland | Up to $1000 |
| Massachusetts | $20 to $200 |
| Michigan | Up to $500 |
| Minnesota | $1000 |
| Mississippi | $5 to $100 |
| Missouri | Up to $1000 |
| Montana | $25 to $300 |
| Nebraska | Up to $500 |
| Nevada | $250 to $1000 |
| New Hampshire | At least $500 |
| New Jersey | $50 to $200 |
| New Mexico | $25 to $100 |
| New York | $100 to $300 |
| North Carolina | Up to $1000 |
| North Dakota | Up to $1000 |
| Ohio | Up to $100 |
| Oklahoma | $100 to $500 |
| Oregon | Up to $6250 |
| Pennsylvania | $200 |
| Rhode Island | Up to $500 |
| South Carolina | $25 to $200 |
| South Dakota | Up to $2000 |
| Tennessee | $50 |
| Texas | Up to $200 |
| Utah | Up to $1000 |
| Vermont | Up to $1000 |
| Virginia | At least $250 |
| Washington | Up to $5000 |
| West Virginia | $25 to $500 |
| Wisconsin | $20 to $200 |
| Wyoming | Up to $750 |
In addition to fines and potential jail time, reckless driving could also result in
and will leave its mark on your driving record–all of which can add up fast. Your insurance could be the first thing that’s affected, so be prepared by finding an affordable policy with
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.