Reckless Driving Lawyers in Los Angeles County
Reckless driving is a misdemeanor in California, so the charge goes to criminal court and can bring jail time, a fine, two points on your record and a license suspension. Our attorneys defend reckless driving charges in Los Angeles County, the surrounding counties and across California, including charges filed after an accident, and the first step is a free consultation.
What a Reckless Driving Charge Means
A driver is guilty of reckless driving under VC 23103 when they drive on a highway, or in an off-street parking facility, “in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.” It is a misdemeanor (VC 40000.15).
- Penalty. 5 to 90 days in county jail, a fine of $145 to $1,000, or both (VC 23103(c)).
- When someone is hurt. If the reckless driving causes bodily injury to anyone other than the driver, the penalty rises to 30 days to 6 months in county jail, a fine of $220 to $1,000, or both (VC 23104).
- Points. A conviction adds two points to your DMV record (VC 12810(c)).
- Your license. The court may suspend your license, and after a conviction for reckless driving that caused injury, the DMV revokes it (see the license question below).
A reckless driving charge can follow a collision. If you were cited after an accident, the injury section above may apply to your case.
How Our Attorneys Fight Reckless Driving Charges
The charge depends on a high standard: the prosecution has to show “willful or wanton disregard” for safety. We review what the police report and the evidence say you did, and test that against the standard. Where there was a collision, we also review the collision report, the witness statements and the evidence of any injury, because injury changes which section applies.
We defend the charge in criminal court and appear at every hearing.
Our attorneys have over 45 years of combined experience in fighting traffic tickets. Our Victory List shows 4 cases under VC 23103 listed as dismissed, as of October 8, 2026. Past results do not guarantee a future outcome.
Questions About Reckless Driving
Is Reckless Driving a Misdemeanor in California?
Yes. The Vehicle Code makes reckless driving under VC 23103 and 23104 a misdemeanor, not an infraction (VC 40000.15). A misdemeanor conviction is a criminal record, with possible jail time and a fine (see the penalties above).
How Many Points Is a Reckless Driving Conviction?
Two points (VC 12810(c)). The DMV treats 4 points in 12 months, 6 in 24 months or 8 in 36 months as a negligent operator, which can lead to suspension (VC 12810.5). Two points also put you over the one-point limit for California’s Good Driver insurance discount (Insurance Code 1861.025). A reckless driving conviction is not eligible for traffic school (VC 42005(c)).
Do I Need a Traffic Ticket Lawyer or a Criminal Defense Lawyer for Reckless Driving?
Reckless driving is both: a criminal charge, and a traffic offense under the Vehicle Code. What matters is a lawyer who defends misdemeanor driving charges. Our attorneys defend reckless driving along with the other misdemeanor charges on our services page: DUI, driving on a suspended license, hit and run, exhibition of speed and speed contest.
What Is a “Wet Reckless” or “Dry Reckless”?
Both are informal names for a reckless driving conviction that arises from a DUI case. A “wet reckless” is the common name for a reckless driving plea that the prosecution accepts in place of an original DUI charge, with a statement on the record of whether alcohol or drugs were involved (VC 23103.5(a)). That conviction counts as a prior offense if the driver is later charged with DUI (VC 23103.5(c)), and when the court grants probation, it generally requires an alcohol and drug education program as a condition of probation (VC 23103.5(e)). “Dry reckless” is the term people use for a reckless driving conviction without that alcohol or drug statement. Neither term appears in the Vehicle Code. Whether either plea is offered is the prosecution’s decision, and it depends on the facts of each case. Our post on dry reckless driving as a DUI reduction explains more.
Can a Reckless Driving Charge Affect My License?
Yes, in three ways. The court may suspend your license for up to 30 days on a first conviction, up to 60 days on a second and up to six months on a third (VC 13200). When the reckless driving caused bodily injury, the court may suspend it for up to six months (VC 13201), and the DMV revokes the license after the conviction (DMV Driver Handbook). And the two points count toward a negligent operator suspension. Our post on reckless driving and your license covers this further.
Where We Fight Reckless Driving Charges
Our office is in Glendale, and we defend reckless driving charges in courts across Los Angeles County. We also take cases in Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura and Kern counties, and anywhere else in California. See our Los Angeles traffic ticket lawyer page and our county traffic ticket guides.
Related
- Traffic ticket lawyers for Los Angeles drivers
- Exhibition of speed and speed contest charges
- DUI defense
- Reckless driving and your license
- Dry reckless driving as a DUI reduction
Fight Your Reckless Driving Charge
A reckless driving charge can stay on your record long after the fine is paid. Call (310) 455-6810 or contact us today for your free consultation.
Sources
California Legislative Information
- VC 23103(opens in a new tab)
- VC 40000.15(opens in a new tab)
- VC 23104(opens in a new tab)
- VC 12810(c)(opens in a new tab)
- VC 12810.5(opens in a new tab)
- Insurance Code 1861.025(opens in a new tab)
- VC 42005(c)(opens in a new tab)
- VC 23103.5(a)(opens in a new tab)
- VC 13200(opens in a new tab)
- VC 13201(opens in a new tab)
California DMV
- DMV Driver Handbook(opens in a new tab), Section 7: Laws and rules of the road (continued)