When lawmakers create a law like Reckless Driving, you would think they would be very precise and accurate in their language, especially when they decide to assign such serious consequences. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Even though lawmakers have months and months to perfect the terms and wording of the law, they still end up with vague statutes, making it hard for a jury in Fort Collins, Loveland, and Estes Park to answer the question whether a defendant actually violated the law. Many times, our experienced criminal defense attorneys are able to use the haziness within the law and its terms to create reasonable doubt and win at trial.
What is Reckless Driving in Larimer County?
The Colorado law definition of Reckless Driving – C.R.S. 42-4-1401 – is:
Similar to the less serious offense of Careless Driving, a jury has to decide whether a defendant’s actions were willful or wonton. It comes down to whether or not the driver’s actions were on purpose. It seems a little presumptuous to assume that anyone can know the intent behind another person’s actions. Unless the driver specifically stated that he was getting ready to cause an accident and a witness overheard, there is no real way to prove it, leaving the driver’s fate in the hands of a Larimer, Boulder, or Grand County jury.
Reckless Driving and Your Driver’s License in Fort Collins
When a client comes in to our office for an initial consultation and their case is traffic related, keeping their driver’s license tends to be the number one concern. A Reckless Driving conviction will add 8 points to a person’s driver’s license. In Fort Collins and all of Larimer County, a person can only accumulate 12 points within a 12-month period, or 18 points within a 24-month period, before facing a revocation hearing. A few minor traffic violations along with a Reckless Driving conviction can mean the loss of a driver’s license. It can be a devastating consequence for a woman when she cannot drive her children to school or a man when he can’t even drive to the store to pick up groceries.
If you or someone you love has been ticketed for Reckless Driving, be smart and exercise your right to remain silent. Then, contact the best traffic defense attorneys from the O’Malley Law Office at 970-658-0007 today. Together, we can protect your future.
Image Credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net – Naypong