No matter the circumstances you may find yourself in, the best approach to take when charged for Reckless Driving in Renton, Washington (or anywhere else in the greater Puget Sound region for that matter) is to contact a respected Western Washington criminal defense attorney. A Western Washington criminal defense attorney who has knowledge of not only the Renton court system, but also the Renton police procedures can be of tremendous assistance to those charged for Reckless Driving/ Racing.  (Yes, amazingly it is spelled “Reckless”, not “Wreckless”)

If you or a loved one is charged with Reckless Driving/ Racing, the SQ Attorneys team can help. SQ Attorneys is a team of seasoned trial attorneys, trained to fight for our clients. SQ Attorneys has a combined 21 plus years of training and experience in helping people who are facing criminal charges in and around Western Washington and the greater Puget Sound region.

The SQ team has found, over time, that people who unfortunately receive Reckless Driving/ Racing citations do not always know the full consequences of these criminal charges. Below following are just a few of the important facts to know about Reckless Driving/ Racing charges:

Criminal Offense: Reckless driving/ Racing are considered crimes (not infractions) in Washington State. Although neither is considered a felony, both are considered “gross-misdemeanors” and as such are punishable by both jail time and a monetary fine. The maximum sentence an individual convicted of Reckless Driving/ Racing can receive is a year in jail and a fine of $5,000.

Speeding: As crazy as it may seem, under certain circumstances speeding, in and of itself, can result in the government charging and convicting (if the person is not adequately represented) a person for the crime of Reckless Driving in Washington State.

License Suspension: If convicted of either Reckless Driving or Racing an automatic license suspension of 30 days takes place; the suspension generally takes place a minimum of 45 days after sentencing on the criminal charge.

SR-22 Insurance: If a driver’s license is suspended, for any reason (including as a result of a Reckless Driving/ Racing conviction) the suspended driver must obtain SR-22 (high risk) insurance for 3 years following eligibility of reinstatement. This type of automotive insurance is often much more expensive than basic auto insurance.

Immigration: If a person is convicted of Reckless Driving, and the offender is not a United States citizen, believe it or not, he can be, and often is, deported from the United States. For this very reason, people who are not United States citizens may have extremely serious immigration consequences if convicted of a Reckless Driving/ Racing offense.

Despite the consequences associated with a Reckless Driving/ Racing conviction, there is hope – so don’t despair! Often the government has difficulty proving a Reckless driving/ Racing charge beyond a reasonable doubt, which is the standard of proof in all criminal proceedings in Washington State.  Because the government recognizes this, it is often possible to reduce Reckless Driving/ Racing charges to a civil traffic infraction, or in some instances, even get the charge(s) dismissed all together. SQ Attorneys has had a lot of success in getting excellent results for its clients. If a dismissal or reduction is not possible, the SQ team will fight (and has successfully fought in the past) the case in a jury trial setting; every person charged with a crime, including Reckless Driving/ Racing, has the constitutional right to a jury trial. Sometimes a jury trial is the only way to achieve justice.

The Western Washington criminal attorneys that make up the criminal defense team of SQ Attorneys are highly qualified criminal defense lawyers that are dedicated to providing top notch, aggressive representation for those charged with Reckless Driving/ Racing in  Western Washington and the greater Puget Sound region. The SQ team creates success by working with law enforcement and the prosecuting attorney’s office to ensure that all facts and circumstances related to the Reckless Driving/ Racing allegation(s) are considered in creating the fairest, most equitable and just resolution possible – SQ Attorneys creates success without limits.