Speeding can take on many forms. When you are driving five miles per hour over the speed limit, you are technically speeding, but you are also speeding if you are driving 50 miles per hour over the speed limit. Does the law distinguish between relatively small speeding offenses, of just a few miles per hour over the limit, and speeding that some might consider reckless or dangerous? In the state of Connecticut, traveling too fast is considered a crime, as is reckless driving. If you got charged with one of these offenses, you can learn about the penalties that you face on this page.
Traveling Too Fast
The state of Connecticut has passed a law stating that no driver can drive on the highway at a speed that is higher than what is reasonable, taking into account the traffic on the highway, the width of the road and lanes, the weather conditions, and more. The way that traveling too fast gets defined therefore leaves it up to interpretation of the situation. The speed at which you drive might constitute traveling too fast on one day or in one area, but it might not in other circumstances.
If the highway that you drove on had a posted speed limit, you can assume that this is the reasonable speed at which to travel under any circumstances. In many cases, if you get caught speeding, but you did not drive over 20 miles per hour above the speed limit, you might get charged with traveling too fast, as opposed to reckless driving. For this infraction, you will likely receive a fine. You must pay the fine unless you plead not guilty and the court finds you not guilty in traffic court.
Reckless Driving
Another speeding charge that you might face is a reckless driving charge. Reckless driving occurs if:
- You are driving at a speed that could endanger the life of someone else.
- You are driving over 85 miles per hour.
- Driving a commercial vehicle with the gears or clutch disengaged.
- You knowingly operate a vehicle with a defect.
If charged with first offense reckless driving, you face a fine of $100-$300, a jail sentence of as much as thirty days, or both of these penalties. For a second or subsequent offense, the penalties increase – the fine is as much as $600 and the jail sentence is as long as one year.
The differences between traveling too fast and reckless driving are significant if you have been charged with one of these crimes. Depending on the personal circumstances of your case, a good lawyer who has experience with motor vehicle violations might be able to reduce the charges against you. For example, if you got charged with reckless driving, but the lawyer can prove that you traveled too fast, you will face less severe punishments. If you choose to take your case to court, your lawyer might have the charges dropped altogether. To discuss the specifics of your situation with Mr. Speeding Ticket™, you can contact our office here.
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