Definition of Reckless Driving

The crime of Reckless Driving is defined under Section 316.192, Florida Statutes. Under the statute, Reckless Driving consists of two factual elements:

  1. The defendant drove a motor vehicle, and
  2. The defendant did so with a willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.

Willful or Wanton Conduct Required

The term ‘willful’ means intentionally, knowingly, and purposely. ‘Wanton’ means that the accused drove the vehicle with a conscious and intentional indifference to consequences and with knowledge that damage was likely to be done to persons or property. Fleeing a law enforcement officer in a motor vehicle is reckless driving per se. Fla. Std. Jury Instr. (Crim) 28.5.

Negligence is Insufficient

As indicated in the statute, neither carelessness nor ordinary negligence in the operation of a vehicle are sufficient to support a conviction for reckless driving. State v. Lebron, 954 So. 2d 52 (Fla. 5th DCA 2007); D.E. v. State, 904 So. 2d 558 (Fla. 5th DCA 2005).

The defendant’s actions must be knowing and purposeful, or carried out with a conscious and intentional indifference to consequences and while knowing that harm was likely to be done to persons or property. W.E.B. v. State, 553 So. 2d 323, 325-26 (Fla. 1st DCA 1989).

Determining Recklessness

Determining whether a defendant’s actions amount to recklessness is a fact intensive, ad hoc inquiry.  D.E. v. State, 904 So. 2d 558 at 562.  The analysis is on the defendant’s actions, the surrounding circumstances, and the foreseeability that death, bodily harm, or property damage could result. Id.

Penalties for Reckless Driving

The penalties available for reckless driving in Florida will depend on the number of prior offenses and the existence of property damage or personal injury.

  • First offense, No Bodily Injury or Property Damage– 2nd degree misdemeanor, with penalties of up to 90 days in jail or 6 months of probation, and a $500 fine;
  • Second or Subsequent Offense– 2nd degree misdemeanor, with maximum penalty of 6 months in jail and up to a $1,000 fine;
  • Property Damage or Injury– 1st degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to 1 year in jail or 12 months of probation, and a $1,000 fine;
  • Serious Bodily Injury– 3rd degree felony, with penalties of up to 5 years in prison or 5 years probation, and a $5,000 fine.

Defenses to Reckless Driving

There are many defenses available to contest a Reckless Driving charge in Florida. Some of the more common defenses include the following:

  • Was the accused the actual driver?
  • Did the accused drive the vehicle with the requisite degree of culpability (willful or wanton disregard), or did the accused merely act in a careless or negligent manner?
  • Was the driving pattern exhibited by the accused intentional, knowing, and purposeful, or were there extenuating circumstances at play?
  • Were there persons or property nearby to endanger?
  • Are the witnesses relied upon by the prosecution reliable? If a police officer is making the allegations, are the allegations supported by the in-car video (if one is available)?
  • Are there other witnesses to contradict the accusations made by the prosecution?
  • Is the charge based exclusively on an allegation of excessive speed?

Speed Alone is Insufficient

A conviction for Reckless Driving generally cannot be based on evidence of excessive speed alone. Luzardo v. State, 147 So. 3d 1083, 1085 (Fla. 3d DCA 2014); Hamilton v. State, 439 So. 2d 238 (Fla. 2d DCA 1983).

Thus, where testimony at trial merely establishes that a defendant was travelling 60 miles per hour in a 30 mile per hour speed zone, and then slammed on his brakes before striking another vehicle, the prosecution fails to establish reckless driving. House v. State, 831 So. 2d 1230 (Fla. 2d DCA 2002).

Notwithstanding this general rule, at least two appellate courts in Florida have suggested “grossly excessive” speeding may alone be sufficient for a conviction. See Rubinger v. State, 98 So. 3d 659, 662 (Fla. 4th DCA 2012) (reserving future cases for consideration where speed is ‘grossly excessive’); Luzardo, 147 So. 3d at 1089 (commenting that a speed of 120 miles per hour in a 55 mile per hour zone might alone be sufficient for a conviction).

Speed, Coupled with Other Factors

A conviction for reckless driving will be upheld where speed is coupled with other factors indicating a willful or wanton disregard for the safety of others.  Common factors addressed in Florida appellate court decisions have included the following:

  • Traveling in the middle of the road;
  • Driving through a crowded residential area;
  • Improper passing;
  • Failing to reduce speed prior to impact;
  • Disregarding the presence of children,
  • ignoring traffic control devices;
  • Failing to look for pedestrians; and
  • Consuming intoxicants.

Careless Driving or Negligence is Insufficient

Evidence indicating mere careless or negligent driving is insufficient to sustain a reckless driving conviction.  McCreary v. State, 371 So. 2d 1024 (Fla., 1979).  The actions of the defendant must be willful or wanton in nature.

In State v. Del Rio, 854 So. 2d 692 (Fla. 2d DCA 2003), a defendant made a left-hand turn at an intersection and, after completing the turn, failed to see a mother pushing a stroller forty-seven feet in front of his vehicle. The court found insufficient evidence of willfulness or wantonness, and held that the State failed to prove the elements of reckless driving.

In Berube v. State, 6 So. 3d 624 (Fla. 5th DCA 2008), a defendant pulled into an intersection and attempted to make a left-hand turn on red, after his passengers warned that a dump truck was approaching rapidly from the rear. In a panic, the defendant made the illegal turn and caused a fatal car collision. On these facts, the court held that the defendant’s actions did not amount to reckless driving, stating:

What is missing from the State’s proof is evidence that Berube, in an intentional, knowing, and purposeful manner, made an improper left turn with a conscious and intentional indifference to consequences and with knowledge that damage is likely to be done to persons or property. Id. at 626.

Numerous other Florida appellate decisions illustrate the distinction between reckless and careless or negligent driving.

  • Miller v. State, 636 So. 2d 144 (Fla. 1st DCA 1994) (finding evidence where defendant, who rive 15 to 20 mph above the posted speed limit, had control of his vehicle and slowed as he approached the intersection);
  • W.E.B. v. State, 553 So. 2d 323 (Fla. 1st DCA 1989) (finding evidence of reckless driving insufficient where the defendant had drank alcohol, was speeding, and went off of the road as a result of overcorrecting his turn).

Examples of Reckless Driving

The following cases illustrate the type of conduct that Florida appellate courts have found to constitute Reckless Driving:

  • Santisteban v. State, 72 So. 3d 187 (Fla. 4th DCA 2011) (driving a gasoline truck, filled with 9,000 gallons of fuel, at highway speeds around a curving highway ramp, while weaving around other drivers);
  • State v. Knight, 622 So. 2d 188 (Fla. 1st DCA 1993) (not possessing a valid driver’s license, driving 65-70 mph in a 35-mph residential area, and operating a damaged vehicle without the consent of the owner;
  • Martinez v. State, 692 So. 2d 199 (Fla. 3d DCA 1997) (driving 40 miles per hour over the speed limit, and speeding on a curved section of road while passing another vehicle in a no-passing zone);
  • Savoia v. State, 389 So. 2d 294 (Fla. 3d DCA 1980) (driving on a wet road at 90 mph while intoxicated, and slamming into a parked truck with no attempt to apply the brakes);
  • State v. Lebron, 954 So. 2d 52 (Fla. 5th DCA 2007) (speeding and attempting to pass a slower-driving vehicle from the right hand lane, in the middle of traffic);
  • Lewek v. State, 702 So. 2d 527 (Fla. 4th DCA 1997) (driving with worn down tire tread and a missing lug nut, while speeding and ignoring a yellow and red light);
  • Wright v. State, 573 So. 2d 998 (Fla. 1st DCA 1991) (drinking alcohol, exceeding the speed limit by 20 miles per hour, making dangerous pass attempts, and failing to take evasive maneuvers to avoid an impact);
  • Byrd v. State, 531 So. 2d 1004 (Fla. 5th DCA 1988) (driving at two times over the speed limit in heavy traffic, and making no attempt to avoid a collision with a stopped car until approximately 6 feet prior to impact.

Contact an Attorney

If you have been arrested or issued a citation for Reckless Driving, contact Hussein & Webber, PL for a free consultation.  Our attorneys handle cases throughout Jacksonville, Orlando, and the surrounding counties of northeast and central Florida.