| Each year, thousands of people are injured in | | | | DUI offense without injury is a misdemeanor DUI. |
| accidents that involve either a reckless or drunk driver. | | | | Individually these crimes carry a list of possible |
| While it may seem that any drunk driver should be | | | | punishments, including: |
| charged with driving recklessly, criminal charges for | | | | - Jail time: Up to 1 year |
| "reckless driving" and "driving under the influence" (DUI) | | | | - Fines: Up to $500 |
| are issued under different circumstances. Many drunk | | | | - Community Service: Up to 60 hours |
| drivers are only issued a DUI, not a reckless driving | | | | - License Suspension: Up to 18 months |
| charge, but when a drunk driver behaves in a way | | | | - DUI course or treatment program When an individual |
| that puts other drivers in danger, he or she may be | | | | is arrested for two or more offenses at the same |
| arrested on both accounts. | | | | time, the driver will be tried for each charge individually. |
| What is Reckless Driving? | | | | This means that the driver could be convicted of both |
| Under the law, driving recklessly includes any activity | | | | or all charges, or could have one or more charges |
| that creates unsafe road conditions for other drivers, | | | | reduced or dropped. If the defendant is found guilty for |
| such as: | | | | both reckless operation and DUI, he or she could |
| - Tailgating | | | | receive the above penalties for each crime, meaning |
| - Weaving in and out of traffic | | | | that the total sentence would essentially be double the |
| - Improper signaling | | | | punishment for a single conviction. |
| - Cutting off other drivers | | | | For More Information |
| - Drag Racing A drunk driver who is discovered by | | | | If you are facing a DUI charge either alone or with |
| police but did not necessarily commit a reckless act as | | | | other charges, you will likely face an aggressive |
| described above may only be issued a DUI. If, | | | | prosecution in court. An experienced DUI defense |
| however, the driver is under the influence of alcohol | | | | attorney will protect your rights under the law and |
| while endangering other drivers, he or she may be | | | | steadfastly defend your case to ensure that you |
| arrested on both charges. | | | | receive a fair trial. |
| Combined Charges and Penalties | | | | To learn more about preparing your defense against |
| Typically, a first offense for DUI or driving recklessly is | | | | DUI and reckless driving charges, please visit the |
| classified as a misdemeanor crime. In Rhode Island for | | | | website of Rhode Island DUI lawyer James Powderly |
| example, a driver's first reckless driving arrest is | | | | today. |
| charged as a Class B misdemeanor. Likewise, a first | | | | |