Drive in a Manner that Will Help Keep Your Record Clean

If you’ve read any of my posts over the past couple years you probably stumbled across references to taking corners hard or being able to drive fast on the road, but (hopefully) I’ve never suggested that you break the speed limit in your area in order to have a good time while driving. You can take a cruise at the speed limit and be able to have a lot of fun from behind the wheel, especially when you need something to take your mind off the bad day you’ve had or the troubles you know await you at home.

With that said, we know that most of us at least practice speeding on a regular basis. Typical rules of thumb I’ve heard are to drive around five mph over the limit and most police officers won’t bother you, which is probably true. These law enforcement officers do have more important things to do than bother with speeders who are only going a few mph over, but if you happen to be driving recklessly that could be a different story.

What defines driving recklessly? This is actually defined differently in different states. Each one has its own way of creating the definition and putting it into words that must be interpreted, but the gist of any reckless driving law is driving in a way that puts yourself and others in danger. This can be driving the speed limit when there’s ice on the road or driving at as much as fifty mph over the speed limit. If the officer who pulls you over interprets your driving as reckless, you are going to face some stiff punishments and create a lot of trouble for yourself that you don’t want to have to deal with.

Reckless driving is a type of driving that takes the driving from a simple civil citation with a couple points and a small fine to being a criminal action. This criminal action can go on your record, cause you to spend time in jail (in some states as much as three months), pay a hefty find and lose your license for a period of time. Yes, all these things can happen if you’re caught for reckless driving, not to mention the fact that you truly are putting yourself and others in serious danger if you do this.

As for the speed you’re looking for from your new car and the ability to really push the boundaries of the redline in the engine, you should head out to the nearest track and schedule some time there. This gives you a place that’s made for the adrenaline rush you’ve been wanting without the need to have your driving privileges taken away or spend time behind bars. Of course if you do have a reckless driving violation put on your record, the record might be the least of your worries considering the way your insurance premiums will be raised after the event.