It's possible to get a wide range of traffic charges without being charged for reckless driving, but it's important to know that a police officer can charge you with the latter offense at his or her discretion. For example, traveling at a high rate of speed could be a simple speeding ticket — or the officer could also choose to charge you with reckless driving. There are a lot of factors that can influence whether the officer charges you in this manner, including the remorse that you show when you're stopped. Commonly, a police officer will also consider the following factors before charging you with reckless driving.

Location

You can expect that the police officer who pulls you over for a traffic violation will assess the location in which you were driving to decide whether you charge you with reckless driving. For example, blatantly running a stop sign is a serious issue, but the location in which you break the law in this manner can impact how the officer proceeds. Running a stop sign in an industrial area after hours isn't nearly as concerning as running a stop sign around a school when children are walking home. The officer may place a reckless driving charge on you for performing the offense in the latter location.

Presence Of Traffic

Similarly, the volume of traffic on the road when you commit a traffic violation can influence whether the officer who stops you charges you simply with the offense or also charges you with reckless driving. Generally, higher volumes of traffic will increase your probability of a reckless driving charge. For example, if you're traveling 30 miles per hour above the limit, it's definitely serious. But, speeding this quickly on an empty stretch of road pales in seriousness to driving this quickly when the traffic volume is heavy.

Weather

Bad weather makes driving more dangerous, which should compel every responsible motorist to adapt when the weather is inclement. All sorts of traffic violations can occur in poor weather, but showing that you're in disregard of the road conditions heightens your risk of a reckless driving charge. For example, weaving in and out of lanes on the highway is more dangerous when the roads are icy, and this behavior is more likely to result in a reckless driving charge than weaving when the conditions are optimal. Hiring a reckless driving attorney who frequently represents those accused of traffic offenses is your best bet after getting a reckless driving charge.