Nevada law defines reckless driving as operating a motor vehicle with deliberate disregard for other people’s safety or property. It’s more than running a red light or speeding a few miles over the limit – it typically involves major violations like street racing or aggressive lane changes.
The penalties for reckless driving in Nevada range from fines and license suspension to jail time. Here’s everything you need to know about it, including what counts as reckless driving in Nevada.
Types of Reckless Driving and Penalties
Per Section 484B.653 of Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS), reckless driving can be charged as a misdemeanor or category B felony based on the severity of the offense. In the best-case scenario, you’ll receive a fine of $250 to $1,000 and lose your driving license for six months. In the worst case, you could pay up to $50,000 in fines and face life in jail.
Here’s an overview of some common examples of reckless driving and the penalties that go with them:
| Reckless Driving Charges and Penalties | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Type of Offense | Classification | Potential Penalties | |
| Driving with deliberate disregard for the safety of persons or property | Misdemeanor |
1st offense • $250–$1,000 fine • 8 demerit points • Up to 6 months in jail 2nd offense • $1,000–$1,500 fine • 8 demerit points • Up to 6 months in jail 3rd+ offense • $1,500–$2,000 fine • 8 demerit points • Up to 6 months in jail | |
| Participating in or organizing a speed contest without authorization | Misdemeanor |
1st offense • $250–$1,000 fine • 50–99 hours of community service • Up to 6 months in jail • 6–24 months license suspension • 15-day vehicle impoundment 2nd offense • $1,000–$1,500 fine • 100–199 hours of community service • Up to 6 months in jail • 6–24 months license suspension • 30-day vehicle impoundment 3rd+ offense • $1,500–$2,000 fine • 200 hours of community service • Up to 6 months in jail • 6–24 months license suspension • 30-day vehicle impoundment | |
| Performing or facilitating vehicle stunts on public roads without authorization | Gross Misdemeanor |
Driver’s 1st offense • $1,000–$1,500 fine • 100–199 hours of community service • Up to 364 days in jail • 6–24 months license suspension • 30-day vehicle impoundment Driver’s 2nd+ offense • $1,500–$2,000 fine • 200 hours of community service • Up to 364 days in jail • 6–24 months license suspension • 30-day vehicle impoundment |
Facilitator’s 1st offense • Fine up to $1,000 • 50–99 hours of community service • Up to 6 months in jail • 6–24 months license suspension Facilitator’s 2nd+ offense • $1,000–$1,500 fine • 100–199 hours of community service • Up to 364 days in jail • 6–24 months license suspension |
| Colliding with a pedestrian or cyclist | Misdemeanor |
1st offense • $250–$1,000 fine • 50–99 hours of community service • Up to 6 months in jail • 6–24 months license suspension 2nd offense • $1,000–$1,500 fine • 100–199 hours of community service • Up to 6 months in jail • 6–24 months license suspension 3rd+ offense • $1,500–$2,000 fine • 200 hours of community service • Up to 6 months in jail • 6–24 months license suspension | |
| Reckless driving resulting in death or serious injury | Category B Felony |
• 1–6 years in Nevada State Prison • $2,000–$5,000 fine Aggravating circumstances: If the offense occurs in a pedestrian safety zone or a school zone or involves speeding 50+ mph over the limit, the maximum prison term increases to 10 years. | |
| Eluding a police officer, resulting in injury or death | Category B Felony |
• 2–20 years in prison • Fine of up to $50,000 | |
The penalties for reckless driving are more severe if drugs or alcohol are involved, especially if the accident results in a fatality. In such cases, you could receive 25 years in prison or a life sentence.
If you’re pulled over for driving recklessly in a work zone or pedestrian zone, you may receive double the punishment. If your reckless driving results in bodily injury or death, your driver’s license will be automatically suspended or revoked.
How Reckless Driving Affects Your Driving Record and Everyday Life
A reckless driving violation goes on your criminal record in Nevada, not just your driving record. It can impact your insurance rates, creditworthiness, job opportunities, and other aspects of daily life.
Here’s a quick breakdown of what to expect after being charged with reckless driving in Nevada:
- Fines: A reckless driving conviction carries fines of $250 to $50,000 (!), depending on the charge.
- Jail Time: Driving with deliberate disregard for the safety of others or their property is punishable by up to six months of jail time. The sentence can increase to 25 years for more serious charges.
- Demerit Points: This traffic offense carries eight demerit points. In some cases, it can lead to automatic license suspension. While demerit points will expire after 12 months, the conviction will remain on your driving record for up to three years.
- Increased Insurance Rates: The conviction will show up on background checks, raising your auto insurance premiums by more than 60%.
- License Suspension: Reckless driving can result in license suspension or revocation, especially for repeat offenders or drivers facing serious charges like drag racing or unauthorized trick driving. The suspension period ranges from six months to two years.
- Criminal Record: This traffic violation creates a criminal record and can impact your ability to find work, get a loan, rent a house, or obtain child custody.
What to Do About a Reckless Driving Charge
Under Nevada law, reckless driving and other serious charges require a court appearance. You can’t just pay the fine and move on like you would with a speeding ticket.
If possible, get an attorney to look over your case and advise you on the best course of action. They may be able to negotiate a lesser charge, reduce penalties, or help you avoid a conviction.
If you’ve been charged with reckless driving, consider the following steps:
- Hire an Attorney: Reckless driving is usually charged as a misdemeanor but can escalate to a felony under certain circumstances. For a misdemeanor, you can hire a traffic lawyer. If you’re charged with a felony, you’ll need a criminal defense attorney.
- Review the Charges and Evidence: Your attorney will review the charges against you, assess the evidence, and explain your legal options.
- Decide How You Want to Plead: Based on your circumstances, you can plead not guilty and fight the charge or admit guilt and negotiate a plea bargain. Common defenses for reckless driving include:
- Your driving behavior was careless, not reckless.
- Your vehicle malfunctioned at the time of the offense (e.g., your brakes failed or the steering wheel locked up while driving).
- You were driving erratically due to a medical emergency, like a heart attack, seizure, or stroke.
If you admit guilt, your attorney may be able to plead down to a lesser charge, such as careless driving, and reduce the penalties you face. In such cases, the court may order traffic school, community service, or probation — especially for a first offense.
- Comply with the court’s orders: If convicted or offered a deal, comply with the court’s orders to avoid further penalties. For example, you may need to complete a five- or eight-hour Nevada traffic school course as part of a plea deal to reduce or eliminate jail time.
Note that you may have a reckless driving conviction sealed from your criminal record after completing your sentence. This is generally only available once in a lifetime, but it effectively removes the charge from your record. The waiting period varies from one year for misdemeanors to two years for gross misdemeanors and five years for Category B felonies.
How to Sign Up for Traffic School in Nevada
Nevada law allows drivers to attend traffic school for point reduction. This option is only available to those charged with traffic offenses carrying no more than four demerit points, such as speeding 30 mph over the limit.
Reckless driving is punishable by eight demerit points, so it doesn’t qualify for traffic school. But you may need to take traffic safety courses to fulfill a court order.
First, choose a DMV-approved traffic school to ensure it meets the court’s requirements. For example, our online Nevada traffic school is licensed by the Nevada DMV and accepted by all state courts.
The registration process varies from school to school. Follow the steps below to register with Traffic Safety Institute:
- Visit our signup page.
- Enter your email address along with a strong password to create a free account.
- Access the course from your PC, laptop, or mobile device.
- Complete the course in one sitting or take as much time as you need.
- Take and pass the open book final exam with a score of at least 70%.
- Pay a flat fee of only $19.99 after passing the test.
*If you want to take traffic school for point reduction, check the Nevada traffic school eligibility requirements and get the court’s approval before registration.
Our online course takes only five hours and comes with all sorts of perks, including:
✅ Free audio read-along
✅ Save-and-resume feature
✅ Open-book final exam
✅ Unlimited course retakes
✅ Instant electronic certificate
✅ DMV reporting within 30 days
✅ 24/7 live chat support
Start traffic school for FREE to fulfill a court order, qualify for insurance discounts, or remove three points from your record!
Read: How Nevada Traffic School Works
FAQs about Reckless Driving in Nevada
What else would you like to know about reckless driving in Nevada? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions:
Is reckless driving the same as a DUI in Nevada?
No, reckless driving and DUIs are different charges — though both carry severe penalties. Reckless driving involves operating a vehicle with deliberate disregard for other people’s safety or property. A DUI means you’re accused of driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs.
If you’re caught driving recklessly while under the influence, you’ll likely be charged with a DUI. Impairment-related offenses are seen as a greater threat to public safety than reckless driving, so they typically take precedence in court.
Is it possible to get a DUI downgraded to reckless driving in Nevada?
You may be able to get a DUI reduced to reckless driving if the prosecution’s case is weak (e.g., lacking probable cause). In such cases, you must plead guilty or no contest to the DUI charge and enter a plea deal.
How much over the speed limit is a felony in Nevada?
Per Nevada law, exceeding the speed limit by 30+ mph is a misdemeanor. However, you may be charged with a felony if you cause a serious accident while speeding. Aggravating factors, such as fleeing law enforcement, can result in felony charges too.
