Reckless driving
Florida Statute § 316.192
Summary verified against the 2026 Florida Statutes: October 1, 2026.
Quick Summary
Reckless driving requires driving with willful or wanton disregard for the safety of people or property, not merely ordinary carelessness. Document the driving pattern and circumstances showing that level of disregard. Fleeing an officer in a motor vehicle is reckless driving per se under this section. Identify any damage to another's property/person or serious bodily injury caused by the operation because those facts create separate enhanced tracks. Prior convictions change the baseline statutory punishment; consult the detailed guide for the applicable track.
Summary sources
Classification, Points & Penalties
Classification, Points & Penalties
- Category
- Aggressive Driving
- Type
- Criminal Traffic
- Civil / Criminal
- Criminal
- Offense Classification
- Criminal traffic; misdemeanor/felony tracks
- Degree
- Penalty depends on prior convictions and resulting damage/injury
- Points
- 4
- Fine / Penalty
- Court determined; statutory criminal penalties apply
Base fines are not the total payable amount. Costs, enforcement method, crash consequences, prior history, and court disposition can change penalties or points. A reported zero does not rule out license suspension or revocation.
Court & Enforcement
Court & Enforcement
- Mandatory Court
- Yes
- NTA Eligible
- Verify exact offense/subsection
- Custodial Arrest
- Verify exact offense/subsection
NTA means notice to appear. Eligibility is conditional; these fields do not independently authorize arrest. Confirm the exact statutory track, lawful arrest authority, traffic procedure, and agency policy.
Arrest authority guideCivil infractions resulting in death or serious bodily injury require a hearing under §318.19.
Offense Guidance
Offense Guidance
Reckless driving requires driving with willful or wanton disregard for the safety of people or property, not merely ordinary carelessness. Document the driving pattern and circumstances showing that level of disregard. Fleeing an officer in a motor vehicle is reckless driving per se under this section. Identify any damage to another's property/person or serious bodily injury caused by the operation because those facts create separate enhanced tracks. Prior convictions change the baseline statutory punishment; consult the detailed guide for the applicable track.
Review required facts and applicable instructions →