OUT-OF-STATE DRIVER–RECKLESS DRIVING TICKETSMillard County is in middle Utah just off I-15 and has a population of 12,975 according to the 2022 US Census. The county’ main interstate is I-15 with Highway 6 and Highway 50 intersecting the county as it reaches all the way west to the Nevada border.
I-15 brings a lot of out-of-state visitors to Utah for the ski season. If you are stopped for Reckless Driving, call Attorney Jake Gunter. Often you can avoid court completely and pay a fine and close the matter.
Tickets are common I-15. Don’t lose your license or have your insurance rates go up. Calling a Millard County Reckless Driving attorney Jake Gunter can really help you. Normally a flat legal fee is charged to enter his appearance and resolve the matter short of a jury trial.
The cost of a Reckless Driving Misdemeanor B conviction on your record is generally well worth the flat attorney fee to avoid it. Reckless Driving Class B Misdemeanors can’t be expunged for 4 years unless you run a reduction motion to push the conviction to a Class C Misdemeanor, which is a 3 year waiting period to expunge.
Normally Millard County Reckless Driving attorney Jake Gunter can obtain a plea offer that you can live with. It clearly gets more expensive if you have to conduct a jury trial to beat the charge.
Reckless Driving is charged as Class B Misdemeanor.
–6 to 12 months informal court probation. Non-reporting probation.
–Up to 180 days jail max. Normally all jail is suspended.
–Recommended bail schedule fine of $690, bail schedule. Oftentimes reduced even lower.
–Insurance rates go up.
–80 points assigned to any Reckless Driving conviction. See info on Utah’s points system here: https://provocriminaldefense.com/utah-traffic-ticket-defense/
–4 years waiting period to expunge. See this article on expungements HERE: https://provocriminaldefense.com/2018/10/03/probation-violations-orders-to-show-cause-reductions-and-expungements-what-to-do
Reckless driving is what the jury decides it is. This is why a persuasive attorney can really make the difference in your defense—if it goes that far. Technically, Reckless Driving is a driving pattern where you commit three or more traffic offenses within three miles, or you were so reckless that one single traffic offense is reckless. As of 2021 the Utah L9egislature made it clear that going 105 mile per hour or more constitutes Reckless Driving also.
The Utah Legislature also enacted the enhanced speeding statute for speeding over 150 mph.
41-6a-601 16-20 MPH Over Speed Limit IN N $315
41-6a-601 21-25 MPH Over Speed Limit IN N $420
41-6a-601 26-30 MPH Over Speed Limit IN N $570
41-6a-601 31+ MPH Over Speed Limit IN Y $720
This is NOT a suggested fine, but is instead a minimum mandatory fine, see Utah Code § 41-6a-601(4)(b)
You can read Utah’s statute on reckless driving below.
Effective 5/4/2022
41-6a-528. Reckless driving — Penalty.
(1) A person is guilty of reckless driving who operates a vehicle in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.
(2) For purposes of this section, “willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property” includes:
(a) traveling on a highway at a speed of 105 miles per hour or greater; or [ADDED in 2021]
(b) committing three or more traffic violations under Title 41, Chapter 6a, Traffic Code, in a series of acts occurring within a single continuous period of driving covering three miles or less in total distance.
(3) A person who violates Subsection (1) is guilty of a class B misdemeanor.
First time reckless driving offenders can, with the right attorney, get these charges reduced to speeding, or enter into a Plea in Abeyance. A deeper, cornerstone article on Pleas in Abeyance can be read here:
Pleas in Abeyance are dismissals after you successfully complete all terms of probation. PIAs don’t count towards the Utah points system and are not convictions. PIAs are a good deal.
Another great way to resolve Reckless Driving tickets is a straight plea to speeding, dropping the matter from a Misdemeanor B to and Infraction.
Prior to 2021 Reckless Driving didn’t have an exact speed that constituted Reckless Driving. Now if you are going over 105 miles per hour, police can give you a Reckless Driving ticket just for going 105 or more.
Reckless driving is what the jury says it is and a good defense attorney can help let the jury know that that was just a case of speeding—not Reckless Driving.
Speeding 10 miles per hour in a 70 mph zone on the interstate may not constitute Reckless Driving, but going 30 miles over in a school zone is sure to get a Reckless Driving ticket. Going 50 miles per hour over an 80 mph zone is also a sure fire way to get a reckless ticket. Outside of going over 105 miles per hour as proscribed by the statute, Reckless Driving has to be a wanton disregard of the public’s safety. This could be aggressive weaving in-and-out of traffic or excessive speed for the surrounding circumstances.
You are generally not arrested and booked into the county jail for Reckless Driving, but instead given a citation to appear. When you hire Reckless Driving attorney Jake Gunter, he calls the court an get a court date set up.
Utah Code 53-3-220 states that two Reckless Driving convictions within a 12 month period will suspend your Utah driver’s license. A Reckless Driving conviction combined with a DUI like conviction with 12 months will also suspend your license.
The code reads:
(viii) two charges of reckless driving, impaired driving, or any combination of reckless driving and impaired driving committed within a period of 12 months; but if upon a first conviction of reckless driving or impaired driving the judge or justice recommends suspension of the convicted person’s license, the division may after a hearing suspend the license for a period of three months; See 53-3-220(1)(a)(viii).
Juveniles Under 21 Years Old. If you are under 21 years old and are convicted of Reckless Driving you will incur 80 points. You only get 70 points on your under 21 year old driving record before the DLD will sanction your license. Any straight plea to reckless or speeding 19+ miles per hour over will sanction your minor driver’s license.
Traffic School. You can only take traffic school so often, generally only once every 2 years to reduce 50 points off your Utah traffic record
Hiring an attorney for Millard County traffic court matters can reduce your insurance rates and points.
Utah’s Adult Points System: You only have 200 points on your adult over 21 Utah driving record before you can be sanctioned.
Utah’s Under 21 Points System: You only get 100 points on your Utah driving record before the driver’s license division starts disciplining your driving privileges.
Common moving violations and points are:
Reckless Driving 80
Speeding (depending on severity) 35 – 75
Failure to Yield Right-of-Way 60
Following too Closely (tailgating) 60
Wrong Side of Road 60
Wrong Way on One-Way Street 60
Red Light 50
Stop Sign 50
Improper Lookout 50
Improper Passing 50
Negligent Collision 50
Other Moving Violations 40
A more detailed look at points, traffic school and driving can be found at the Utah Driver’s License Division administrative rule R708-3.
Millard County Justice Court (Delta Location)
71 South 200 West Road
Delta, Utah 84624
Phone: (435) 743-6952
Millard County Justice Court (Fillmore Location)
765 South Highway 99, Suite 2
Fillmore, Utah 84631
Phone: (435) 743-6952
Fillmore Justice Court
75 West Center Street
Fillmore, Utah 84631
Phone: (435) 743-5425
Fourth District Millard Courthouse
765 South Highway 99, Suite 5
Fillmore, Utah 84631
Phone: (435) 743-6608
Millard County Sheriff’s Department
765 South Highway 99
Fillmore, UT, 84631, USA
Phone: (435) 743-5302
Fillmore City Police Department
Fillmore City uses the Millard County Sheriff’s Office for services.
Millard County Fire
176 Center S
Lehi, UT 84043,
Millard County
50 South Main
Fillmore, UT 84631
Utah Highway Patrol
765 South Highway 99
Fillmore, Utah 84631
Phone: (435) 743-6530
Millard County Jail
765 South, UT-99
Fillmore, UT 84631
Phone: (435) 743-5585
Other Millard County Services:
Fillmore Fire Department – 25 E 100 S, Phone: (435) 743-5111 or Emergency Phone: 911
Justice of the Peace – 75 W Center Street, Phone (435) 743-5425
East Millard Ambulance Service – Emergency Phone: 911
Fillmore Community Hospital – 674 S Highway 99, Phone: (435) 743-5591
Fillmore Family Practice – 674 S Highway 99, Phone: (435) 743-5555
Public Health Nurse – 55 S 400 W – Phone: (435) 743-5723
Utah Department of Health – Phone: (801) 538-6101
Utah Poison Control Center – Phone: 1-800-222-1222
Mental Health/Substance Abuse – 65 W Center – Phone: (435) 743-5121
Utah Warrant Search
https://secure.utah.gov/warrants/index.html
