Reckless driving can be classified as a felony or a misdemeanor. It depends on the severity of the offense and the laws of the jurisdiction where the offense occurred.
In most states in the United States, reckless driving is typically charged as a misdemeanor, which is a less serious offense than a felony. In these states, reckless driving is typically defined as driving a vehicle with a willful or wanton disregard for the safety of other people or property. We’ve all seen drivers driving recklessly on the road, whether it’s drivers who think they are filming another Fast and the Furious movie or people road raging and driving like maniacs.
Below, the table shows if reckless driving is a felony in every state in the U.S. In most states reckless driving is not a felony and is simply a misdemeanor. However, there are some states where reckless driving can be charged as a felony, particularly if the reckless driving results in death or serious bodily injury to another person. Some of these states include:
- California
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Maryland
- Nevada
- North Carolina
- Pennsylvania
- Virginia
- Wisconsin
| State | Reckless Driving a Felony? | Vehicle Code Section |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No | Section 32-5A-190 |
| Alaska | No | Section 28.35.040 |
| Arizona | No | Section 28-693 |
| Arkansas | No | Section 27-51-301 |
| California | No/Yes, under certain conditions | Section 23103 |
| Colorado | No | Section 42-4-1401 |
| Connecticut | No | Section 14-222 |
| Delaware | No | Section 21-4175 |
| Florida | No/Yes, under certain conditions | Section 316.192 |
| Georgia | No/Yes, under certain conditions | Section 40-6-390 |
| Hawaii | No | Section 291C-13 |
| Idaho | No | Section 49-1401 |
| Illinois | No/Yes, under certain conditions | Section 625 ILCS 5/11-503 |
| Indiana | No/Yes, under certain conditions | Section 9-21-8-52 |
| Iowa | No | Section 321.277 |
| Kansas | No | Section 8-1566 |
| Kentucky | No | Section 189A.010 |
| Louisiana | No | Section 14:99 |
| Maine | No | Section 29-A ยง2413 |
| Maryland | No/Yes, under certain conditions | Section 21-901.1 |
| Massachusetts | No | Section 90/24 |
| Michigan | No | Section 257.626 |
| Minnesota | No | Section 169.13 |
| Mississippi | No | Section 63-3-1213 |
| Missouri | No | Section 577.010 |
| Montana | No | Section 61-8-301 |
| Nebraska | No | Section 60-6,213 |
| Nevada | No/Yes, under certain conditions | Section 484B.653 |
| New Hampshire | No | Section 265:79 |
| New Jersey | No | Section 39:4-96 |
| New Mexico | No | Section 66-8-113 |
| New York | No | Section 1212 |
| North Carolina | No/Yes, under certain conditions | Section 20-140 |
| North Dakota | No | Section 39-08-03 |
| Ohio | No | Section 4511.20 |
| Oklahoma | No | Section 47-11-901 |
| Oregon | No | Section 811.140 |
| Pennsylvania | No/Yes, under certain conditions | Section 3736 |
| Rhode Island | No | Section 31-27-4 |
| South Carolina | No | Section 56-5-2920 |
| South Dakota | No | Section 32-24-1 |
| Tennessee | No | Section 55-10-205 |
| Texas | No | Section 545.401 |
| Utah | No | Section 41-6a-528 |
| Vermont | No | Title 23, Section 1091 |
| Virginia | No/Yes, under certain conditions | Section 46.2-852 |
| Washington | No | Section 46.61.500 |
| West Virginia | No | Section 17C-5-2 |
| Wisconsin | No/Yes, under certain conditions | Section 346.62 |
| Wyoming | No | Section 31-5-229 |