Traffic Offenses in Utah County
Reckless driving and other serious traffic charges are criminal offenses, not just tickets — and they deserve to be treated that way.
If you were cited for reckless driving or another serious traffic offense anywhere in Utah County, call (435) 294-6806 and say it's urgent.
Most people assume a traffic citation is a civil matter — pay the fine, move on. That's true for a basic speeding ticket, but a meaningful number of traffic charges in Utah are actual criminal offenses, most commonly reckless driving. Those cases go on a criminal record, not just a driving record, and they deserve a real defense rather than an automatic plea.
What counts as reckless driving in Utah
Utah Code § 41-6a-528 defines reckless driving as operating a vehicle in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property. The statute spells out two specific situations that automatically qualify: driving 105 miles per hour or faster, or committing three or more moving traffic violations within a single continuous stretch of driving covering three miles or less. Outside of those two triggers, an officer or prosecutor still has to show the driving itself — not just a single lapse in judgment — reflected a genuine disregard for safety, which is a meaningfully higher bar than ordinary careless driving.
How reckless driving is classified
Reckless driving is a class B misdemeanor in Utah, carrying up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. It's one of the traffic offenses that Utah's broader 2015 sentencing reforms specifically left unchanged, meaning it still carries real criminal exposure even as some other lower-level offenses were downgraded to infractions.
Other serious traffic charges
Beyond reckless driving, Dallin also handles charges like fleeing or eluding a police officer, driving on a suspended or revoked license, and street racing — offenses that, depending on the specific facts and any prior history, can carry felony-level exposure well beyond a standard misdemeanor.
Common defenses
Reckless driving cases often come down to whether the officer's account of the driving actually meets the statutory bar of "willful or wanton disregard," or whether it more accurately describes ordinary negligence — a distinction that matters enormously for how the case should be charged. Radar and speed measurement accuracy, dashcam or bodycam footage, and whether cited violations actually occurred within the statute's specific time and distance window are all common points of challenge.
How to get in touch
If you're facing a reckless driving or other serious traffic charge in Utah County, call (435) 294-6806 or email Assistant@LittlefieldLegal.com to schedule a free 30-minute consultation.
Traffic offense questions.
Is reckless driving a criminal offense in Utah?
Yes. Reckless driving under Utah Code 41-6a-528 is a class B misdemeanor, not a simple traffic infraction — it goes on your criminal record, not just your driving record. It's defined as operating a vehicle in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.
What speed counts as reckless driving in Utah?
Utah law specifically treats driving 105 miles per hour or faster as willful or wanton disregard for safety, which qualifies as reckless driving on its own. Lower speeds can still support a reckless driving charge if combined with other reckless conduct, but 105 mph is an automatic trigger.
Can three speeding tickets become a reckless driving charge in Utah?
Yes. Committing three or more moving traffic violations within a single continuous stretch of driving covering three miles or less also meets Utah's statutory definition of reckless driving, separate from any specific speed threshold.
Cited for reckless driving? Don't just pay it.
A reckless driving citation is a criminal charge, not a ticket. The first 30 minutes are free.
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