So i let my old man take my car to NYC for a business trip. He ended up getting charged with reckless driving along the way. What is the policy in the United States? He obviously has to go to court, but im trying to get a little perspective from you guys that live in the US. How badly did he screw up?

It all depends on the state, his driving and criminal records and how badly he was driving. Reckless driving can result in jail time and possibly a felony conviction. But in most cases the charges can be pled down to speeding. He needs a good local attorney and should do what the attorney asks of him.

I'm not an expert in NY State Laws but I think they can nail you for Reckless Driving for pretty much anything. Seems to me that if you greatly exceed the speed limit, they can skip giving you a speeding ticket and go right to Reckless Driving. Reckless Driving and Speeding in New York State

It's called Careless Driving in Ontario. See the Table...

Highway Traffic Act - O. Reg. 339/94

Sorry to hear that, but what did he do exactly?

I only talked to him on the phone for a few minutes... he was most likely speeding... but by how much i dont know.... when he got pulled over he said things got "very interesting"... still waiting to hear back from him....

Now that's a twist... kinda of funny really. Hope your dad doesn't get it too bad but it sounds like he might need a lawyer.

Hopefully it wasn't too fast and he can keep the car. He must have been going a pretty good clip!

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Your Dad is Sooooo grounded!

Lowell Snohomish River Road between Everett, WA and Snohomish is an absolutely gorgeous stretch of country road where one can, in places, enjoy driving at higher than posted speeds without endangering the public. No cross roads, no drive ways. Snohomish River on your right. BNSF tracks parallell close on your left.

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&sugexp=frgbld&gs_nf=1&tok=ASZWlOMpd46ad JaPIY4tpw&cp=4&gs_id=d&xhr=t&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw .r_cp.r_qf.,cf.osb&biw=1920&bih=962&wrapid=tljp133 265709357206&q=lowell+larimer+road&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x549000a2bdf83a49:0x210727ac058671c4, Larimer+Rd,+Everett,+WA&gl=us&ei=ybtuT-jYNOaOiALHxuSvAw&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=image&r esnum=1&sqi=2&ved=0CC4Q8gEwAA

The point is, irrespective of the technicalities of the law, there are places where you can touch 120 and it's not terribly reckless to do so. Conversely, there are places where 30 is entirely irresponsible.

Here's one of those situations where an attorney is necessary. I hope he gets a good one and things go well for him.

Are we talking no access roads at all? We have to go up north soon, might take an exit thereabouts to check it out.

No coppers at all?????

As some have already stated, it all depends on what he did and what his record is. Here in VA, reckless is anything that endangers other drivers, 20 over the speed limit, or over 80mph. Someone can be charged for reckless if they are at fault in an accident as well. Doesn't mean they are going to jail for life, and often it is dropped to "improper driving" in court, which is a lesser offense. Having a lawyer is never bad, but you can always show up to court first and see if they will offer a deal, then if you dont like it, have your court date continued in order to hire an attorney. Hope this helps.

A very few dirt access roads with wide open sight lines Bryce. (See the 2 mile E-W straight section where the river nears the road?)

I don't want to encourage anyone to do anything stupid. In all honesty, as safe as it is when there is no traffic (this car can gitty up to 120 and back down again quickly), there is always the danger of a mechanical failure, a dog running into the road, or a cop (though I've never seen one).

Best to reserve these speeds for the track...but sometimes, when conditions are right, it's just damned hard not to take a bite of the forbidden fruit.

This tape will self destruct in 30 seconds.

well I drive about 2000 miles a week 1500 of those in nj and ny. and let me tell you I have seen it all things you guys would not even believe.

So for what I see daily and people not getting stopped he must of been screwing up pretty bad. And if in a vehicle with out of state plates that may of made the officers decision to wright a wreckless instead of speeding...

best of luck to him.....