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You might be Googling “careless driving ticket NJ cost.” In your search, you will learn that the average fine for careless driving in New Jersey is between $50 – $200. N.J.S.A. 39:4-97 highlights this fee, among other things.
However, the reality is that the true cost of a careless driving ticket in New Jersey, whether in Monmouth, Middlesex, or Mercer County, is much greater than this monetary fine.
This blog will explore the true cost associated with receiving a careless driving ticket in New Jersey, including the varied penalties you may be facing.
What is Careless Driving in New Jersey?
As outlined in N.J.S.A. 39:4-97, careless driving in the Garden State refers to “A person who drives a vehicle carelessly, or without due caution and circumspection, in a manner to endanger, or be likely to endanger a person or property.”
Generally speaking, careless driving charges receive less severe consequences than their reckless driving counterparts, with the main difference being intent. Reckless driving may mean you disregard the safety of others, while careless driving result from simple mistakes or being sidetracked. Common examples of careless driving include speeding or motor vehicle accidents.
Because there is usually no malicious intent with careless driving charges, it makes the penalties you could be facing less severe.
Penalties of Careless Driving in New Jersey
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If an officer pulls you over and tickets you on a careless driving charge in Mercer County or Middlesex County, here are the penalties you could face. These are the true costs of careless driving tickets:
License Points
If you accumulate 12 points on your license over three years, you will likely face license suspension. In New Jersey, careless driving can add two points to your license.
So if you already have two points for failing to yield to a traffic signal or you went 15 miles over the speed limit and accrued four points, adding anything else to your driving record can lead to big problems down the line, especially if those other points remain on your license.
Fines
As briefly mentioned above, a ticket for the first offense of careless driving in New Jersey will usually cost $200. Subsequent tickets for careless driving in and around Monmouth County will be $500.
This ticket fine is in addition to various court costs if you choose to fight the ticket, as well as insurance surcharges that can last for several years.
Possibly Higher Insurance Rates
Speaking of insurance, you may have to pay more money moving forward. Though points on your license won’t automatically increase your monthly insurance payments, potential new insurance carriers will consider your driving history. If they consider you a risk, they’re going to want you to pay more.
In egregious cases, your insurance carrier may even ask you to invest in high-risk insurance, which could raise your monthly rate by hundreds.
Jail Time
The biggest cost of getting a careless driving ticket in Mercer, Monmouth, and Middlesex Counties is possibly going to jail. Although jail time is in the careless driving statute, it’s rarely if ever imposed, unless the careless driving harms someone.
In cases where there is a history of reckless driving or when such carelessness caused property damage or harm to another, your New Jersey judge may sentence you to up to 15 days in jail. This alone is enough to lead to loss of employment and the ability to pay your bills. This could also have devastating ripple effects in other areas of your life.
Hiring an experienced traffic violation defense attorney is the best way to minimize the true cost of a careless driving ticket in New Jersey.
The True Careless Driving Ticket NJ Cost Can Be Detrimental; Let Experienced Attorney Leon Matchin Represent You in Your Case!
Did you receive a ticket for careless driving in Mercer, Monmouth, or Middlesex County, NJ? Turn to experienced attorney Leon Matchin for help.
With years of experience defending those with careless driving and other traffic violations throughout the state, he can be your advocate so you face as minimal penalties as possible. Don’t let a careless decision define your life for the next several years.
Call (732) 298-6522 to schedule a free and confidential consultation today. Or you can go ahead and fill out our online contact form. Just fill out your name, contact number, and what happened, and we’ll be in contact soon. A careless driving ticket can cost you much more than a one-time fine. Let Attorney Leon Matchin help your case.