If you are arrested for driving under the influence in California, you can be sentenced with a number of harsh penalties. Sometimes, the prosecutor has a weak case or wants to avoid the costs of a trial. In these instances, the prosecutor may be willing to drop the charges from a DUI to a dry reckless charge. A dry reckless charge is technically classified as a misdemeanor. It basically applies when someone is driving in a way that shows a flagrant disregard for people, vehicles or other types of property.
Advantages of a Dry Reckless
While you would rather have no charges on your record, a dry reckless charge is much better than having a DUI. As Southern California's leading …show more content…
While an insurer may cancel your policy following a DUI, they are unlikely to cancel it or increase your premiums for dry reckless charges. If you have a commercial license or professional certification, a dry reckless charge will raise fewer red flags than a DUI or a wet reckless charge. This is because a dry reckless charge is not associated with intoxicated driving in any way.
Questions About Dry Reckless
1. When Might a Prosecutor Offer Me Dry Reckless Instead of a DUI?
A dry reckless plea is most commonly given when your BAC is between a 0.08 and 0.09 percent. Often, prosecutors are afraid that they could lose the trial because the BAC is not significantly over the legal limit. In other cases, you may have performed well on a field sobriety test. If the prosecution does not have enough concrete evidence to support a DUI case, they will offer a dry reckless plea. In addition, dry reckless pleas are often given when it is your first DUI offense.
2. Will I Still Need to Attend a DUI Program?
Unlike DUI cases, DUI sentences are not part of the mandatory sentence for dry reckless charges. While DUI classes are not mandatory, the courts may still decide to send you to a six-week program. You can discuss the sentence or your potential for a DUI program with your DUI