Los Angeles Wet Reckless Lawyers
Skilled Criminal Defense in Los Angeles Wet Reckless Cases
Wet reckless is not an actual criminal charge in California. It is an informal term for a charge of reckless driving when it results from a plea bargain by a defendant facing DUI charges and includes a note on the defendant’s record that the offense involved alcohol or drug use. The note on the record is what makes it wet reckless, as opposed to dry reckless -- another DUI plea bargain that does not include the note. This distinction is important, because wet reckless is treated as a prior offense, while dry reckless is not.
If you are facing DUI charges, a wet reckless plea bargain could have several important advantages. Consult with an experienced Los Angeles wet reckless attorney.
What Charges and Penalties Are You Likely Facing If You Are Considering Wet Reckless?
If you are facing DUI charges, depending on the circumstances of your case, your attorney may be able to negotiate a wet reckless plea bargain. The main advantage of wet reckless over DUI is that the penalties can be considerably less severe.
- Upon conviction, penalties for first offense DUI may include up to six months in county jail, a fine of $390 to $1,000, three to five years of probation, alcohol education program for three or nine months, and drivers license suspension or restriction and/or ignition interlock device requirement.
- Wet reckless carries a shorter potential jail sentence (five to 90 days), lower fines ($145 to $1,000), a shorter probation period (one to two years), a shorter alcohol education program (six weeks), no automatic driver’s license suspension, and no ignition interlock device.
Does a Wet Reckless Plea Bargain Have Other Consequences?
With a wet reckless plea bargain, you plead guilty to wet reckless, which counts as a “priorable” offense under state law. If you are convicted of DUI within the following 10 years, you will be treated as a repeat offender and face stiffer penalties. In addition, your car insurance company may treat it as a DUI and raise your rates or cancel your policy. You will still need to attend an administrative per se hearing at the DMV to determine if your license will be suspended. Wet reckless also adds two points to your DMV driving record.
What Is Required to Get DUI Charges Reduced to Wet Reckless?
Our Los Angeles criminal defense attorneys understand what evidence the prosecution needs to convict you of DUI. We can thoroughly examine their case against you and challenge every flaw to get your charges reduced to wet reckless or dismissed. Other factors that may affect the possibility of a wet reckless plea bargain include:
- Your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at the time of arrest
- The specific DUI charges you are facing
- Your criminal history of DUI-related offenses
The prosecution is more likely to offer wet reckless if your BAC was close to the .08% legal limit, you did not show signs of extreme intoxication, you were cooperative, and no one was injured as a result of your DUI.
How Can a Los Angeles DUI Defense Lawyer Help With a Wet Reckless Plea Bargain?
If you are facing DUI charges, our experienced Los Angeles DUI defense attorneys can protect your rights and guide you skillfully through the criminal justice process. We can challenge the prosecution’s case against you, provide aggressive defense against the charges, negotiate with the prosecution, advise you of your best options, and work to obtain the most favorable outcome in your case.
At Werksman Jackson & Quinn LLP, we are a tenacious criminal defense legal team with proven results. Contact us at (213) 688-0460 to schedule a free initial consultation.
Contact Werksman Jackson & Quinn LLP Today
Phone: (213) 688-0460 
Fax: (213) 624-1942
Recent Case Results
- Complete Dismissal of Molestation Charges
Attorney Mark Werksman’s 29 year old client was falsely accused of molesting two neighborhood children and was subsequently charged with felony child molestation, with a significant prison sentence hanging over his head should he be convicted. Instead, at the preliminary hearing Werksman was able to convince the court to grant his client a complete dismissal of any charges. - Decision Set Aside
Client, a college student in a faulty Title IX case, was awarded $130,000 in attorney fees. - Probation with No Jail Time for Drug Money Laundering Charge
Wilmington man accused in New York federal court of laundering drug money through the sale of laptop computers. Mark was able to get the case transferred to federal court in Los Angeles, where he convinced the United States Attorney to reduce the charges. His client was sentenced to probation with no jail time on a misdemeanor conviction.
