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 today at Werksman Jackson & Quinn LLP at (213) 688-0460.

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 lawyer 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 driver's 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.