Have you heard about friends or family getting a DUI charge reduced to a Wet Reckless? This will tell you what it means, when it’s done, and how it can help you.
What is a “Wet Reckless”?
A “wet reckless” is a nickname for a charge of reckless driving involving alcohol or drugs. It is a common reduced charged from a plea bargain.
Will the prosecutor agree to a Wet Reckless?
There are no hard and fast rules as to when a prosecutor will agree to a Wet Reckless plea bargain, but your chances are higher depending on your BAC and whether there are evidence problems in the prosecution’s case against you.
What are the advantages of a Wet Reckless plea bargain?
- Shorter max penalty: The maximum jail time is shorter, so if you violate probation then you face a shorter max jail penalty.
- Shorter minimum penalty: If this is your second or third DUI within a ten year period, then certain mandatory jail sentences will apply. If you enter a plea to wet reckless instead of DUI, then the conviction only requires five days in jail regardless of your prior history.
- Shorter probation period. Wet reckless often has a shorter probation period than a typical DUI.
- DUI School: You’ll likely have a shorter DUI school with wet reckless than DUI.
- Fines: Penalty assessments that are lower for Wet Reckless than DUI may make the total cost of a Wet Reckless less expensive than a DUI.
- License advantages: A wet reckless plea may help out on the license suspension from the court, but there is also the DMV license suspension – so it may or may not impact your driver’s license.
Don’t get too excited about a Wet Reckless because it still packs a punch in many ways:
- Insurance Company: The insurance company will likely still ding your record with the Wet Reckless.
- Repeat Offender: If you get another DUI within ten years after your Wet Reckless, you’ll still be considered a repeat offender, even though Wet Reckless is different than a DUI.
- License Suspension: The DMV can still take your license.
