Did you recently receive a traffic ticket in the Columbus metropolitan area for operation of a vehicle in willful or wanton disregard of the safety of persons or property? If so, you should seriously consider retaining a Columbus traffic attorney to help you with resolving your charge for allegedly operating a vehicle in willful or wanton disregard of safety of persons or property.

The fact that you received a traffic citation for operating a vehicle in willful or wanton disregard of safety of persons or property does not mean that you are guilty of this offense or that you will be convicted of this offense. A traffic lawyer may be able to resolve your charge for operating a vehicle in willful or wanton disregard of safety without your having to go to court. Depending on the facts of your case, this resolution may result in a reduced violation, a no-points violation, diversion (resulting in dismissal upon completion of a defensive driving course and paying court costs), or even a dismissal.

You may have the option of prepaying your traffic ticket. But the cost of prepaying a ticket may be greater than you think. Prepaying a ticket is the functional equivalent to a guilty plea, and you will be convicted of the offense charged in your ticket for operating a vehicle in willful or wanton disregard of the safety of persons or property. Aside from the financial cost that must be paid to the court, a traffic conviction for a moving violation may result in points being added to your driving record, increased insurance premiums, and potential employment sanctions if you are required to drive a company vehicle for your employer. A conviction for operating a vehicle in willful or wanton disregard of safety of persons or property may appear on background checks run by current or future employers or professional licensing authorities.

Operating a vehicle in willful or wanton disregard of safety of persons or property usually is a minor misdemeanor. But there are exceptions. Depending on the facts of your case and whether you have prior predicate traffic convictions, a minor misdemeanor offense can be elevated to a more serious offense that carries the possibility of community control sanctions and even jail time. Additionally, your license may be suspended if you accumulate 12 or more points on your driving record within a two-year period. These are just a few considerations when deciding whether to hire a Columbus traffic lawyer to represent you in your ticket for operating a vehicle in willful or wanton disregard of safety of persons or property.

For legal assistance with your Columbus traffic ticket for willful or wanton disregard, contact us at 614.695.5000 or online. Below is summary of the traffic offense of operating a vehicle in willful or wanton disregard of the safety of persons or property, including the potential penalty and the points assessed if convicted of this offense.

Operating a vehicle in willful or wanton disregard of the safety of persons or property.

Ohio Revised Code Section 4511.20 prohibits the operation of a vehicle on any street or highway in willful or wanton disregard of the safety of persons or property. This prohibition is extended under Section 4511.201 to the operation of a vehicle on any public or private property other than streets or highways. However, the owner of such other public or private property may consent to competitive operation of vehicles thereon.

“Willful misconduct” is an intentional deviation from a clear duty or from a definite rule of conduct, a deliberate purpose not to discharge some duty necessary for safety, or purposefully doing wrongful acts with knowledge or appreciation of the likelihood of resulting injury.

“Wanton misconduct” is a failure to use any care and an indifference to the consequences, when the probability that harm would result from such failure is great, and such probability is known to the defendant. In contrast to negligence – where a person exercises some care in a deficient manner, wanton misconduct is the failure to exercise any care.

Penalty for operating a vehicle in willful or wanton disregard of the safety of persons or property.

Operating a vehicle in willful or wanton disregard of the safety of persons or property ordinarily is a minor misdemeanor. The potential penalty for a minor misdemeanor traffic offense includes the imposition of a fine of up to $150, up to thirty hours of community service, and court costs.

But if, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one predicate motor vehicle or traffic offense, then operating a vehicle in willful or wanton disregard of the safety of persons or property is elevated to a fourth degree misdemeanor. The potential penalty for a fourth degree misdemeanor traffic infraction includes the imposition of a jail term of not more than thirty days, an additional or alternative community control sanction plus reimbursement for the cost of this sanction, a fine of up to $250, and court costs.

And if, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of two or more predicate motor vehicle or traffic offenses, then operating a vehicle in willful or wanton disregard of the safety of persons or property is elevated to a third degree misdemeanor. The penalty for a third degree misdemeanor traffic infraction includes the potential imposition of a jail term of not more than sixty days, an additional or alternative community control sanction plus reimbursement for the cost of this sanction, a fine of up to $500, and court costs.

Community control sanctions generally can include residential placement, house arrest, drug/alcohol testing and treatment, specified education and training, community service, curfew, probation, etc. Under certain circumstances, the court also may order an offender to pay restitution to any identifiable victim who incurred economic loss as a result of the violation.

Points assessed for operating a vehicle in willful or wanton disregard of the safety of persons or property.

A conviction on a traffic ticket for operating a vehicle in willful or wanton disregard of the safety of persons or property in violation of Section 4511.20 carries 4 points in Ohio on an offender’s driving record. A conviction on a traffic ticket for operating a vehicle in willful or wanton disregard of the safety of persons or property in violation of Ohio Revised Code Section 4511.201 carries 2 points in Ohio on an offender’s driving record.

For more information on how the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) processes points for moving violations and the substantial penalty for excessive points accumulation, press Ohio BMV Points System.

Contact a Columbus attorney to discuss your ticket for willful and wanton disregard.

Frequently a lawyer can appear in court and resolve a traffic case in the client’s absence, provided both the court and the prosecutor agree. This saves the client the aggravation of taking time off from work, fighting traffic to get to court on time, waiting for potentially hours for the case to be called, standing in long lines, and potentially having to do it all over again if the case is continued.

If you are seeking a traffic lawyer, contact us at 614.695.5000 or online. We offer legal representation to drivers charged with traffic tickets in the Columbus metropolitan area, including Franklin County Municipal Court, Bexley Mayor’s Court, Canal Winchester Mayor’s Court, Dublin Mayor’s Court, Gahanna Mayor’s Court, Grandview Heights Mayor’s Court, Granville Mayor’s Court, Grove City Mayor’s Court, Hilliard Mayor’s Court, New Albany Mayor’s Court, Obetz Mayor’s Court, Pataskala Mayor’s Court, Pickerington Mayor’s Court, Reynoldsburg Mayor’s Court, Upper Arlington Mayor’s Court, Westerville Mayor’s Court, Whitehall Mayor’s Court and Worthington Mayor’s Court.

We also offer legal representation to drivers charged with traffic tickets in other courts near the Columbus metropolitan area, including Circleville Municipal Court (Pickaway County), Delaware County Municipal Court, Fairfield County Municipal Court, Licking County Municipal Court, Marysville Municipal Court (Union County), and Madison County Municipal Court.