Understanding A Wet Reckless Plea
If the police arrest you for driving under the influence, you need to hire a DUI attorney quickly. While you could proceed to your hearing alone, you may miss out on a wet reckless plea. What is a wet reckless plea, and how will this affect the case or your future? Read on for more information.
What Is Wet Reckless?
Wet reckless, sometimes called wet and reckless, is a plea arrangement sometimes offered to a person initially charged with DUI. This arrangement calls for the District Attorney to drop the DUI charge in exchange for you pleading guilty or no contest to a reckless driving charge, with a notation in your criminal record that alcohol was involved.
While the court widely uses this deal in some states, it is unavailable in others. Still, other states do not have specific laws forbidding such a deal, and judges may accept it case by case.
Even in states where wet reckless deals are popular, the court only offers it in some cases. It is also often only offered to first-time offenders with no additional associated charges, such as property damage or enhanced blood alcohol content (BAC).
What Are the Advantages of a Wet Reckless?
Having a wet reckless on your record has numerous advantages over a DUI. Some of these include the following:
- Shorter potential jail time
- Lower potential fines
- Shorter probation periods
- No mandatory ignition interlock device (IID)
In addition to these advantages, you will not have a DUI conviction on your driving record. Although if you get a second DUI offense within a specific look-back period, the wet reckless may be viewed as a first offense.
What Are the Disadvantages of a Wet Reckless?
Unfortunately, anything that comes with advantages also comes with disadvantages. Some of these include:
- Your insurance company viewing the wet reckless as a DUI charge, resulting in higher rates and potentially canceled policies
- Potential additional DMV points on your license
- Higher penalties if convicted of a second or third DUI
A wet reckless is also potentially court and judge dependent. This discretion means there is no guarantee that the District Attorney will offer you this chance to reduce your DUI.
A wet reckless is just one of the many things you may find through some DUI attorney services available in your city. Call an attorney today for the best outcome in your case.
Reach out to a DUI attorney for more information.
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