Careless and Reckless Driving
MCA 61-8-301 — willful or wanton disregard is reckless, up to 90 days and $500 the first time
Reckless driving is operating a vehicle in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property, including while passing a stopped school bus showing its flashing red signal.
Who handles this in Montana: State Bar of Montana, Licensed Lawyer Montana; and legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Montana directory.
- A first conviction brings up to 90 days, a fine of $100 to $500, or both.
- A second or later brings 5 days to 6 months, a fine of $500 to $1,000, or both.
- When the reckless driving causes death or serious bodily injury, the fine is up to $10,000 and the jail term up to 1 year.
Careless driving is driving in a way that unduly or unreasonably endangers the life, limb or property of others on the road. It is punished under the general penalty, a fine of $10 to $100 for a first conviction, or up to $5,000 and 6 months when it causes death or serious bodily injury.
Sources for this section (5)
- MCA 61-8-301 — Reckless driving
- MCA 61-8-302 — Careless driving
- MCA 61-8-715 — Reckless driving -- reckless endangerment of emergency personnel or highway workers -- failure to yield to an emergency vehicle -- penalty
- MCA 61-8-716 — Careless driving -- penalty
- MCA 61-8-711 — Violation of chapter -- penalty
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Montana attorney.