Careless And Reckless Driving
75 Pa.C.S. 3736 — reckless driving, careless driving, and the word that tells them apart
| The offense | What it takes | The penalty |
|---|---|---|
| The offenseCareless driving | What it takesDriving in careless disregard for the safety of persons or property | The penaltyA summary offense |
| The offenseCareless driving that unintentionally causes serious bodily injury | What it takesThe same, and the injury results from it | The penaltyA $250 fine |
| The offenseCareless driving that unintentionally causes a death | What it takesThe same, and the death results from it | The penaltyA $500 fine |
| The offenseReckless driving | What it takesDriving in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property | The penaltyA summary offense and a $200 fine |
The difference between the two sections is the word before disregard: careless in one, willful or wanton in the other.
Sources for this section (2)
- 75 Pa.C.S. 3714 — Careless driving
- 75 Pa.C.S. 3736 — Reckless driving
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Pennsylvania attorney.