N.J. Stat. » Title 39 — MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC REGULATION
New Jersey Statutes

N.J. Stat. § 39:4-97 (2026)

Careless driving

✓ current as of May 2026
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39:4-97. A person who drives a vehicle carelessly, or without due caution and circumspection, in a manner so as to endanger, or be likely to endanger, a person or property, shall be guilty of careless driving.

Amended 1951,c.23,s.54; 1955,c.220,s.2; 1995,c.70,s.3.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 83 cases (34 in the last 5 years), 1954–2026 · leading case: Tracey L. Vizzoni, Etc. Vs. B.M.D. (l-0575-15, Somerset Cnty. & Statewide), 212 A.3d 962 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2019).
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Tracey L. Vizzoni, Etc. Vs. B.M.D. (l-0575-15, Somerset Cnty. & Statewide), 212 A.3d 962 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2019). “was only charged with and convicted of careless driving, N.J.S.A. 39:4-97, after a trial in municipal court.”
United States v. Yu Kikumura, 698 F. Supp. 546 (D.N.J. 1988). · cites it 4× “Cieplensky’s observations of Kikumura were consistent with the concept of careless driving and gave him legal basis for the stop.”
State v. James Denelsbeck(075170), 137 A.3d 462 (N.J. 2016). “39:4-50; careless driving, N.J.S.A. 39:4-97; and failure to observe a traffic signal, N.”
State of New Jersey v. Scott Campbell, 93 A.3d 416 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2014). “39:3-29; and careless driving, N.J.S.A. 39:4-97. Defendant moved to suppress the Alcotest results in municipal court.”
State v. Anicama, 190 A.3d 474 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2018). “39:4-129(d) ; and careless driving, N.J.S.A. 39:4-97. Pursuant to the plea agreement, the other charges were dismissed, and he was sentenced to ten years' loss of driving privileges and 180 days of incarceration for the DWI charge, a suspended 180-day jail sentence and one year…”
State of New Jersey v. Gale Sorensen, 110 A.3d 97 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2015). “39:4-88(b), and careless driving, N.J.S.A. 39:4-97. Defendant appeared before the Municipal Court.”
DeBlasio v. Groff (In Re Groff), 301 B.R. 644 (Bankr. D.N.J. 2003). “The debtor was charged with careless driving under N.J.S.A. 39:4-97; reckless driving under N.”
State v. Panther Valley Prop. Owners Ass'n, 704 A.2d 1010 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 1998). “A 39:4-98 (rates of speed) and for careless or reckless driving, conduct expressly governed by N.J.S.A 39:4-97 and -96. This construction of the phrase “otherwise regulating such use” is consistent with the legislative intent, gleaned from the entire statutory framework…”
George W. Eschelbach v. William S. Scull Co., Inc., 293 F.2d 599 (3rd Cir. 1961). · cites it 2× “' No complint is made against the staute itself, N.J.S.A. 39:4-97, which reads: 55 'A person who drives a vehicle on a highway carelessly, or without due * * * circumspection, in a manner as to endanger, or be likely to endanger, a person or property, shall be guilty of careless…”
State v. Willhite, 123 A.2d 237 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 1956). · cites it 2× “This statute is expressly made subject to the provision of section 39:4-96 which deals with reckless driving and section 39:4-97 which deals with careless driving.”
Wilkes v. Borough of Clayton, 696 F. Supp. 144 (D.N.J. 1988). “4a), careless driving (N.J.S.A. 39:4-97), and disorderly conduct (N.”
Sylcox v. Dearden, 104 A.2d 717 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 1954). · cites it 2× “in violation of the law, to-wit, Section 39:4-97 of the Revised Statutes (careless driving) and 39:4-86 a (pulling to left side to pass when that side was not clearly visible and free of oncoming traffic), thereby causing an accident.”
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