New Jersey Statutes
N.J. Stat. § 39:4-96 (2026)
Reckless driving; punishment
✓ current as of May 2026
39:4-96. A person who drives a vehicle heedlessly, in willful or wanton disregard of the rights or safety of others, in a manner so as to endanger, or be likely to endanger, a person or property, shall be guilty of reckless driving and be punished by imprisonment in the county or municipal jail for a period of not more than 60 days, or by a fine of not less than $50.00 or more than $200.00, or both.
On a second or subsequent conviction he shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than three months, or by a fine of not less than $100 or more than $500, or both.
Amended 1955,c.220,s.1; 1982,c.45,s.3; 1995,c.70,s.2.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 108
cases (48 in the last 5 years), 1940–2026 · leading case: Levine v. State, Dept. of Transp., 768 A.2d 192 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2001).
Levine v. State, Dept. of Transp., 768 A.2d 192 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2001). “56, § 3) provides in pertinent part: No special identifying mark may be issued to any applicant who: (a) has been convicted of a violation of either section 39:4-50, or section 39:4-96 of this Title; or (b) has been convicted of a misdemeanor in violation of section 2A:113-9 of…”
Herman v. City of Millville, 66 F. App'x 363 (3rd Cir. 2003). “Groff also had a statement from Maria Bonilla, Jillian’s mother, that her daughter told her about the incident.”
State v. Julie L. Michaels (072106), 95 A.3d 648 (N.J. 2014). “39:3-40; reckless driving, N.J.S.A. 39:4-96; failure to keep right, N.”
State of New Jersey v. Louise Frank, 136 A.3d 429 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2016). “Consequently, defendant was charged that same day with the following motor vehicle offenses: reckless driving, N.J.S.A. 39:4-96; failure to report an accident, N.”
State of New Jersey v. Scott Robertson, 102 A.3d 381 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2014). “39:4-88(b), and reckless driving, N.J.S.A. 39:4-96. The municipal court denied defendant's motion for a jury trial, and his motion to suppress evidence based on an alleged lack of probable cause to arrest.”
Saudi Basic Indus. Corp. v. ExxonMobil Corp., 401 F. Supp. 2d 383 (D.N.J. 2005). “1984) (court interprets New Jersey criminal definition of recklessness to mean that “one acts recklessly when he acts unreasonably and while aware that he is ignoring an obvious danger”); N.J.S.A. § 39:4-96 (reckless driving is defined in New Jersey as “[a] person who drives a…”
In Re Bill, 90 B.R. 651 (Bankr. D.N.J. 1988). “On April 19, 1985 Bill was convicted of reckless driving in violation of N.J.S.A. 39:4-96 (West Supp.1988) and of refusal to submit to a breathalyzer test in violation of N.”
DeBlasio v. Groff (In Re Groff), 301 B.R. 644 (Bankr. D.N.J. 2003). “39:4-97; reckless driving under N.J.S.A. 39:4-96; operating an unregistered vehicle under N.”
State of New Jersey v. Donna Jones, 96 A.3d 297 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2014). “2C:12-1(c)(2), and was issued related summonses for reckless driving, N.J.S.A. 39:4-96, and driving while intoxicated, N.”
State of New Jersey v. Armando Carreon, 96 A.3d 305 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 2014). “, N.J.S.A. 39:4-96 (reckless driving); N.J.”
State v. Willhite, 123 A.2d 237 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. 1956). “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.”
Baker v. Court of Special Sessions, 15 A.2d 102 (N.J. 1940). “39:4-98, the pertinent language of which is as follows: “Subject to the provisions of section 39:4-96 of this title * * *, it shall be prima facie lawful for the driver of a vehicle to drive it at a speed not exceeding the following: * * * f.”
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