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Reckless Driving in Georgia

How reckless driving is charged in Georgia, whether it is a misdemeanor or felony, and the maximum penalties, from the state criminal code.

Short answer: Reckless driving is driving 'any vehicle in reckless disregard for the safety of persons or property.' It is a misdemeanor punished 'by a fine not to exceed $1,000.00 or imprisonment not to exceed 12 months, or by both,' and the court may suspend the sentence or order probation. O.C.G.A. § 40-6-390; Georgia DDS Points Schedule

Reckless drivingReckless driving is driving 'any vehicle in reckless disregard for the safety of persons or property.' It is a misdemeanor punished 'by a fine not to exceed $1,000.00 or imprisonment not to exceed 12 months, or by both,' and the court may suspend the sentence or order probation. It adds 4 points to a Georgia driving record, according to the Department of Driver Services points schedule, and a driver with 15 points in a 24-month period will be suspended.
Points: https://dds.georgia.gov/points-schedule (official). Read on codes.findlaw.com (a public copy of the official code); check against the official code.
Source: O.C.G.A. § 40-6-390; Georgia DDS Points Schedule

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FAQ

Is reckless driving a crime in Georgia?
Reckless driving is driving 'any vehicle in reckless disregard for the safety of persons or property.' It is a misdemeanor punished 'by a fine not to exceed $1,000.00 or imprisonment not to exceed 12 months, or by both,' and the court may suspend the sentence or order probation. It adds 4 points to a Georgia driving record, according to the Department of Driver Services points schedule, and a driver with 15 points in a 24-month period will be suspended.
Can I get a court-appointed lawyer for reckless driving in Georgia?
Georgia's rule on court-appointed lawyers: Applicants must complete and sign an application and verification and are interviewed at the detention center or the public defender's office. Income standards under O.C.G.A. § 17-12-2, as stated by the public defender office: for misdemeanors, probation violations and county or municipal offenses, a person who 'earns less than 100 percent of the federal poverty guidelines'; for juveniles, those 'whose parents earn less than 125 percent of the federal poverty guidelines'; for felonies, 'less than 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines' — each with an exception for people with other resources that could reasonably pay for a lawyer, and no one with income above 150 percent of the federal poverty level is considered indigent. Application fee: Georgia law requires every person who applies for public defense services 'to pay the Public Defender Office a single fee of $50'; 'The court shall waive this fee if it finds that you are unable to pay the fee or that hardship will result if the fee is charged.' Attorney fees for court-appointed representation may also be imposed by the court at sentencing. O.C.G.A. §§ 15-21A-6(b), 17-12-2 (as quoted by the Chatham County Public Defender Office, Eastern Judicial Circuit)
How much does a lawyer for reckless driving cost in Georgia?
Lawyers set their own fees, and Georgia has rules on how they may charge. See hiring a criminal defense lawyer in Georgia for fee rules, how to check a lawyer's license and free help.
Can a conviction for reckless driving be removed from my record in Georgia?
Each state sets its own rules for sealing or expunging records. See Georgia expungement and record sealing rules.

General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.