Louisiana Reckless Driving Laws: Reckless Operation Penalties (2026)

Louisiana's reckless driving offense is called reckless operation of a vehicle. La. R.S. 14:99 defines it as "the operation of any motor vehicle, aircraft, vessel, or other means of conveyance in a criminally negligent or reckless manner," and punishes a first offense with a fine of up to $200, up to 90 days in jail, or both, plus an additional $5 fine; a second or later conviction carries $25 to $500, 10 days to six months, or both. Because 14:99 carries no hard labor, reckless operation is a misdemeanor under R.S. 14:2.

Information last verified on 2026-10-25. This article has not been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.

Jurisdiction scope: This article covers Louisiana state statutes on reckless operation of a vehicle (La. R.S. 14:99), careless operation, speed, racing, flight from an officer, the related license consequences in Title 32, and driving without a valid license. It does not cover DWI penalties (see Louisiana DUI laws), homicide offenses (see Louisiana manslaughter laws), the boating and aircraft side of 14:99, parish or city ordinances, or federal and commercial-driver rules beyond a short note. For other states, see reckless driving laws by state.

What is reckless driving in Louisiana?

Louisiana places the offense in Title 14 of the Revised Statutes. R.S. 14:99(A) provides:

"A. Reckless operation of a vehicle is the operation of any motor vehicle, aircraft, vessel, or other means of conveyance in a criminally negligent or reckless manner." La. R.S. 14:99(A)

The definition is written in the alternative: operating in a criminally negligent manner or in a reckless manner. It reaches boats and aircraft as well as cars and trucks; this page covers road vehicles.

Louisiana defines criminal negligence in R.S. 14:12:

"Criminal negligence exists when, although neither specific nor general criminal intent is present, there is such disregard of the interest of others that the offender's conduct amounts to a gross deviation below the standard of care expected to be maintained by a reasonably careful man under like circumstances." La. R.S. 14:12

That "gross deviation" standard is what separates reckless operation from the lower-tier careless operation offense in Title 32, covered below.

Reckless operation penalties in Louisiana

Section 14:99(B) sets two tiers:

"B.(1) Whoever commits the crime of reckless operation of a vehicle shall be fined not more than two hundred dollars, or imprisoned for not more than ninety days, or both. (2) On a second or subsequent conviction the offender shall be fined not less than twenty-five nor more than five hundred dollars, or imprisoned for not less than ten days nor more than six months, or both." La. R.S. 14:99(B)

Subsection C, added by Act 194 of 2025 (effective June 8, 2025), requires an additional fine on top of those penalties: "an additional five dollars" on conviction of a first offense and "an additional ten dollars" on conviction of a second or subsequent offense.

Section 14:99 sets its penalty directly and carries no class label. Because it carries no hard labor, reckless operation is a misdemeanor: R.S. 14:2(A)(6) defines a misdemeanor as "any crime other than a felony," and 14:2(A)(4) defines a felony as "any crime for which an offender may be sentenced to death or imprisonment at hard labor." Section 14:99 also has no injury or property-damage tier of its own. Conduct that causes serious injury or death falls under other statutes, such as the racing and flight provisions below or the homicide laws.

How fast is reckless driving in Louisiana?

Louisiana sets no speed at which driving becomes reckless operation by itself. Section 14:99(A) has no speed element, and the speed sections of Title 32 set limits rather than a reckless-speed rule.

• Reasonable and prudent speed. R.S. 32:64(A) provides that "No person shall drive a vehicle on the highway within this state at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions and potential hazards then existing, having due regard for the traffic on, and the surface and width of, the highway, and the condition of the weather, and in no event at a speed in excess of the maximum speeds established by this Chapter or regulation of the department made pursuant thereto."
• Work zones. Under R.S. 32:57(H), when a driver exceeds the speed limit or breaches a construction zone or utility work safety zone on a portion of highway under active construction or maintenance with construction or utility workers on site, "the fine shall be not less than five hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars."

A 100 mph bill that did not become law. House Bill 1009 of the 2026 Regular Session would have added operating a vehicle at or over 100 mph to the definition of reckless operation in 14:99(A). It did not pass the Senate and is not law.

Reckless driving and your license in Louisiana

No point system. R.S. 32:414, Louisiana's license suspension and revocation statute, assigns no points to reckless operation or other moving violations. License action comes from listed convictions and from department findings.

Mandatory 24-month suspension. Section 32:414(B) provides that "The department shall forthwith suspend the license of any person, for a period of twenty-four months, upon receiving satisfactory evidence of the conviction or of the entry of a plea of guilty and sentence thereupon or of the forfeiture of bail" of a person charged with listed crimes. Paragraph (5) covers "Conviction or forfeiture of bail upon three charges of reckless driving committed within a period of twelve months."

Discretionary action after an investigation. Under 32:414(E), the department may investigate whether a license should be suspended, cancelled or revoked when the licensee "Has been convicted of or has forfeited bail for traffic offenses involving movement of vehicles with such frequency as to indicate a disrespect for traffic laws and a disregard for the safety of others," or "Is a habitually reckless or negligent driver of a motor vehicle." Under 32:414(F)(1), if the findings are that the person "has by reason of negligence or reckless driving endangered life, limb, or property or has thereby caused loss of life or injury to person or property," the department may "suspend the license of such person for a period not to exceed six months or may revoke such license."

Habitual offender. R.S. 32:1472(A) defines a habitual offender as a person whose record shows "ten or more convictions of separate and distinct offenses, committed within three years of the date on which the last offense is committed, involving moving violations," with multiple included offenses within a 12-hour period treated as one. Under 32:1479, no license is issued to a habitual offender until, among other conditions, "A period of three years has elapsed since the date of the order finding such person to be a habitual offender."

Commercial driver's licenses

R.S. 32:414.2 defines a "serious traffic violation" to include "Excessive speeding, involving any single offense for any speed of fifteen miles per hour or more above the posted speed limit" and "Reckless driving, as defined by state or local law or regulation, including, but not limited to, offenses of driving a commercial motor vehicle in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property." For this section, a serious traffic violation is a conviction "when operating a commercial motor vehicle." Under R.S. 32:414.2(A)(5), a person is disqualified from operating a commercial motor vehicle for not less than 60 days on two serious traffic violations, or not less than 120 days on three, arising from separate incidents within three years. Federal rule 49 C.F.R. 383.51 (Table 2) also counts a conviction in a personal vehicle if it results in a revocation, cancellation or suspension of the license or non-commercial driving privileges; the reckless driving laws by state hub covers the federal layer.

Careless operation in Louisiana

Careless operation is the lower-tier offense, found in Title 32, Chapter 1, rather than in Title 14. R.S. 32:58(A) provides:

"A. Any person operating a motor vehicle on the public roads of this state shall drive in a careful and prudent manner, so as not to endanger the life, limb, or property of any person. Failure to drive in such a manner shall constitute careless operation." La. R.S. 32:58(A)

Section 32:58 sets no fine of its own, so the general Chapter 1 penalty in R.S. 32:57(A)(1) applies: a first violation "shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred seventy-five dollars or by imprisonment for not more than thirty days, or both, unless otherwise specifically provided," and "A subsequent violation shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than ninety days, or both."

Section 32:58(B) adds a rule for one situation: if careless operation "directly or proximately causes the death of a human being, when the operator fails to maintain control of the vehicle because of falling asleep," the person "shall also be ordered to serve court-approved community service for not more than two hundred fifty hours and the department may suspend the operator's license for a period of two years."

Street racing and exhibitions of speed in Louisiana

R.S. 32:65(A) provides that "No person shall drive any vehicle in any race, speed competition or contest, drag race or acceleration contest, test of physical endurance, exhibition of speed or acceleration, or for the purpose of making a speed record upon the public roads in this state or upon any publicly-owned or privately-owned property to which the public's access is not prohibited," and that no person "shall in any manner participate" in such a race. The ban therefore reaches private property open to the public, not only public roads. Under 32:65(E), it does not apply "to events sanctioned by local governing authorities."

Penalties under 32:65(D):

• No serious personal injury: the general Chapter 1 penalties in R.S. 32:57 apply (32:65(D)(1)).
• Serious bodily injury or death: if "a serious bodily injury or death occurs which is in any way connected to the violation," the penalty is "a fine of not less than five hundred or more than two thousand dollars or imprisonment, with or without hard labor for not less than one year or more than five years, or both" (32:65(D)(2)(a)). Because that tier may be punished at hard labor, it is a felony under R.S. 14:2(A)(4).

Two newer rules apply to every racing violation:

• Impound. Under 32:65(F), added by Act 318 of 2024 (effective August 1, 2024), a law enforcement agency may impound, "at the owner's expense, any vehicle driven in a manner that violates this Section for up to fourteen days to gather evidence pertaining to the offense."
• Added fines. Under 32:65(G), added by Act 194 of 2025 (effective June 8, 2025), the offender is fined an additional $10 for a first offense, $20 for a second, $40 for a third, and $100 for a fourth or subsequent offense.

Louisiana's Titles 14 and 32 contain no separate aggressive-driving or street-takeover offense for ordinary vehicles; racing and exhibitions of speed fall under 32:65.

Flight from an officer

R.S. 14:108.1 uses reckless operation as one of its aggravating acts.

• Flight from an officer: a misdemeanor with a fine of $150 to $500, up to six months in jail, or both (14:108.1(B)).
• Aggravated flight from an officer: the intentional refusal of a driver to stop "under circumstances wherein human life is endangered" (14:108.1(C)). Under 14:108.1(D), human life is endangered when the fleeing driver commits at least two listed acts: leaving the roadway or forcing another vehicle to leave it; colliding with another vehicle or watercraft; exceeding the posted speed limit by at least 25 mph; traveling against the flow of traffic (or, for a watercraft, operating carelessly under R.S. 34:851.4 or recklessly under R.S. 14:99); failing to obey a stop or yield sign; or failing to obey a traffic control signal.
• Penalty for aggravated flight (a felony): imprisonment "at hard labor for not more than ten years," with a possible fine of up to $2,000 (14:108.1(E)(1)). If the flight results in serious bodily injury, the term is two to 15 years at hard labor "without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence," with a possible fine of up to $2,000 (14:108.1(E)(2)); the two-year minimum was added by Act 349 of 2026, effective August 1, 2026.

Is there a wet reckless in Louisiana?

Louisiana's reckless operation statute, 14:99, says nothing about alcohol, and the DWI and implied-consent sections of Titles 14 and 32 (including R.S. 14:98 and the related 14:98.x sections, and R.S. 32:661 through 32:669) contain no provision on a reduced reckless operation plea and do not count a reckless operation conviction as a prior offense. One cost statute does reach an alcohol-related reckless operation conviction: under R.S. 13:1894.2(A)(2), a court that has designated a specialized division for alcohol-related offenses shall assess an additional $100 cost for a violation of R.S. 14:99 in any matter where the use of alcohol was a factor, and R.S. 13:1000.11(A)(2) allows a judge in the Twenty-Fourth Judicial District Court with a specialized alcohol division to assess a $100 cost for an R.S. 14:99 conviction. For DWI penalties and license rules, see Louisiana DUI laws.

Driving without a license in Louisiana

License required. R.S. 32:52 provides that "No person shall drive or operate any vehicle upon any highway within this state unless and until he has been issued a license to so do as required by the laws of this state," and 32:402(B)(1)(a)(i) makes it unlawful to drive a motor vehicle on any public street, road or highway without a license issued by the department.

Penalties under 32:402(B)(1)(c). If the unlicensed driver was driving a vehicle that requires a Class D or E license, the driver "may be fined up to five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than six months, or both." For a vehicle that requires a Class A, B or C license, the fine may be up to $5,000, imprisonment up to six months, or both. Higher tiers apply if the unlicensed driver is involved in a collision that results in the serious bodily injury or death of another person ($500 to $1,000, up to six months, or both; 32:402(B)(1)(c)(ii)), or if the driving involved conduct that results in a conviction for a second or later DWI under R.S. 14:98 ($300 to $500 and seven days to six months, at least seven days without benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence and consecutive to the DWI sentence; 32:402(B)(1)(c)(v)). Section 32:415(D)(1) sets the same DWI tier for driving while suspended or revoked.

License not in hand. Under R.S. 32:411(F), a licensee must have the physical license, or a digitized driver's license, in immediate possession while driving. If the officer determines the person has a valid license that is not in his possession, the officer "shall issue a written summons," and a person "shall not be issued a citation for driving a motor vehicle without a physical driver's license in his possession if he presents a digitized driver's license to a law enforcement officer in connection with a traffic stop or checkpoint in Louisiana."

Driving while suspended or revoked. R.S. 32:415(A) makes it unlawful to drive on a public highway during a suspension, revocation or cancellation. A Class D or E licensee "may be fined up to five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than six months, or both, and may be subject to a civil penalty of up to one thousand two hundred fifty dollars"; a Class A, B or C licensee may be fined up to $5,000, imprisoned up to six months, or both (32:415(C)). The statute provides that "A person shall not be arrested or imprisoned for a violation of this Section due solely to a suspension imposed pursuant to R.S. 32:414(R)(1)." Under 32:415(B)(1), a conviction for any offense involving the operation of a motor vehicle committed during the suspension or revocation extends it for one year from the date the licensee would otherwise have been entitled to apply for a new license.

Driving during a homicide or DWI-related suspension. R.S. 14:98.8 covers driving while privileges are suspended under 32:414(A)(1), (B)(1) or (2), (D)(1)(a) or 32:667. The penalty is 15 days to six months in jail "without benefit of suspension of imposition or execution of sentence," or 90 days to one year in the cases listed in subsection C. That section does not list the 32:414(B)(5) suspension for three reckless driving charges.

Louisiana reckless operation and related offenses: penalty table

Each statute in the table sets its own penalty, so the ranges come from the offense sections themselves rather than from a general class schedule. Louisiana grades by the sentence: under R.S. 14:2(A)(4) and (6), an offense that may be punished by death or imprisonment at hard labor is a felony, and any other crime is a misdemeanor. For how Louisiana grades crimes generally, see Louisiana felony and misdemeanor classes.

Vehicular homicide in Louisiana

When a driver's conduct causes a death, vehicular homicide (R.S. 14:32.1) and negligent homicide (R.S. 14:32) are covered on the Louisiana manslaughter laws page.

Recent changes to Louisiana reckless driving and racing laws

• 2024: racing impound. Act 318 of 2024 (SB 220, effective August 1, 2024) added R.S. 32:65(F), allowing a law enforcement agency to impound a racing vehicle for up to 14 days at the owner's expense to gather evidence.
• 2025: added fines. Act 194 of 2025 (HB 403, effective June 8, 2025) added the $5 and $10 additional fines in 14:99(C) and the $10 to $100 additional racing fines in 32:65(G), along with similar added fines in other driving sections.
• 2024: flight penalties raised. Act 305 of 2024 (SB 184, effective August 1, 2024) raised the maximum for aggravated flight from five to 10 years at hard labor, and for aggravated flight causing serious bodily injury from 10 to 15 years.
• 2026: mandatory minimum. Act 349 of 2026 (SB 58, effective August 1, 2026) raised the minimum for aggravated flight causing serious bodily injury from zero to two years, without benefit of parole, probation or suspension of sentence.
• 2026: 100 mph proposal not enacted. House Bill 1009 of the 2026 Regular Session, which would have made driving at or over 100 mph reckless operation, did not pass the Senate.
• Reckless operation itself. Before 2025, Section 14:99 was last amended by Acts 2014, No. 791.

Related Louisiana laws

• Reckless driving laws by state
• Louisiana DUI laws
• Louisiana manslaughter laws
• Louisiana felony and misdemeanor classes
• Louisiana expungement laws

This article is general legal information about Louisiana law, not legal advice. For a specific situation, contact a lawyer licensed in Louisiana, or the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles for driver's license questions.

Last updated: 2026-10-25.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is reckless driving a misdemeanor in Louisiana?

Yes. Reckless operation under R.S. 14:99 carries no hard labor, so it is a misdemeanor under R.S. 14:2(A)(6), which defines a misdemeanor as any crime other than a felony.

What is the penalty for reckless driving in Louisiana?

Under La. R.S. 14:99, a first offense of reckless operation carries a fine of up to $200, up to 90 days in jail, or both, plus an additional $5 fine. A second or later conviction carries $25 to $500, 10 days to six months, or both, plus an additional $10.

What counts as reckless driving in Louisiana?

Reckless operation of a vehicle is operating any motor vehicle, aircraft, vessel or other means of conveyance in a criminally negligent or reckless manner (La. R.S. 14:99(A)). R.S. 14:12 defines criminal negligence as a gross deviation below the standard of care of a reasonably careful person.

How fast is reckless driving in Louisiana?

Louisiana sets no speed at which driving becomes reckless operation by itself; 14:99 has no speed element. A 2026 bill to add driving at or over 100 mph (HB 1009) did not pass the Senate.

How many points is reckless driving in Louisiana?

None. La. R.S. 32:414, the license suspension statute, contains no point system. License action comes from listed convictions and from Office of Motor Vehicles findings about a driver's record.

Does reckless driving suspend your license in Louisiana?

Conviction or bail forfeiture on three reckless driving charges committed within 12 months requires a 24-month suspension (32:414(B)(5)), and the department may suspend for up to six months or revoke after findings of reckless driving that endangered life, limb or property (32:414(F)(1)).

What is careless operation in Louisiana?

Under La. R.S. 32:58(A), failing to drive on the public roads in a careful and prudent manner so as not to endanger life, limb or property is careless operation. It takes the general traffic penalty in 32:57(A): up to $175, 30 days, or both for a first violation, and up to $500, 90 days, or both for a later one.

Does Louisiana have a wet reckless?

Louisiana's reckless operation statute and the DWI and implied-consent sections of Titles 14 and 32 contain no wet reckless plea or prior-offense provision. R.S. 13:1894.2 adds a $100 cost for an R.S. 14:99 conviction in a matter where alcohol was a factor, in courts with a specialized alcohol division.

Is street racing illegal in Louisiana?

Yes. La. R.S. 32:65 bans racing, drag racing, speed contests and exhibitions of speed on public roads and on property open to the public. If a serious bodily injury or death occurs, the penalty is $500 to $2,000, one to five years, or both.

What is the penalty for driving without a license in Louisiana?

Driving a vehicle that requires a Class D or E license without having been issued a license can bring a fine of up to $500, up to six months in jail, or both (32:402(B)(1)(c)). Driving while suspended or revoked carries the same range for a Class D or E licensee, plus a possible civil penalty of up to $1,250 (32:415(C)).