Oklahoma Reckless Driving Laws: Penalties, Points and Speed (2026)

Oklahoma has one reckless driving statute, Title 47, Section 11-901 of the Oklahoma Statutes, which makes it reckless driving to drive a motor vehicle "in a careless or wanton manner without regard for the safety of persons or property," or in violation of the basic speed rule in Section 11-801. A first conviction is punishable by 5 to 90 days in jail, a fine of $100 to $500, or both; a second or subsequent conviction by 10 days to 6 months, a fine of $150 to $1,000, or both (47 O.S. 11-901(B)).

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

Jurisdiction scope: This article covers Oklahoma state statutes on reckless driving (47 O.S. 11-901), the basic speed rule it borrows from (11-801), the Service Oklahoma points system, offenses closely tied to dangerous driving such as eluding an officer, and driving without a valid or current license. It does not cover DUI penalties (see Oklahoma DUI laws), homicide offenses (see Oklahoma manslaughter laws), 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 Oklahoma?

Section 11-901(A) of Title 47 defines the offense in one sentence:

"A. It shall be deemed reckless driving for any person to drive a motor vehicle in a careless or wanton manner without regard for the safety of persons or property or in violation of the conditions outlined in Section 11-801 of this title." 47 O.S. 11-901(A)

The section gives two routes to the same offense:

• Careless or wanton driving. Driving a motor vehicle "in a careless or wanton manner without regard for the safety of persons or property." The statute does not list particular acts, so the conduct in each case is measured against that phrase.
• Breaking the basic speed rule. Driving "in violation of the conditions outlined in Section 11-801," the section that requires a speed suited to road and traffic conditions (covered below).

The statute joins "careless" and "wanton" with "or," so they are alternatives in the text.

A separate statute outside the motor vehicle title also treats one specific act as reckless driving. Under 66 O.S. 125b, colliding with the barricading device at a railroad crossing "shall be prima facie evidence that the driver thereof did not comply with the provisions of this act, and such driver shall be deemed a reckless driver, and be subjected to the penalties provided for reckless driving under the motor vehicle laws of this state," and the driver is liable for the damage to the barricade.

Is reckless driving a misdemeanor in Oklahoma? Penalties

Section 11-901(B) sets the punishment directly:

"B. Every person convicted of reckless driving shall be punished upon a first conviction by imprisonment for a period of not less than five (5) days nor more than ninety (90) days, or by a fine of not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) nor more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), or by both such fine and imprisonment; on a second or subsequent conviction, punishment shall be imprisonment for not less than ten (10) days nor more than six (6) months, or by a fine of not less than One Hundred Fifty Dollars ($150.00) nor more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), or by both such fine and imprisonment." 47 O.S. 11-901(B)

In each tier the court may impose jail, a fine, or both.

Section 11-901(B) does not use the word "misdemeanor." Oklahoma's general classification rule fills that gap: crimes that are not felonies are misdemeanors under 21 O.S. 6 ("Every other crime is a misdemeanor"). The general misdemeanor penalty in 21 O.S. 10 (up to one year in county jail, a fine up to $500, or both) applies only "Except in cases where a different punishment is prescribed by this chapter or by some existing provisions of law," and Section 11-901(B) prescribes its own ranges, so those ranges govern.

Section 11-901 has no injury, serious-injury or felony tier of its own. The heavier consequences in Oklahoma come from other statutes covered below: aggravated DUI, eluding an officer, and negligent homicide.

How fast is reckless driving in Oklahoma?

Title 47 sets no speed at which driving becomes reckless by itself. Instead, Section 11-901(A) folds in the basic speed rule. Section 11-801(A) provides:

"A. Any person driving a vehicle on a highway shall drive at a careful and prudent speed not greater than nor less than is reasonable and proper, having due regard to the traffic, surface, and width of the highway and any other conditions then existing. No person shall drive any vehicle upon a highway at a speed greater than will permit the driver to bring it to a stop within the assured clear distance ahead." 47 O.S. 11-801(A)

Because 11-901(A) covers driving "in violation of the conditions outlined in Section 11-801," a speed that is not careful and prudent for the conditions, or too fast to stop within the assured clear distance ahead, falls within the reckless driving definition. The rule also reaches driving slower than is reasonable and proper.

Ordinary speeding over a posted limit is a separate violation with its own fine schedule in 11-801(G):

For a driver who is not operating a commercial vehicle and does not hold a commercial license, Section 11-810(A) bars the Department of Public Safety from reporting or assessing points for a conviction of exceeding the speed limit by 1 to 10 mph.

Two work-zone and roadside offenses also sit next to speed. Under 47 O.S. 11-1303(A), exceeding the posted limit by 15 mph or more in a maintenance or construction zone, failing to merge as required, failing to stop for a flagman or obey work-zone traffic-control devices, driving through a lane not designated for traffic, or intentionally striking or moving barrels and barriers (with listed exceptions) is the offense of endangerment of a highway worker. Under 47 O.S. 11-314(B), a driver approaching a stationary emergency vehicle, a Department of Transportation or Turnpike Authority maintenance vehicle, a stationary vehicle displaying flashing lights, or a wrecker displaying the listed lights must change to a non-adjacent lane where possible and safe, or slow to a safe speed; a violation is the offense of endangerment of an emergency worker.

How many points is reckless driving in Oklahoma?

Four. Service Oklahoma's Traffic Violation Code Book (revised May 1, 2026) lists "Reckless Driving Without Regard to Property/ Person" under 11-901(A) at 4 points, and "Reckless Driving Without Regard to Person" at 4 points. Operating at a speed greater or less than reasonable and proper is listed at 1 point, as is failure to reduce speed when lawfully required. The point value comes from that agency schedule, not from a statute.

How the points system works under the Oklahoma Administrative Code:

• Five-year window. "Points will be assessed only for those convictions which occurred during the previous five (5) years" (OAC 670:15-15-3).
• Ten points means suspension. The code book's legend states that "Ten or more points result in automatic suspension of the person's driving privilege." Under OAC 670:15-15-6, when a record totals 10 points or more, Service Oklahoma "shall issue an order of suspension."
• Length of a points suspension (OAC 670:15-15-6): one month for a first suspension, three months for a second, six months for a third, and twelve months for a fourth or later. The third and later suspensions "shall not be subject to modification."
• Credit points (OAC 670:15-15-10): two points are credited for completing an approved driver improvement or defensive driving course (once every 24 months), and two for 12 consecutive months without a pointable conviction. The point level drops to zero after three consecutive years with no pointable conviction.

Does reckless driving suspend your license in Oklahoma?

Reckless driving is not on the 6-205(A) list of convictions that require Service Oklahoma to "immediately revoke" a driving privilege. Service Oklahoma's code book, however, marks its entry for "Reckless Driving Without Regard to Person" (RK9) with an "R" in its withdrawal-action column, which the code book's legend defines as revocation; that entry cites only 11-901(A) and names no revocation section. The 6-205(A) list includes manslaughter or negligent homicide resulting from the operation of a motor vehicle, DUI, driving a motor vehicle during the commission of a felony, failure to stop and render aid after a crash causing death or injury (see Oklahoma hit-and-run laws), and failure to stop for a school bus loading or unloading children, among others.

Two other routes can still lead to a suspension after a reckless driving conviction:

• Discretionary suspension. Under 47 O.S. 6-206(B), Service Oklahoma, on receiving a conviction report, "may in its discretion suspend the driving privilege of such person for such period of time as in its judgment is justified, subject to the limitations provided in this title." Any such action is "in addition to the penalty imposed by the court."
• Points. The 4 reckless driving points count toward the 10-point suspension threshold described above.

Commercial drivers. Under 47 O.S. 6-205.2, reckless driving committed while operating a commercial motor vehicle is a "serious traffic offense." Service Oklahoma disqualifies a person from operating a Class A, B or C commercial motor vehicle for 60 days on a second conviction for a serious traffic offense from separate occurrences within three years, and for 120 days on a third. The federal rule is parallel: 49 C.F.R. 383.51 lists reckless driving as a serious traffic violation, and a conviction in a non-commercial vehicle counts only 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 and inattentive driving in Oklahoma

Article 9 of Title 47, Chapter 11, the article that holds the reckless driving section, has no offense named careless driving; "careless" appears there inside the reckless driving definition in 11-901(A). The article does contain a state inattentive-driving rule. Section 11-901b provides: "The operator of every vehicle, while driving, shall devote their full time and attention to such driving." An officer may not issue a citation under that section unless the officer "observes that the operator of the vehicle is involved in an accident or observes the operator of the vehicle driving in such a manner that poses an articulable danger to other persons on the roadway that is not otherwise specified in statute."

Section 11-901b states no penalty of its own. Under 47 O.S. 17-101(A) and (B)(1), a violation is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $5 to $500 or up to 10 days in jail; up to 20 days for a second conviction within one year after the first; and up to six months for a third or later conviction within one year after the first, or both fine and jail.

Service Oklahoma's code book lists "Careless Driving" at 2 points with the note "For Municipal Use." The code book also lists inattentive driving under 47 O.S. 11-901b at 2 points, and 3 points for inattentive driving resulting in a collision.

Is street racing illegal in Oklahoma?

Title 47 contains no state offense of racing, exhibition of speed, drifting or street takeovers. The one state provision on speed contests runs the other way: under 47 O.S. 1148, "Local authorities may set aside a specified public highway or highways for speed contests or races to be given under proper restrictions for the safety of the public." Service Oklahoma's code book lists "Contest Racing (Municipal Only)" at 2 points, under an ordinance.

The state reckless driving definition in 11-901(A) is not limited to a list of acts; it turns on careless or wanton driving without regard for safety, or a breach of the 11-801 speed conditions.

A 2026 bill, HB 3266 (titled "Reckless driving; D2 felony offenses; making certain acts unlawful"), passed the Oklahoma House 72-16 on March 9, 2026 and was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee on April 1, 2026. The bill's history shows no action after that referral, and it is not law.

Eluding an officer in a vehicle

Eluding is a separate offense under 21 O.S. 540A. It applies to a driver who receives the visual and audible signals described in the statute from a marked police, sheriff, highway patrol or game ranger vehicle directing a stop, and "who willfully increases the speed or extinguishes the lights of the vehicle in an attempt to elude such peace officer, or willfully attempts in any other manner to elude the peace officer, or who does elude such peace officer."

• Eluding (540A(A)): a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in county jail, a fine of $100 to $2,000, or both. A second or subsequent violation: up to one year, a fine of $500 to $5,000, or both.
• Eluding in a manner that endangers any other person (540A(B)): a Class C1 felony, punishable by imprisonment under 21 O.S. 20L, a fine of $1,000 to $5,000, or both.
• Causing an accident with great bodily injury while eluding (540A(C)): a Class C1 felony, punishable by imprisonment under 21 O.S. 20L and a fine of up to $5,000.

Under 21 O.S. 20L(B), a Class C1 offense is punishable by up to eight years in the custody of the Department of Corrections, and the person "shall serve at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the sentence imposed."

An eluding conviction also suspends the license under 47 O.S. 6-206(E): six months for a first conviction, one year for a second and three years for a third or later. The second and later periods "shall not be modified."

Wet reckless in Oklahoma

The DUI sections of Title 47 contain no provision for an alcohol-related reckless driving plea. Sections 11-902, 11-904, 11-905 and 11-906.4 of Title 47 and the license sections 6-205.1, 6-212.3 and 6-212.4 neither name a reduced reckless plea nor count a reckless driving conviction as a prior DUI.

The one place reckless driving appears in the DUI statute is as an aggravator. Section 11-902(D) provides that a person convicted of DUI "while also committing" one or more listed acts, including "7. Reckless driving as defined in Section 11-901 of this title," "shall, upon conviction, be guilty of aggravated driving under the influence, which shall be a Class B3 felony offense." The other listed acts include eluding under 21 O.S. 540A, driving more than 20 mph over the limit or 10 mph over in an active school zone, and carrying a passenger under 18. For DUI penalties, see Oklahoma DUI laws.

A re-enacted version of Section 11-902 (Laws 2026, c. 437, s. 2 (SB 1543)) takes effect November 1, 2026. Its subsection D(7) text is the same as the current version.

Driving without a license in Oklahoma

Oklahoma separates driving with no valid license from driving after the privilege has been taken away.

No valid license for the vehicle class. Section 6-303(A) bars operating a motor vehicle on public roads or "other public place of this state without having a valid driver license for the class of vehicle being operated from Service Oklahoma, except as herein specifically exempted." A violation is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $50 to $300 plus costs, up to 30 days in jail, or both. The same subsection provides that "Any person charged with violating this section who produces in court, on or before the court date, a renewal or replacement driver license issued to him or her shall be entitled to dismissal of such charge without payment of court costs and fine."

Suspended, revoked, canceled, denied or disqualified. Under 6-303(B), driving at such a time is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $100 to $500 for a first conviction, $200 to $750 for a second, and $300 to $1,000 for a third or later, "or by imprisonment for not more than one (1) year or by both such fine and imprisonment." Each act of driving is a separate offense.

Privilege withdrawn under 6-205.1(A)(1). Section 6-303(C) raises the fines when the privilege was canceled, denied, suspended or revoked under paragraph 1 of 6-205.1(A): $500 to $1,000 for a first conviction, $1,000 to $2,000 for a second, and $2,000 to $5,000 for a third or later, or up to one year in jail, or both.

Longer withdrawal. Service Oklahoma extends an existing suspension or revocation by three months on a conviction for driving during it (6-303(D)), by four months where the revocation was under paragraph 1, 2 or 3 of 6-205.1(A) (6-303(E)), and by twelve months on a conviction under 11-905 (6-303(F)).

Causing an injury crash while unlicensed or suspended. Under 47 O.S. 11-905, a person driving without a valid license for the class, while knowingly disqualified, or while the person "knows or should have known" the license is canceled, denied, suspended or revoked, who causes an accident:

• with personal injury to another commits a misdemeanor, up to one year in county jail, a fine up to $2,000, or both (11-905(A));
• with great bodily injury commits a Class C2 felony, punishable by imprisonment under 21 O.S. 20M (up to seven years, with at least 20% of the sentence served), a fine up to $3,000, or both (11-905(B));
• with the death of another commits a Class B4 felony, punishable by up to five years in the custody of the Department of Corrections, a fine up to $5,000, or both (11-905(C)).

Oklahoma reckless driving and related offenses table

Oklahoma's felony classes come from the Oklahoma Sentencing Modernization Act provisions in Title 21, including 21 O.S. 20L (Class C1) and 21 O.S. 20M (Class C2). For the full class table, see Oklahoma felony and misdemeanor classes.

A death caused by driving in reckless disregard of the safety of others falls under separate homicide statutes, including negligent homicide under 47 O.S. 11-903; see Oklahoma manslaughter laws.

Recent changes to Oklahoma reckless driving law

• Section 11-901 itself was last amended by Laws 2001, c. 435, s. 9 (HB 1692), effective July 1, 2001.
• 2025: speed rule. Section 11-801 was amended by Laws 2025, c. 197, s. 3 (SB 375), effective November 1, 2025.
• 2026: felony classes. Laws 2025, c. 486 (HB 2104), effective January 1, 2026, amended the eluding statute (21 O.S. 540A) and the unlicensed-crash statute (47 O.S. 11-905) as part of the move to lettered felony classes. Laws 2026, c. 12 (SB 1627), emergency effective April 13, 2026, further amended Section 540A.
• November 1, 2026: DUI sections. Re-enacted versions of 47 O.S. 11-902 (Laws 2026, c. 437, s. 2 (SB 1543)) and 11-904 (Laws 2026, c. 179, s. 1 (HB 3695)) take effect November 1, 2026. The reckless driving aggravator in 11-902(D)(7) reads the same in both versions.
• Pending: HB 3266 (2026). Passed the House and was referred to Senate Judiciary on April 1, 2026; not law.

Related Oklahoma laws

• Reckless driving laws by state
• Oklahoma DUI laws
• Oklahoma manslaughter laws
• Oklahoma felony and misdemeanor classes
• Oklahoma hit-and-run laws
• Oklahoma expungement laws
• Texas reckless driving laws
• Kansas reckless driving laws

This article is general legal information about Oklahoma law, not legal advice. For a specific situation, contact a lawyer licensed in Oklahoma, or Service Oklahoma for driver's license and points questions.

Last updated: 2026-10-25.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is reckless driving a misdemeanor in Oklahoma?

Yes. 47 O.S. 11-901(B) sets its own penalty without using the word, and 21 O.S. 6 makes crimes that are not felonies misdemeanors. A first conviction carries 5 to 90 days in jail, a $100 to $500 fine, or both.

What is the penalty for a second reckless driving conviction in Oklahoma?

Under 47 O.S. 11-901(B), a second or subsequent conviction is punishable by 10 days to 6 months in jail, a fine of $150 to $1,000, or both.

How fast is reckless driving in Oklahoma?

Oklahoma sets no mph figure. Section 11-901(A) makes driving in violation of the 11-801 conditions reckless driving: a speed that is not careful and prudent for conditions, or too fast to stop within the assured clear distance ahead.

How many points is reckless driving in Oklahoma?

Four, under Service Oklahoma's May 2026 violation code book. Points count for five years, and 10 or more points brings an automatic suspension of one month for a first points suspension, rising to 12 months for a fourth (OAC 670:15-15-3, 670:15-15-6).

Does a reckless driving conviction take away your license in Oklahoma?

Reckless driving is not on the 47 O.S. 6-205(A) mandatory-revocation list, but Service Oklahoma's code book marks its entry for reckless driving without regard to person (RK9) with a revocation withdrawal action. Service Oklahoma may also suspend in its discretion after a traffic conviction (6-206(B)), and the 4 points count toward the 10-point suspension threshold.

Does Oklahoma have careless driving?

Not by that name. 47 O.S. 11-901b requires a driver's full time and attention, a misdemeanor punished under 47 O.S. 17-101 (a $5 to $500 fine or up to 10 days for a first conviction). The code book lists careless driving at 2 points for municipal use, and inattentive driving under 11-901b at 2 points, or 3 with a collision.

Does Oklahoma have a wet reckless?

The Title 47 DUI and license sections (11-902, 11-904, 11-905, 11-906.4, 6-205.1, 6-212.3, 6-212.4) contain no alcohol-related reckless plea provision. Under 47 O.S. 11-902(D)(7), DUI committed while also driving recklessly is aggravated DUI, a Class B3 felony.

Is street racing illegal in Oklahoma?

Title 47 has no state racing or street-takeover offense; 47 O.S. 1148 lets local authorities set aside highways for supervised speed contests, and the code book lists contest racing for municipal use. The general reckless driving definition in 11-901 is not limited to a list of acts.

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

Driving without a valid license for the vehicle class is a misdemeanor with a $50 to $300 fine plus costs, up to 30 days, or both (47 O.S. 6-303(A)). The charge is dismissed without costs or fine if the person produces a renewal or replacement license issued to them in court on or before the court date.

Does reckless driving affect a CDL in Oklahoma?

Reckless driving in a commercial motor vehicle is a serious traffic offense under 47 O.S. 6-205.2. A second such conviction from separate occurrences within three years disqualifies the driver for 60 days, and a third for 120 days.