How to Reduce a DUI to a Wet Reckless Charge

In some DUI cases in some states, you can plea bargain with the prosecution to a lesser charge. A "wet reckless" charge is essentially a reckless (non-injury) driving charge with the added note of being "wet," that is, drunk. It usually means that you will serve no jail time and will pay a lower fine. Here's how to reduce your DUI to wet reckless.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Ask your lawyer if a wet reckless charge is available in your state.
2. Ask your lawyer if it's possible to reduce your sentence to wet reckless charge. Usually, this is only possible for borderline cases where it's a first offense and blood alcohol level was just barely over the limit.
3. A wet reckless charge, though a reduced offense for driving under the influence, will still appear on your record as a "prior DUI conviction." If you are arrested again for DUI, the wet reckless charge will get treated as a full-fledged DUI charge.

Tips & Warnings

• If your attorney has not mentioned the possibility of a reduced sentence to you yet, don't hesitate to bring it up. It's your right to know as much as possible about your legal options, so it never hurts to ask and to do your own research.
• A wet reckless charge will still stay on your record for ten years. You will still face serious financial costs as well as points on your license. Insurance companies treat a wet reckless charge the same as a DUI charge.
• In the translation from court records to DMV records, a wet reckless charge is sometimes changed to a DUI charge. This is usually a clerk error. A vigilant lawyer should see that your record is kept completely accurate.