Is reckless driving a general intent crime?

California, United States of America


The following excerpt is from People v. Jennings, A136736 (Cal. App. 2014):

achieve a future consequence.' " (People v. Whitfield (1994) 7 Cal.4th 437, 449, superseded by statute as stated in Mendoza, supra, 18 Cal.4th 1114, 1126, italics added.) In a general intent crime, the question is " 'whether the defendant intended to do the proscribed act' " and " '[t]his intention is deemed to be a general criminal intent.' " (People v. Whitfield, at p. 449.) By this definition, reckless driving is a general intent crime, insofar as driving with a "wanton disregard for safety" does not reference an intent to do a further act or achieve a future consequence.

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