Careless and Imprudent Driving Missouri Fine: The Limits

Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte

If you searched careless and imprudent driving missouri fine, the answer is that state law caps the fine at $1,000 for a class B misdemeanor, or $2,000 for class A when an accident is involved. Court costs are added, and your ticket or the court lists your exact amount. A conviction also adds 2 or 4 points to your record.

Key Facts

Fine limit: up to $1,000 (class B), or up to $2,000 with an accident (class A). See the limits.
Jail limit: up to 6 months (class B), or up to 1 year (class A). See jail terms.
Court costs: added on top of the fine. See why there is no single price.
Points: 2, or 4 for the 304.016 line on Form 899. See points as a cost.
The DIP: it does not lower the fine. See the DIP and the fine.

Careless and Imprudent Driving Missouri Fine Limits

The charge comes from RSMo 304.012, titled “Motorists to exercise highest degree of care.” A violation is a class B misdemeanor, “unless an accident is involved then it shall be a class A misdemeanor.”

The class sets the ceiling. RSMo 558.002 sets the highest fine, and RSMo 558.011 sets the longest jail term.

Situation	Class	Highest fine	Longest jail term
No accident involved	Class B misdemeanor	$1,000	6 months
An accident is involved	Class A misdemeanor	$2,000	1 year

These are upper limits, not set prices. A fine can be lower than the limit.

For what careless and imprudent driving means, read our careless and imprudent driving guide.

Why There Is No Single Price

No one figure fits every careless and imprudent ticket. Three things shape the amount.

The fine schedule. The Missouri Courts Statewide Fine Schedule page names a State Traffic Fine Schedule, effective Aug. 28, 2021. RSMo 476.385 says the bureau’s schedule of fines rises “in proportion to the severity of the violation.”
Court costs. The courts’ fine schedule Q&A says court costs are added on top of the uniform fine.
A court appearance. The same Q&A says that when you appear, the judge “is free to assess any fine within the statutory limits.”

This guide gives no schedule amounts. The court on your ticket can tell you the fine and the costs for your charge.

How It Compares With a Speeding Fine

Careless and imprudent driving has a higher ceiling than ordinary speeding. Speeding comes from RSMo 304.010, and the classes differ:

Speeding, less than 20 mph over: class C, up to $750 and 15 days.
Speeding, 20 mph or more over: class B, up to $1,000 and 6 months.
Careless and imprudent, no accident: class B, up to $1,000 and 6 months.
Careless and imprudent, with an accident: class A, up to $2,000 and 1 year.

For the full list of fine limits, see our speeding fines guide.

Jail Terms

Because the charge is a misdemeanor, jail is legally possible. RSMo 558.011 sets the longest terms:

Class B: a term not to exceed 6 months.
Class A: a term not to exceed 1 year.

These are maximums in the statute. What happens in a given case is up to the court. For more on the misdemeanor side, see is careless and imprudent driving a misdemeanor.

When an Accident Is Involved

An accident moves the charge up one class. RSMo 304.012 uses the words “an accident is involved.” It does not say an injury is needed.

So the limit rises from $1,000 to $2,000. The longest jail term rises from 6 months to 1 year.

An accident can affect points too. Under RSMo 302.302, a court can certify 2 more points when a violation causes personal injury or property damage.

City and County Tickets and the $225 Cap

Some local tickets have a lower ceiling on the total. RSMo 479.353 limits the combined fine and court costs to $225 when the ticket is a “minor traffic violation.”

RSMo 479.350 sets the tests. To qualify, a city or county ordinance ticket needs:

no accident and no injury;
no commercial vehicle involved;
a point value from zero to four;
a location outside construction and school zones.

A city or county careless driving ticket with no accident can meet these tests. A state-law charge cannot, because the cap covers only ordinance violations. Ask the court if you are not sure which type you have.

Work-Zone Add-On

Where the violation happened can add to the bill. In a construction or work zone, RSMo 304.582 has the court add $35 to the fine for a moving violation, or $75 for a second or later one.

The same section has a $250 add-on ($300 for a second or later one), but it applies only to speeding or passing when a highway worker was there and the required signs were posted. In those cases it replaces the $35 rather than adding to it. Neither add-on raises court costs or points.

Five steps to work out the cost of a Missouri careless and imprudent driving ticket, from the charge to the court's total

Points Are a Cost Too

Money is not the only cost of a conviction. The Missouri Department of Revenue (DOR) adds points after a conviction.

DOR Form 899 (Revised 08-2026) lists two careless and imprudent lines:

“Careless & Imprudent”: 2 points.
“Careless & Imprudent 304.016”: 4 points.

Points can lead to more costs. Under RSMo 302.304, 8 points in 18 months brings a suspension.

To get a license back after a point suspension, the DOR reinstatement page lists a $20 fee. It also requires proof of insurance, known as an SR-22, for 2 years.

For example, one 4-point careless and imprudent conviction plus a 4-point conviction later in 18 months reaches 8 points. That is the suspension level.

The DIP and the Fine

The Driver Improvement Program (DIP) does not lower the fine. Under RSMo 302.302.5, it affects only points, and only when the court orders it.

When the court orders and verifies it, the DOR accepts it “in lieu of the assessment of points” for that one ticket. It covers the careless and imprudent line in RSMo 302.302.1(4).

You still owe the fine and court costs. A Missouri Safety Center process sheet puts the limit in capital letters: the program “WILL NOT remove the ticket” from the record.

The DIP rules are strict:

Court order. Ask the court on your ticket before you enroll.
Deadline. Finish within 60 days of the conviction date.
Limit. It counts no more than once in any 36-month period.
CDL holders. It is barred for anyone who has or must have a commercial driver’s license, in any vehicle.

Paying the Fine

Paying has a legal effect. Under Supreme Court Rule 38.10, full payment before the court date is a guilty plea.

Some eligible tickets can be paid online. Missouri Courts’ pay tickets online page says clicking Plead and Pay to see your fine is “NOT pleading guilty.” Completing the payment is a guilty plea.

The courts’ page on responding to a ticket is direct about timing. It tells drivers they “MUST respond” by the court date on the citation, or risk a license suspension.

Leaving a fine unpaid can lead to a suspension. Under RSMo 302.341, this applies to moving violations that are not minor traffic violations. To reinstate after that kind of suspension, the DOR failure to appear FAQ asks for a compliance receipt from the court and a $20 fee.

Summary card of the money limits on a Missouri careless and imprudent driving charge: class B, class A, court costs, cap and add-on

Who Sets Your Amount

The court named on your ticket handles the case and the money. Each county has a circuit violations bureau under Rule 38.10. Missouri Courts says the Fine Collection Center “stopped accepting new citations” on May 1, 2019.

A separate statute covers another kind of bureau. Paying through the centralized bureau under RSMo 476.385 counts as consent to any DIP the court orders.

Where to Find Your Total

Your ticket names the court and the court date. The court clerk can give the fine and the court costs.

Case.net is the courts’ free case information portal, but it “is not considered an official court record.” It also does not show every city court. Our ticket lookup guide explains how to search.

Other Costs After a Conviction

A few costs can come later:

Your driving record. A DOR driver record costs $2.82, plus $2 at a license office.
Insurance. The Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance (DCI) says, “Nothing affects your auto insurance rates more than your driving record.”
Reinstatement. A point suspension brings a $20 fee and proof of insurance for 2 years.

See our guide on tickets and insurance for more.

What We Found on the Official Pages

On the Missouri statute and courts pages we checked on October 27, 2026, RSMo 304.012 still set class B, or class A with an accident. Its effective date was Aug. 28, 2025.

The Statewide Fine Schedule page named the State Traffic Fine Schedule, and the courts’ Q&A said court costs are added. This guide lists only the limits in the statutes, and the court gives your amount.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Each item comes from a Missouri statute, court page or DOR form:

Treating the fine as the full cost. Court costs come on top.
Thinking class A needs an injury. The statute says only that an accident is involved.
Expecting the DIP to cut the fine. It affects points only.
Assuming the $225 cap always applies. It covers only minor traffic violations under an ordinance.
Forgetting the points. A conviction adds 2, or 4 for the 304.016 line.
Paying without knowing it is a plea. Completing payment is a guilty plea.

How Requirements Can Vary

Missouri’s point values, suspension levels and Driver Improvement Program rules come from Missouri law (RSMo 302.302 and 302.304) and apply statewide. Whether a court orders the DIP for your ticket, and how your case is handled, is up to the court on your ticket. Fines and court costs depend on the court and the charge.

Laws, forms and court practice can change. Check your ticket, any court order, the Missouri DOR website and the Missouri Revised Statutes before you enroll or pay.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is a careless and imprudent driving ticket in Missouri?

The fine depends on the court and the charge, and court costs are added. State law caps the fine at $1,000 for class B and $2,000 for class A. Your ticket or court lists your amount.

Can I go to jail for careless and imprudent driving?

The statute allows it. Class B carries up to 6 months, and class A up to 1 year. These are maximums, and the court decides each case.

Does an accident raise the fine?

It raises the limit. With an accident, the charge is class A, so the highest fine is $2,000 instead of $1,000.

Are court costs part of the fine?

No. They are a separate charge added to the scheduled fine. The clerk can give you both numbers.

Will the DIP reduce my careless and imprudent fine?

No. A court-ordered DIP changes points, not money. You pay the full fine and the costs either way.

How many points does careless and imprudent driving add?

Two, or four for the line tied to section 304.016, based on DOR Form 899. Injury or property damage can bring 2 more if the court certifies it.

Is the fine the same in every Missouri court?

Courts use a statewide fine schedule, and court costs are added on top. If you appear in court, the judge may set any fine within the legal limits. The court on your ticket gives your total.

Can I pay a careless and imprudent ticket online?

Some eligible tickets can be paid online through Plead and Pay. Completing the payment is a guilty plea, and points follow the conviction.

Conclusion

A Missouri careless and imprudent driving fine can reach $1,000, or $2,000 with an accident, and court costs are added. The charge also adds 2 or 4 points, so ask the court on your ticket or a Missouri attorney about your own case. If you are eligible and the court has ordered the DIP, you can take the Missouri Driver Improvement Program online.

Sources

Billy Forte is the owner of Driving Logic, a driver improvement course provider serving Missouri and other U.S. states.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Driver Improvement Program rules, point values, fines and penalties depend on your ticket, court and case facts, and they can change. Use official Missouri DOR, Missouri Revised Statutes and court sources, and consult a qualified Missouri attorney for advice about your own case.