Is Careless and Imprudent Driving a Misdemeanor in Missouri?

Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte

If you are asking is careless and imprudent driving a misdemeanor in Missouri, the answer is yes: under state law it is a class B misdemeanor, or a class A misdemeanor when an accident is involved. It is a crime, not a civil matter, and a conviction also brings points from the Missouri Department of Revenue (DOR). A court-ordered Driver Improvement Program (DIP) can keep those points off, but it does not change the charge.

Key Facts

  • Crime level: a class B misdemeanor, or class A with an accident. See the statute.
  • Top penalties: up to $1,000 and 6 months (class B), or $2,000 and 1 year (class A). See fines and jail.
  • Points: 2 on Form 899, or 4 for the 304.016 line. See points.
  • Records: the DOR record shows the ticket, and the Patrol keeps state misdemeanor charges, though its FAQ does not say whether C&I is reported. See two records.
  • The DIP: it can keep points off one ticket, but the charge and conviction stay. See the DIP.

Is Careless and Imprudent Driving a Misdemeanor in Missouri?

Yes. The rule is in RSMo 304.012. Its official heading is “Motorists to exercise highest degree of care.”

The section says a driver must drive “in a careful and prudent manner.” The driver must also use “the highest degree of care.” People call a breach of this rule careless and imprudent driving, or C&I.

The penalty line is short and clear. A person who breaks the section “is guilty of a class B misdemeanor, unless an accident is involved then it shall be a class A misdemeanor.”

Since August 28, 2025, the same section also bans stunt driving. The penalty line did not change.

Class B or Class A: What Changes the Level

One fact moves the charge up a level: an accident. The statute uses the words “an accident is involved.”

The statute does not say someone must be hurt. It also does not name a dollar amount of damage. So the text ties class A to an accident, not to an injury.

Here is how the two levels compare:

  • No accident: class B misdemeanor.
  • Accident involved: class A misdemeanor.
  • Both levels: a crime under state law, handled by the court on the ticket.

Your ticket or charging paper shows which level you face. If it is unclear, ask the court clerk or a Missouri attorney.

Maximum Fines and Jail by Class

Missouri sets top limits for each class of crime. Fines come from RSMo 558.002. Jail terms come from RSMo 558.011.

Level of the C&I chargeHighest fineLongest jail term
Class B (no accident)$1,0006 months
Class A (accident involved)$2,0001 year

These are ceilings, not set prices. No official source we checked lists a standard C&I fine.

The Missouri courts’ uniform fine schedule Q&A explains two more points. Court costs are added on top of the fine. And if you appear in court, “the judge is free to assess any fine within the statutory limits.”

For more on fines alone, see our guide to the careless and imprudent driving fine.

Misdemeanor, Not an Infraction

Missouri law has a lower class of offense called an infraction. RSMo 558.002 caps an infraction fine at $400.

RSMo 304.012 does not use that class. It names only class B and class A misdemeanors. So a state C&I charge is never an infraction.

C&I also carries points. DOR Form 899 lists it among the violations that add points to a driver record.

How C&I Compares With a Speeding Charge

Speeding has its own penalty classes. RSMo 304.010 makes speeding a class C misdemeanor. At 20 mph or more over the limit, it becomes a class B misdemeanor.

So a C&I charge starts one level above a class C speeding charge. The class C ceiling is $750 and 15 days in jail. The class B ceiling for C&I is $1,000 and 6 months.

The two offenses also cover different conduct. Speeding is about the posted limit. C&I is about failing to use “the highest degree of care.”

How a careless and imprudent driving ticket moves from the citation to the court and the DOR record, and what the Patrol repository keeps

How a C&I Case Becomes a Conviction

A ticket is a charge, not a conviction. A conviction comes from a guilty plea, a guilty finding or full payment.

Payment counts too. Under Supreme Court Rule 38.10, full payment before the first court date “constitutes a guilty plea and waiver of trial.”

After a conviction, the court reports it. RSMo 302.225 gives the court seven days to send the record to the DOR. The DOR then adds points under RSMo 302.302.

Two Records: Driving Record and Criminal History

A C&I case can matter in two different places. Each one is kept by a different agency.

The DOR driving record. This record lists tickets and points. The DOR Tickets and Points FAQ says a ticket conviction may be removed three years after the conviction.

If it led to a point suspension or revocation, it may be purged five years after reinstatement. Some convictions stay permanently.

The Patrol’s criminal history repository. The Missouri State Highway Patrol CJIS FAQ says the repository keeps “state charges (misdemeanors and felonies).” It also keeps “selected ordinance violations reported by municipalities.” A name search shows only open records.

The Patrol FAQ names alcohol- and drug-related traffic offenses, but it does not say whether a C&I charge is reported. For your own case, ask the Patrol or a Missouri attorney. Our guide to traffic tickets and background checks covers who can see each record.

Points for a C&I Conviction

Points and the crime level are two separate things. The court handles the charge. The DOR adds the points after a conviction.

DOR Form 899 (Revised 08-2026) has two lines for this offense:

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

The statute sets values too. RSMo 302.302 gives 4 points for the 304.016 line under state law, and 2 under a city or county ordinance. A court may also certify 2 more points if someone was hurt or property was damaged.

Points add up. At 4 points in 12 months, the DOR mails a point accumulation advisory letter. At 8 points in 18 months, the DOR suspends the license.

State Charge or City Ordinance

A C&I ticket can be written under state law or under a local ordinance. The difference matters.

The class B and class A levels come from the state statute. A city or county charge falls under its own ordinance and court.

State law also has a “minor traffic violation” label in RSMo 479.350. It covers city or county ordinance cases with no accident, no injury, no commercial vehicle and 4 or fewer points. For those cases, RSMo 479.353 says the fine plus court costs cannot go over $225.

Your ticket shows whether it cites a state statute or a local ordinance. The court on the ticket can confirm it.

What the DIP Does and Does Not Change

The DIP is a points rule, not a charge rule. It comes from RSMo 302.302.5.

When the court handling the ticket orders the DIP and verifies it is done, the DOR accepts it “in lieu of the assessment of points.” That covers one ticket. The C&I line is one of the violations it can apply to.

The DIP does not change the misdemeanor. It does not lower the fine, dismiss the ticket or remove the conviction. It also does not remove points already on a record.

Other limits apply:

  • Court order: only the court on the ticket can order and verify it.
  • Timing: the course must be finished within 60 days of the conviction date.
  • Frequency: it counts no more than once in any 36-month period.
  • CDL: it is not allowed for anyone who has or must have a commercial driver license, in any vehicle.
  • Reporting: the court forwards a completion record to the DOR within 15 days.

The course may be taken online or in person. It must meet or exceed the National Safety Council’s eight-hour “Defensive Driving Course” standards. Our main guide to what C&I means explains the offense itself.

Summary card of careless and imprudent driving in Missouri: class levels, top limits, points and the DIP

What We Found on the Official Pages

On the Missouri statute and DOR pages we checked on October 27, 2026, three details stood out.

First, RSMo 304.012 now shows an effective date of August 28, 2025. The update added the stunt driving ban. The class B and class A penalty line stayed the same.

Second, Form 899 (Revised 08-2026) shows two C&I lines at 2 and 4 points. Form 899 lists plain C&I at 2 points; the 4-point statute line is tied to 304.016.

Third, the Patrol’s CJIS FAQ says a name search shows only open records. It names alcohol- and drug-related traffic offenses, but it does not say whether a C&I charge is reported.

Common Mistakes

Each item below is checked against a Missouri statute, court rule or DOR form:

  • Calling C&I an infraction. RSMo 304.012 makes it a class B or class A misdemeanor.
  • Thinking class A needs an injury. The statute says only “an accident is involved.”
  • Treating the top fine as the usual fine. $1,000 and $2,000 are legal ceilings, and court costs are extra.
  • Thinking payment avoids a conviction. Full payment before court is a guilty plea under Rule 38.10.
  • Expecting the DIP to erase the charge. It only keeps points off one ticket when the court orders it.
  • Assuming every C&I ticket is the same. The 304.016 line is 4 points under state law but 2 under an ordinance.

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

Is careless and imprudent driving a criminal offense in Missouri?

Yes. Under RSMo 304.012 it is a class B misdemeanor. With an accident, it is a class A misdemeanor.

What is the most jail time for a C&I conviction?

For class B, the limit is 6 months. For class A, the limit is 1 year. These are maximums in RSMo 558.011, not set terms.

Does a C&I ticket need an injury to be class A?

No. The statute says class A applies when “an accident is involved.” It does not require an injury.

How many points does careless and imprudent driving add?

Form 899 lists “Careless & Imprudent” at 2 points and “Careless & Imprudent 304.016” at 4 points. Under an ordinance, the statute sets 2 points. A court can certify 2 more for injury or damage.

Will the DIP change my C&I charge?

No. A court-ordered DIP keeps points off that one ticket. The misdemeanor charge, the fine and the conviction stay.

Can a C&I conviction come off my DOR driving record?

The DOR says a ticket conviction may be removed three years after the conviction. If it led to a point suspension or revocation, the wait is five years after reinstatement. Some convictions stay permanently.

Can a CDL holder use the DIP for a C&I ticket?

No. RSMo 302.302.5 bars the DIP for anyone who has or must have a CDL. This applies in any vehicle, including a personal car.

Conclusion

Careless and imprudent driving is a misdemeanor under Missouri state law, class B without an accident and class A with one. The class sets the legal limits, while Form 899 and RSMo 302.302 set the points.

Ask the court on your ticket or a Missouri attorney about your own case. If you qualify and your court has ordered the DIP, 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.