Reckless Driving in Missouri: What the Law Covers

Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte

Reckless driving in Missouri is not a separate offense in the state traffic chapter, because RSMo chapter 304 has no section titled “reckless driving.” Unsafe driving can be charged as careless and imprudent driving (C&I) under RSMo 304.012, and since 2025 stunt driving has its own law. The Missouri Department of Revenue (DOR) still uses the word “reckless” on one Form 899 line, for a felony worth 12 points.

Key Facts

No chapter 304 section: the traffic chapter has no section titled “reckless driving.” See what the law covers.
C&I instead: a class B misdemeanor, or class A with an accident. See the C&I statute.
Stunt driving: class B, then class A, then a class E felony. See RSMo 304.145.
The Form 899 line: “Stunt/Reckless Driving Felony” carries 12 points. See where the word appears.
The DIP: it can apply to the C&I line, never to a felony. See where the DIP fits.

Is Reckless Driving a Crime in Missouri?

Not as a stand-alone state traffic offense. Missouri’s traffic laws are in RSMo chapter 304, and none of its sections is titled “reckless driving.”

That does not mean unsafe driving is legal. The law reaches it in other ways:

Careless and imprudent driving under RSMo 304.012.
Stunt driving and street takeovers under RSMo 304.145, added in 2025.
A felony involving a motor vehicle, which the DOR posts at 12 points.

A city or county ticket cites its own ordinance. Read the charge and the code number printed on your ticket to see which law applies.

Reckless Driving in Missouri: Where the Word “Reckless” Appears

The word shows up on the DOR’s points list, not in a chapter 304 section title. DOR Form 899 (Revised 08-2026) lists “Stunt/Reckless Driving Felony” at 12 points.

That line is for a felony conviction. It is not a minor ticket. The same form lists careless and imprudent driving on separate lines with lower values.

RSMo 302.302 also gives 12 points for any felony involving the use of a motor vehicle. So a felony-level unsafe-driving conviction sits at the top of the point scale.

The Statute That Covers Unsafe Driving

RSMo 304.012 has the heading “Motorists to exercise highest degree of care.” It requires drivers to drive “in a careful and prudent manner.”

The section also says a driver must not endanger “the property of another or the life or limb of any person.” A breach is a class B misdemeanor. If an accident is involved, it is a class A misdemeanor.

For a full look at the offense, see our guide to careless and imprudent driving in Missouri. For the crime level alone, see whether C&I is a misdemeanor.

Stunt Driving and Street Takeovers

Missouri added two pieces of law aimed at stunt driving. Both took effect August 28, 2025.

First, RSMo 304.012 gained a ban: “No person operating a motor vehicle on the roads and highways of this state shall perform stunt driving.” Second, a new section, RSMo 304.145, covers stunt driving and street takeovers.

RSMo 304.145 raises the penalty with each offense:

First offense: class B misdemeanor.
Second offense: class A misdemeanor.
Third or later offense: class E felony.

The section does not use the word “reckless.” It speaks of stunt driving and street takeovers.

How the Unsafe-Driving Charges Compare

The table sorts the charges by the law behind them and the level the law sets.

Charge on the ticket	Law	Level set by the law
Careless and imprudent, no accident	RSMo 304.012	Class B misdemeanor
Careless and imprudent, accident involved	RSMo 304.012	Class A misdemeanor
Stunt driving or street takeover, first	RSMo 304.145	Class B misdemeanor
Stunt driving or street takeover, third or later	RSMo 304.145	Class E felony

A second stunt driving offense is a class A misdemeanor. The level in your own case comes from the charge that is filed.

Steps to sort an unsafe driving charge in Missouri by statute, crime level, points and DIP eligibility

Reading the Charge on Your Ticket

Your ticket names the law you are charged under. That one detail decides the crime level and the points.

Look for these clues:

A state statute number, such as 304.012 or 304.145. The levels in the table above apply.
A city or county ordinance number. The local court handles it under its own ordinance.
The court named on the ticket. That court decides the case and any DIP order.

Points also differ by the type of charge. RSMo 302.302 gives 4 points for the 304.016 C&I line under state law and 2 under an ordinance; Form 899 lists plain “Careless & Imprudent” at 2.

If the wording on your ticket is unclear, call the court clerk listed on it. A Missouri attorney can explain how the charge fits your own facts.

Misdemeanor Limits

Missouri sets ceilings for each misdemeanor class. Fines come from RSMo 558.002. Jail limits come from RSMo 558.011.

Class B misdemeanor: up to $1,000 and up to 6 months.
Class A misdemeanor: up to $2,000 and up to 1 year.

These are top limits, not set amounts. Court costs are added on top of the fine. We do not list felony limits here, so ask the court or a Missouri attorney if you face a felony charge.

Points for Unsafe-Driving Convictions

The DOR adds points only after a conviction. The values depend on the line that posts to your record:

“Careless & Imprudent”: 2 points on Form 899.
“Careless & Imprudent 304.016”: 4 points on Form 899.
“Stunt/Reckless Driving Felony”: 12 points on Form 899.

Under RSMo 302.302, a court may also certify 2 more points for listed violations that cause injury or property damage.

What 12 Points Can Mean

Points build toward suspension and revocation under RSMo 302.304. The levels are:

4 points in 12 months: the DOR mails a point accumulation advisory letter.
8 points in 18 months: suspension.
12 in 12 months, 18 in 24 or 24 in 36: revocation.

Simple math shows the risk. One 12-point conviction reaches the 12-in-12 level by itself.

A revocation lasts one year if proof of insurance is filed, or two years if it is not. After that, the driver must pass the complete driver examination.

How Points Fade After a Conviction

Points count from the conviction date, not the date of the stop. They do not stay at full value forever.

Under RSMo 302.306, points drop with clean time. “Clean” means no new moving-violation conviction:

After 1 year: points drop by one-third.
After 2 years: remaining points drop by one-half.
After 3 years: points go to zero.

No credit is given during a suspension or revocation. After reinstatement from a point suspension or revocation, the DOR lowers the total to 4 points.

Where the DIP Fits

The Driver Improvement Program (DIP) in RSMo 302.302.5 has a narrow reach. It applies only to speeding, the C&I line and other moving violations not listed in the statute.

It does not apply to a felony. So it cannot be used for the “Stunt/Reckless Driving Felony” line.

For a C&I ticket, the DIP counts only when the court on the ticket orders it and verifies it. Then the DOR accepts it “in lieu of the assessment of points” for that ticket. The conviction stays on the record, and the fine does not change.

Other rules include:

Time limit: finish within 60 days of the conviction date.
Frequency: once in any 36-month period.
CDL rule: never for anyone who has or must have a CDL, in any vehicle. RSMo 302.345 also bars diversion for CDL holders.
Format: online or in person, meeting the National Safety Council eight-hour standard.

Summary card decoding unsafe driving terms in Missouri law and on DOR Form 899

What We Found on the Official Pages

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

RSMo 304.145 shows an effective date of August 28, 2025, from 2025 House Bill 495.
RSMo 304.012 was updated by the same bill to ban stunt driving. Its class B and class A penalty stayed the same.
Form 899 (Revised 08-2026) lists “Stunt/Reckless Driving Felony” at 12 points in all three of its columns.
RSMo 302.302 (effective August 28, 2026) gives 12 points for a felony involving the use of a motor vehicle.

Common Mistakes

Each item is checked against a Missouri statute or DOR form:

Looking for a “reckless driving” section in chapter 304. There is none by that title.
Treating C&I as a small ticket. It is a class B misdemeanor, or class A with an accident.
Guessing the points. C&I is 2 or 4 on Form 899, and the felony line is 12.
Missing the stunt driving steps. A third stunt driving offense is a class E felony.
Expecting the DIP to cover a felony. It covers only speeding, the C&I line and unlisted moving violations.
Thinking a CDL holder can use the DIP in a personal car. The statute bars it in any vehicle.

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 there a reckless driving law in Missouri?

Missouri’s traffic chapter, RSMo chapter 304, has no section titled “reckless driving.” Unsafe driving can be charged as careless and imprudent driving or, since 2025, as stunt driving. Your ticket shows the exact law cited.

How many points is reckless driving in Missouri?

Form 899 lists “Stunt/Reckless Driving Felony” at 12 points. Careless and imprudent driving is listed at 2 points, or 4 for the 304.016 line.

Is stunt driving a felony in Missouri?

It can be. Under RSMo 304.145, a first offense is a class B misdemeanor and a second is class A. A third or later offense is a class E felony.

Can I take the DIP for a reckless or stunt driving charge?

Not for a felony. The DIP covers speeding, the C&I line and unlisted moving violations, and only when the court orders it. Ask the court on your ticket before you enroll.

What is the most a C&I conviction can cost in fines?

Up to $1,000 for class B and up to $2,000 for class A. Court costs are added, and the judge sets the amount within those limits.

Can a careless and imprudent charge be a felony?

No. RSMo 304.012 sets only two levels: class B misdemeanor, or class A when an accident is involved. Felony levels come from other laws, such as the stunt driving law for a third offense.

Who decides if the DIP applies to my C&I ticket?

The court handling your ticket decides. Under RSMo 302.302.5, the DIP counts only when that court orders it and verifies it. A court using a centralized violation bureau (RSMo 476.385) may let the bureau do this, as the court directs.

Does an unsafe driving conviction stay on my record?

Yes. A court-ordered DIP can keep points off a C&I ticket, but the conviction stays. The DOR explains when a ticket may be removed from the record.

Conclusion

Missouri’s traffic chapter has no section titled “reckless driving,” so unsafe driving can be charged under the C&I statute, the stunt driving law, a felony or a local ordinance. Each path carries its own crime level and point value.

For your own charge, ask the court on your ticket or a Missouri attorney. If your court has ordered the DIP for a qualifying ticket, 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.