07 Nov Road Rage: Keeping Your Cool Can Save You from Criminal Charges
We have all been behind the wheel and witnessed another driver doing something completely outrageous. Sometimes it may even seem like they’re deliberately trying to provoke you. But how you react to their behavior could have consequences. Keeping your cool could mean the difference between making it safely to your destination or getting a ride in the back of a police car.
In Arizona, road rage incidents can lead to many different types of crimes, from aggressive driving to manslaughter. We explain how road rage incidents are charged, and when road rage is a criminal offense.
In Arizona, Road Rage Incidents Are Fairly Common
Arizona ranks 14th out of all 50 states in road rage, according to a 2023 study by Forbes. Road rage can lead to accidents, assaults, injuries, and even deaths. In fact, many road rage incidents involve shootings.
When Is Road Rage a Criminal Offense?
While Arizona does not have specific laws against road rage, many of the actions that define road rage are illegal. Road rage crimes can include things like aggressive driving, disorderly conduct, reckless endangerment, assault, or even homicide. And charges can range from misdemeanors to felonies, depending on the circumstances.
For example, aggressive driving is usually a misdemeanor, while aggravated assault is a felony. Minor incidents like disorderly conduct will usually carry fines, while reckless driving could mean suspension of your license. However, traffic collisions or altercations that end in death or severe injury can see the aggressor facing life in prison.
Five Types of Criminal Charges for Road Rage in Arizona
1: Aggressive Driving
This charge is a class 1 misdemeanor with penalties of up to $2,500 in fines, six months in jail, and a suspended license. Aggressive driving happens when someone is speeding and also committing two of the following actions:
- Failure to obey traffic signs or traffic control devices (lights)
- Passing others by driving off the road or over double lines
- Unsafe lane changes, like waving in and out of lanes
- Following another vehicle too closely
2: Endangerment
Recklessly endangering another person means placing them under substantial risk of death or injury. Endangerment is a class 1 misdemeanor for risk of injury, and a class 6 felony for risk of death.
Convictions for a class 1 misdemeanor can carry up to $2,500 in fines and six months in jail or two years of probation. A class 6 felony is punishable by fines, fees, restitution, and a year or more in prison.
Examples of endangerment charges for road rage include:
- Following a vehicle so closely you tap their bumper or are unable to stop in time to avoid a collision
- Swerving into another vehicle’s space
- Forcing another driver to slam on their brakes
- Forcing another driver to swerve out of their legal lane or onto the shoulder
- Driving under the influence
3: Disorderly Conduct
Disorderly conduct is defined as an intent to disturb the peace or quiet of a neighborhood, family, or person. Arizona breaks it up into two charges, a class 1 misdemeanor and a class 6 felony, depending on the situation.
A class 1 misdemeanor for disorderly conduct can cost up to $2,500 in fines,with up to six months in jail or two years on probation. Displaying a violent weapon changes the disorderly conduct charge to a class 6 felony. This is punishable by fines, fees, restitutions, and over a year in prison.
Examples of disorderly conduct as road rage include:
- Yelling at other drivers
- Yelling obscenities at others
- Making obscene gestures
- Blocking traffic
- Engaging in an altercation
- Displays of violent behavior
- Threatening display of a dangerous weapon
4: Assault
In Arizona, assault is defined as intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causing physical harm, or putting someone in fear of imminent harm. Depending on the specifics of the assault, charges can range across the misdemeanor classes and even into the felony classes.
When related to road rage, assault can look like:
- Using force to make someone exit their vehicle
- Harming another person due to their driving
- Threatening others with a weapon
- Firing a gun toward others
5: Negligent Homicide / Manslaughter / Murder
In road rage incidents that end in death, the events leading up to it will be looked at closely. Like assault cases, the range of punishments for murder, manslaughter, and negligent homicide depends on the case.
For example:
- A car drives in the opposite lane to pass another vehicle they feel is going too slowly. Turning to make an obscene gesture, the driver does not see a crossing pedestrian and hits them, causing their death. This could be considered negligent homicide.
- A car is weaving in and out of lanes. Annoyed by this, another driver slams on their brakes and the weaving vehicle hits them. This intentional action causes an accident with a fatality, and would be considered manslaughter.
- A driver gets cut off in traffic, and in response they speed up to follow and get in front of the other driver. Both vehicles stop at a red light, and during a confrontation one of the drivers discharges a weapon, killing the other. This could be considered murder.
Do You Need a Criminal Defense Lawyer?
If you are facing criminal charges because of a road rage incident in Arizona, you need a certified criminal defense attorney on your side. In cases like these, a strong defense can help you avoid penalties like heavy fines, loss of your license, incarceration, and a criminal record.
Todd Coolidge has over 25 years of experience in the Arizona justice system and believes every case deserves a personal touch. Your case will never be half-worked or passed off to someone else. Contact us today for a consultation if you are facing criminal charges.
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (11/7/24). Photo by Johan Funke on Unsplash.