American Idol Star Sanjaya drove 110 mph and Isn't facing Reckless Endangerment Charge. How about Reckless Driving?

By Riley S. Lovejoy, Attorney at Law – http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2011439631_apuspeoplespeedingidol.html  Washington State Trooper MacDonald may be right; there may not have been anyone else on the freeway at 2:30 a.m. when Sanjaya was stopped for driving 110 mph in a 60 mph zone.  And according to the Revised Code of Washington (RCW 9A.36.050 to be exact), which describes Reckless Endangerment as “reckless… conduct… that creates a substantial risk of death or serious physical injury to another person” (emphasis added), Sanjaya may not be guilty of Reckless Endangerment.  But what about charging him with Reckless Driving?  RCW 46.61.500 describes someone guilty of Reckless Driving as “any person who drives any vehicle in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.”  Both crimes are gross misdemeanors, but if found guilty of Reckless Driving Sanjaya would automatically lose his license for 30 days (RCW 46.61.500).