Texas Basic Peace Officer Certification Practice Exam

What offense is committed when a driver, without looking, backs into another vehicle causing damage?

1. Reckless Damage or Destruction

2. Criminal Mischief - Misd. B

3. Criminal Mischief - Misd. A

4. Criminal Mischief - Felony

The correct answer is: Reckless Damage or Destruction

When a driver backs into another vehicle without looking and causes damage, the offense committed can be categorized as Reckless Damage or Destruction. This is because the driver demonstrated a disregard for the safety of others by not taking the necessary precautions while operating their vehicle. Recklessness involves a conscious disregard of a substantial and unjustifiable risk, which, in this case, is the failure to ensure the area is clear before reversing the vehicle. This form of reckless behavior directly ties into the concept of causing damage through negligent actions, as the driver should have been aware of their surroundings and the potential consequences of their actions. The damage resulted from a willful act of negligence rather than a random or malicious act, which is why this specific violation aligns with Reckless Damage or Destruction, rather than the other choices that suggest varying degrees of intent or severity in terms of criminality. The other classifications involve different degrees of mens rea (intent) and severity of offense, which do not fully capture the nature of the incident described.