What's the difference in being convicted of breaking a traffic law and being convicted of "reckless driving"?

--- There is no difference, reckless driving is a traffic law. However, reckless driving can also be a traffic crime. All states are different however in most states the first offense of reckless driving is a traffic ordinance violation, but the second offense is a traffic crime or a traffic misdemeanor.

---The law Hierarchy is from bottom to top thus: The least serious offense is a city or county ordinance violation, which would be a simple traffic offense such as first offense reckless driving or speeding. This is the same for criminal law. A ordinance violation of say disorderly conduct is the same as a traffic citation. With an ordinance violation all you have is a fine to pay, no possible jail time, unless you don't pay the fine. Also, traffic ordinance violations usually will expire from your record after so many years without another violation. Also, with ordinance violation you accumulate traffic points that can get your driving privilege suspended.

---The next rung up the ladder is a traffic or low order misdemeanor violation. Examples of this would be second offense reckless driving or second offense drunk driving. With these violation you have the possibility of both fines and mandatory short jail sentences up to one year. But only in jail, not prison. Criminal offenses never leave your record either. These violations usually will get you half of the points needed to lose your license in one fell swoop. This is due to their severity and dangerous nature.

--- The next rung up is a traffic felony. There are not many of these but examples would be knowingly fleeing a police officer, hit & run with injuries, or causing injury by reckless use of a motor vehicle. These charges are Felonies. That means if found guilty you will get a prison sentence. Felonies have mandatory prison sentences of over 1 year. That is the definition of a felony by the way, that if found guilty you are incarcerated for at least 1 year. If you have a sentence of over a year then you serve it in prison, not jail. (though there are exceptions). This level of felony is usually in the lower scale.

--- The next rung are non-traffic criminal felonies such as armed robbery, rape or mayhem.

--- The most serious felonies are called capitol crimes and these can have life in prison or death penalties. Examples are Felony Murder, 1st degree murder or murder with intent, attempted 1st degree murder or conspiracy to commit murder, violent terrorism, espionage and treason. A perfect example of this was the white supremacist who detonated the bomb at the federal building in Oklahoma City. He was subsequently executed after conviction.

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The definition of reckless driving is the operation of a motor vehicle in such a manner as to create a hazardous condition with increased probability of causing bodily harm to one's self or others. An example would be when you see fools spinning their tires in place creating clouds of smoke and showing off to crowds of people standing around. one slip of the pedal and the car would be out of control and in full acceleration. Another would be playing "chicken" where 2 cars drive at each other, daring the other to turn aside and thus be labeled a chicken. Another example would be speeding through a school parking lot at 40 mph when the lot is full of pedestrian students.

---I hope this is what you were after.

Reckless driving is more serious than a simple traffic violation.

Usually reckless driving is a compounded infraction like running a red light while speeding.As the term would suggest there is also an element of hightened danger involved. Any manoever that endangers another motorist is likely to be reckless driving.

Basically it's a catch-all label for driving tactics that are more dangerous than a simple traffic violastion would warrant.

Reckless driving is in most states is speeding 15 miles over the speed limit

Driving a vehicle in a precarious manner without paying attention to circumstances prevailing there and the rules in force totally disregarding the possible consequences of such driving with or without his full presence of mind is termed as reckless driving.

no difference at all