June 16, 2012
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Reckless Driving In Virginia
There are several actions a driver can make that may be classified as “Reckless Driving” under Virginia law. The most common act is speeding in excess of twenty miles per hour over the posted speed limit. Reckless Driving may also be charged to individuals who pass a stopped school bus during loading or unloading, crossing a double yellow line, or pulling onto a street from a parking lot without first coming to a complete stop (even if there is no stop sign).
Virginia classifies reckless driving as a Class 1 misdemeanor criminal offense. If you are convicted of the charge, you will have a permanent criminal record. Even if you live in another state, a criminal record from Virginia will follow you for the rest of your life. All Class 1 misdemeanors, including reckless driving tickets, carry the possible punishments of up to a $2500 fine and up to a year in jail. In addition, since this is a traffic offense, the court may also suspend your Virginia driver’s license (or your privilege to drive in Virginia if you have an out-of-state license) for up to six months.
When handling reckless driving cases, an experienced traffic defense lawyer will be familiar with the local courts, prosecutors and police officers. For individuals who have a good driving record, a lawyer will be able to talk with the prosecutor or officer and many times have the charge reduced to a simple traffic offense rather than a criminal charge, thus eliminating the harshest consequences. If no agreement can be reached, an experienced traffic defense attorney can fight the many legal and technical aspects of the case in attempt to achieve a better result for your case.
Finally, and maybe most important to out-of-state residents, a reckless driving ticket may not be prepaid. The individual must appear in court to answer the charge. In most cases, an attorney can appear in you place saving you the time and expense of returning to Virginia for your court date.
If you have been charged with reckless driving in Virginia Beach, please contact our office today. (757) 422-4646. Our traffic defense lawyers are available to answer your questions 24/7/365.
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