It is Your Right to Fight a LIDAR Ticket for Reckless Driving in Virginia


July 5, 2021
lidar ticket

Many jurisdictions outfit their police patrol units with laser guns or LIDAR instruments to gauge traffic speeds and find drivers who are not obeying traffic laws. Those found driving above the posted speed rates may be subject to a reckless driving ticket. If that should happen to you in the Fairfax VA area, you may need the help of a criminal defense lawyer Fairfax VA. Make the call to Rudolphi Law as soon as possible to find out if they can help you fight the ticket.

Reckless Driving in Virginia:

The state of Virginia takes reckless driving very seriously. Those that drive in Virginia  have a lot at risk if they continue to drive above the speed limit. The penalty for reckless driving is as follows:

  • Six (6) DMV points
  • A fine of up to $2,500 fine
  • A license suspension for up to six months
  • Up to 12 months in jail

As you can see, drivers convicted of reckless driving have a lot of money, time, and their driving record at stake.

How Does LIDAR Work?

A LIDAR instrument is not always foolproof. When using the LIDAR or laser gun, the driver may receive a ticket if going above the stated speed. LIDAR stands for Light Detection and Ranging and is one of the most recent technologies used by police departments to find speeders.

The way it works is the user can detect vehicular speeds by directing a laser beam at a specific vehicle. Likewise, it helps officers focus on just one motor vehicle. As the beam changes, the speed of the specified vehicle is detected. This makes LIDAR slightly more reliable than other speed measuring devices, like those that use radio waves. However, these instruments are not foolproof. 

This is where a criminal defense attorney Fairfax VA can help you because they know local laws and administrative regulation, as well as the variables that can contribute to improper results.

Go to the criminal lawyer Fairfax VA known for beating reckless driving cases, Rudolphi Law.

Can LIDAR Results be Wrong?

The answer is yes. Here are just some of the issues that can cause poor or inaccurate results:

  • Training: An officer might not be properly trained to use the LIDAR properly, creating false speed results.
  • Calibration: The equipment must be checked and calibrated every six months. If an officer is a user of a piece of equipment that is overdue for calibration, the driver may have results dropped.
  • Operator Errors: LIDAR instruments may result in inaccurate results if the aiming component is not used correctly or if the gun is moved at the wrong time. This can skew the results.

Virginia Criminal Defense Attorney:

If you have been cited for reckless driving, you need to contact a reckless driving lawyer Fairfax VA. You deserve the best possible defense and case strategy. At Rudolphi Law, a top criminal lawyer Fairfax, VA, we will look at your case and determine what the next steps should be.

We will investigate road conditions, the use of the laser or LIDAR to make sure it was properly used, check on how much experience the police officer has used it and when the instrument was last calibrated.

If any of these things are faulty, your Fairfax Criminal attorney may get you a positive resolution to your case.

Don’t put your ability to drive at risk. Call Rudolphi Law today at 703-596-9566.