Reckless Driving in Virginia: New Maximum Speeds
December 30, 2020
Reckless driving is a crime that is taken very seriously in the state of Virginia. State troopers are constantly on the lookout for people who exceed the speed limit and drive in a dangerous manner. The Virginia legislature has passed a law recently that has increased the threshold for a reckless driving citation from 80 to 85 mph. The legislation reads:
“A person is guilty of reckless driving who drives a motor vehicle on the highways in the Commonwealth (i) at a speed of 20 miles per hour or more in excess of the applicable maximum speed limit or (ii) in excess of 85 miles per hour regardless of the applicable maximum speed limit.”
Penalties for Reckless Driving
The fact that the threshold for reckless driving has been increased by five miles per hour is not an indication of softening on the part of state authorities. Reckless driving is a class 1 misdemeanor in Virginia. The maximum penalties for this offense include:
- 6 points on your license
- A fine of up to $2,500
- A suspension of your license for up to 6 months
- A jail sentence of up to 12 months
You should be under no misapprehension if you have to drive through the state of Virginia: the authorities prosecute reckless driving charges aggressively and effectively. The state is known for the zeal with which they detect, stop, and charge speeding motorists. Unlike other crimes—some of them more serious—you may not receive leniency for a first offense reckless driving.
You Will Need A Legal Advocate
It may seem like a complete waste of money to hire a lawyer to fight a traffic ticket. But if you are cited for reckless driving, you should take the matter seriously. You may very well end up in jail without a reckless driving lawyer Fairfax VA by your side. If it is determined that you meet the criteria of the statute written above, prosecutors are within their right to pursue all the penalties allowed by law; and they will do so if the police officer who stopped you believed you drove in an especially egregious manner.
Hiring a traffic lawyer Fairfax VA will allow you to defend yourself against such a prosecution. A Fairfax traffic lawyer will help you by closely examining and scrutinizing the method by which the officer gauged your speed to arrive at the reckless driving charge. A Fairfax traffic lawyer can also advise you on how to mitigate your circumstances in an effort to achieve the best possible outcome. If you have been cited for reckless driving, you will need a Virginia criminal defense attorney to get the best deal possible. A Fairfax criminal attorney can navigate the situation on your behalf to create options for you. They can also make an argument before the judge that may be persuasive enough to minimize the penalties leveled against you. Contacting a criminal lawyer Fairfax VA at Rudolphi Law can help you avoid serious penalties. Your lawyer will be able to make the best case possible for you.