How Long Does a Reckless Driving Ticket Affect Insurance in Virginia?
As with any criminal offense, you face possible jail time, hefty fines, and other criminal sanctions. Other consequences may apply as well.
For instance, you could lose your driver’s license after a reckless driving ticket conviction, and your auto insurance rates might go through the roof.
How do you avoid these negative consequences of a reckless driving charge in Virginia?
You give yourself the best chance to reduce the negative impact by contacting a Virginia reckless driving defense attorney. And not just any attorney will do.
You need someone who has extensive experience fighting reckless driving charges in Virginia. In other words, you need someone like me, Attorney Andrew Flusche.
I have the experience you need, and I will do what I can to get your case dismissed or get your charges reduced.
What Impact Can A Reckless Driving Conviction Have on My Life?
Reckless driving is a criminal offense that covers a wide range of dangerous driving behaviors. It is not simply a traffic citation where you just pay a fine and walk away.
Instead, you must appear in court and answer to criminal reckless driving charges.
Reckless driving is a Class 1 misdemeanor that carries penalties of up to one year in jail and a $2,500 fine.
The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will assess penalties for a reckless driving conviction on top of the penalties assessed by a judge.
Whether the DMV suspends your license depends on your driving history and other factors. One of those factors is the number of demerit points you have.
You will lose your license for at least 90 days if you have too many demerit points on your driving record.
How Does the DMV Demerit System Work?
The DMV assesses six demerit points against you for a reckless driving conviction. Six points are the most the DMV can tack on to your driving record for a single offense.
Other six-point offenses include driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident.
The DMV’s demerit point system is Virginia’s method for tracking unsafe drivers. Most points stay on your driving history for two years.
However, a reckless driving conviction stays on your driving record for 11 years, then comes off automatically.
Escalating Sanction System
Virginia’s DMV uses an escalating sanction system. Accordingly, you will receive a harsher punishment from the DMV if you accumulate a certain number of points within a specified timeframe.
Advisory Letter
The DMV will send you an advisory letter if you accumulate 8 points in 12 months or 12 points in 24 months. The letter cautions you about the legal implications of getting additional points.
The next level of punishment is driving school. The DMV will order you to complete a driver improvement clinic within 90 days if you get 12 demerit points in 12 months or 18 points in 24 months.
The DMV can suspend your license if you do not complete the driving clinic within 90 days.
Next Level: Driver’s License Suspension
Suspension is the next sanction. Accumulating 18 points in 12 months or 24 points in 24 months requires the DMV to suspend your license for 90 days.
You must complete the driver’s improvement clinic and pay all fees to reinstate your license.
A word of caution about the driver improvement clinic: on the one hand, you will not receive full credit if you do not meet the minimum requirements to pass the class.
On the other hand, you can obtain good credits from the DMV if you take a driver’s improvement course.
The DMV will put you on driver’s probation for six months after reinstating your license. You can lose your license again if you receive a traffic ticket during your probationary period.
You should realize that traffic tickets you get while in another state count on your Virginia driving record.
How Much Does a Reckless Driving Ticket Raise Your Insurance?
Now that we have looked at the demerit point system in Virginia, we can discuss demerit points and insurance costs.
Your auto insurer may or may not assign you demerit points. The DMV’s demerit system is independent of any insurance point system used in Virginia.
Practically speaking, you could see an increase in your insurance premium if you have a conviction for reckless driving.
Accidents involving reckless driving will also increase your premium, provided that the total amount of damage exceeds a certain amount.
Other factors can increase your auto insurance rates. Multiple incidents, the length of time between incidents, your age, and your history of good (or bad) driving may also influence your rates.
How Can You Avoid the Harsh Consequences of a Reckless Driving Conviction?
Your daily life probably depends on your ability to drive. Even if you’ve never had a criminal charge before, a conviction for reckless driving can blow a mistake out of proportion. Don’t let that happen to you.
I am Attorney Andrew Flusche, and I will fight for you. I’ll start your case by trying to get your charges thrown out or get them reduced to a minor traffic offense.
I use my experience and knowledge to your benefit. Call Andrew Flusche, Attorney at Law, PLC, today at 540-318-5824 to learn more about your reckless driving defense.