Stafford Reckless Driving Defense Lawyer
Stafford law enforcement officers always look for people they think are driving recklessly.
They charge as many people with reckless driving as they can. However, reckless driving carries severe potential punishments under Virginia law.
You’ll need an experienced Stafford reckless driving defense lawyer to help protect your liberty, driver’s license, and insurance rates.
Contact one of the attorneys at Andrew Flusche, Attorney at Law, PLC, before your initial court date. We can help you design a legal strategy to put you in the best position to fight your case.
Our firm’s founder, Andrew Flusche, has represented over 4,225 people facing reckless driving charges. Andrew’s partner, Ryan Fitzgerald, spent nine years in the Stafford prosecutor’s office, before teaming up to help defend you!
Virginia Reckless Driving Lawyer Explains the Law
Virginia’s reckless driving law is so broad that almost any mistake could lead to you facing reckless driving charges.
Reckless driving is defined as driving on a highway recklessly, at a speed, or in a manner that endangers the life, limb, or property of another.
You can also be accused of reckless driving in a parking lot. As you can tell, the law leaves much room for subjective interpretation.
Virginia law also categorizes other driving behaviors as reckless driving. Reckless driving includes:
- Driving a vehicle while not under control or with faulty brakes;
- Passing on a crest of a hill or a curve;
- Driving with an obstructed view;
- Passing when two or more cars are beside each other;
- Driving two abreast in a single lane;
- Passing at a railroad crossing:
- Passing a stopped school bus;
- Failing to use proper signals;
- Driving too fast for highway and traffic conditions, regardless of the posted speed limit;
- Not yielding or reducing speed when there’s a stopped vehicle with warning lights;
- Driving 20 miles per hour over the speed limit;
- Failing to yield; and
- Racing.
Contact our office immediately if a Stafford law enforcement officer charges you with one of these reckless driving offenses.
How Much Is a Reckless Driving Ticket in VA?
Your reckless driving ticket is a summons directing you to appear in court to answer the criminal charges against you. You cannot simply pay a fine and be done with it.
Reckless driving is a Class 1 misdemeanor, which is a crime and not merely a traffic offense. Conviction of a Class 1 misdemeanor carries a maximum one-year jail sentence and a fine of up to $2,500.
The judge must issue a minimum fine of $250 if you were unlawfully using a cell phone or other electronic device when allegedly driving recklessly.
You could face a Class 6 felony if you were driving with a suspended license and your reckless driving caused someone’s death.
A Class 6 felony conviction carries a prison sentence of one to five years. However, the judge or jury could send you to jail for up to 12 months instead of state prison. Class 6 felony convictions also require you to pay a fine of up to $2,500.
These are serious criminal charges. You need an experienced reckless driving attorney to defend you.
If you’re charged with reckless driving, you should call our office as soon as possible, but certainly before going to court. We can discuss your rights, defenses, and responsibilities and prepare for your court date.
Our Reckless Driving Lawyer Explains Virginia’s Demerit Point System
You will face other legal consequences if convicted of reckless driving. Specifically, a reckless driving conviction will affect your driving record and could hurt your insurance rates.
Demerit Points Defined
The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles assesses demerit points for moving violations based on the severity of the charge. Reckless driving is a six-point offense.
That means the Virginia DMV hits you with six demerit points on your driving record.
You can reduce your points by acquiring safe driving points. You accumulate safe driving points each year that you do not get any violations. You can also attend a driver improvement course for safe driving points.
DMV demerit points remain valid on your record for two years. However, in most instances, a reckless driving conviction will stay on your driving record for 11 years.
DMV demerit points are separate from any your insurance company may give you. Your insurance rates will most likely go up after a reckless driving conviction.
Penalties for Accumulating Demerit Points
The DMV uses a system of graduated sanctions if you accumulate demerit points.
The DMV will send you an advisory letter warning you about the consequences of violating the law after acquiring eight demerit points in 12 months or 12 points in 24 months.
The DMV will order you to complete a driver improvement clinic if you get 12 points in 12 months or 18 points in 24 months. You will have 90 days to complete and pass the course.
The DMV will suspend your license for 90 days if you accumulate 18 demerit points in 12 months or 24 points in 24. You must take another driver improvement course and pay the required fees to reinstate your license.
Additionally, the DMV will put you on probation for six months.
These sanctions can leave you in a bad situation. Fighting your reckless driving charges could help you avoid losing your license if you accumulate too many demerit points.
You should contact us to help you challenge your reckless driving charges. This would put you in a better position to avoid the harsh consequences of a reckless driving conviction.
You Need A Stafford Reckless Driving Lawyer from Our Office to Help
The attorneys at Andrew Flusche, Attorney at Law, PLC, have represented thousands of people in reckless driving cases.
Although we can’t predict what will happen in your case, we do know that trying to fight a reckless driving charge without a lawyer is risky.
We’ve spoken with many people who pled guilty to reckless driving charges, encountered problems, and regretted not getting a lawyer to help them fight their case.
Unfortunately, we can’t help you after you’ve pled guilty, but we may be able to help if you contact us before you go to court.
Our attorneys are extremely knowledgeable about the reckless driving defense in Virginia. We know how to fight a reckless driving charge or negotiate for a lower charge for our clients.
Call our office right away to schedule your free case strategy session.
