Reckless Driving

It is far easier to get charged with reckless driving in Virginia compared to most states. Reckless driving is a charge that should not be taken lightly. It is a Class 1 misdemeanor, which can result in a penalty of confinement in jail for not more than twelve months and/or a fine of not more than $2,500. If one is found guilty of reckless driving, that charge will also put six points on one’s driving record for, depending on the charge, five to eleven years, affecting one’s insurance rates. There is the potential for a suspension of one’s license. Since it is a misdemeanor, it will also result in an entry on a person’s criminal record. This can be a problem when one is trying to get a security clearance, rent a property, get a loan, or any other time one might have a background check done.

The most common reason why people get a reckless driving charge is for speeding. In Virginia, one can get charged with reckless driving if driving at least twenty miles per hour more than the posted speed limit, or any time one is driving eighty miles per hour or more. There are a number of other reasons why someone can get charged with reckless driving in Virginia. They include:

• Driving vehicle which is not under control or has faulty brakes

• Passing on or at the crest of a grade or on a curve

• Driving with driver's view obstructed or control impaired

• Passing two vehicles abreast

• Passing at a railroad grade crossing

• Passing a stopped school bus

• Failing to give proper signals

• Driving too fast for highway and traffic conditions

• Failing to yield right-of-way or reduce speed when approaching stationary vehicles displaying certain warning lights on highways

• Failure to yield right-of-way

• Reckless driving on parking lots

Fortunately, there are steps that can be taken to lessen the penalty of a reckless driving charge, get reckless driving reduced to a lesser charge, or get the charge completely dismissed. The options available depend on a number of factors, including the facts of the case, one’s driving record, and the jurisdiction that reckless driving was charged in.

For those in the military, getting a reckless driving ticket can introduce additional concerns, including non-judicial punishment, issues with security clearances, and conflicts of court dates with deployment schedules. The attorney at Fidelity Law Firm has the military background to understand and help servicemembers with these issues.

Fidelity Law Firm helps people all over southeastern Virginia with reckless driving tickets. If you received a reckless driving ticket in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Isle of Wight, Franklin, Southampton, or Northampton, give me a call and I can help you. There is no way to remove the charge from your record once you are found guilty, so get help from an attorney before it is too late.