FAIRFAX RECKLESS DRIVING LAWYER (46.2-862)
Reckless driving is a serious criminal charge in Fairfax. Don’t worry as a Fairfax reckless driving lawyer I can fight your case in court and make sure to get you the best outcome.
read below penalties and defenses of reckless driving in Fairfax Virginia
Experienced Strong Defense Fairfax Reckless Driving Lawyer
Call Now – FREE Consultation
Se Habla Español
What Is Reckless Driving in Fairfax Virginia?
Under §46.2-852, reckless driving is a misdemeanor driving offense in Virginia.
Generally, reckless driving refers to any driving that recklessly endangers the life, limb, or property of another.
Reckless driving can be charged for many different forms of recklessness.
Some of the most common ways police charge reckless driving are speeding in excess of 20 mph over the speed limit, swerving in or between lanes, and collisions with other vehicles.
In addition to the ways mentioned above, Virginia law considers it reckless driving to drive past a school bus that has stopped and extended its own “STOP” sign, to split lanes, not yield when merging onto a highway, and many other forms of driving that could endanger the lives or wellbeing of others.
List of The Different Reckless Driving Violations in Virginia
| Type of Reckless Driving | Virginia Law Section |
|---|---|
| Reckless Driving by Speed | (VA Code 46.2-862) |
| Passing at the Crest of a Grade or on a Curve | (VA Code 46.2-854) |
| Driving With Driver’s View Obstructed or Control Impaired | (VA Code 46.2-855) |
| Passing Two Vehicles Abreast | (VA Code 46.2-856) |
| Driving Two Abreast In A Single Lane | (VA Code 46.2-857) |
| Passing A Railroad Grade Crossing | (VA Code 46.2-858) |
| Passing Stopped School Bus | (VA Code 46.2-859) |
| Failure To Give Proper Signal | (VA Code 46.2-860) |
| Driving Too Fast For Road Conditions | (VA Code 46.2-861) |
| Fail to Yield Right Of Way | (VA Code 46.2-863) |
| Reckless Driving on Parking Lot | (VA Code 46.2-864) |
| Racing | (VA Code 46.2-865) |
What Are the Consequences of Reckless Driving?
Reckless driving is a class 1 misdemeanor in Virginia.
This means that if convicted you could face fines as high as $2,500 and prison sentences as long as a year.
Judges will likely not hand out a sentence with the maximum possible punishment for first offenses unless there is some exceptional reason to do so.
Normally, judges only hand out the maximum sentences for repeat offenses.
Additionally, the officer who pulled you over has some flexibility on whether or not to issue a reckless driving ticket or a speeding ticket.
A record of previous speeding or reckless driving offenses will make it much harder for the police to let you off easily.
These are some reasons you need to take every reckless driving charge very seriously.
If you get an initial conviction, following convictions and charges will be even more detrimental.
Additionally, there are consequences of a reckless driving conviction that are not connected to fines and jail time.
Firstly, you will receive points on your driver’s license.
Too many points on your license will result in suspension and mandatory driving classes.
Secondly, reckless driving convictions will increase the cost of your insurance.
Lastly, future employers may ask if you have a criminal history.
Because reckless driving is a class 1 misdemeanor and not just another moving violation, you have to disclose a reckless driving conviction.
Experienced Low-cost Fairfax Reckless Driving Lawyer
Se Habla Español
Call Now – FREE Consultation
Because reckless driving carries the potential for steep fines and jail time, increased insurance costs, license suspension, and employment difficulties, you need to have skilled defense attorneys from American Lawyers Group on your side when you are charged with reckless driving in Fairfax or any other part of Virginia.
Defenses Against Reckless Driving in Virginia
Reckless driving is like any other criminal charge.
The government must prove that you satisfy the elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.
The reasonable doubt standard is the highest standard in all of criminal law.
A skilled Virginia reckless driving lawyer, such as the ones at American Lawyers Group, can cast doubt on the government’s case against you through cross-examination, and attacks on the trustworthiness of the police’s tools and techniques.
Often, the government will use eyewitness testimony to secure a conviction.
Because memory is often unreliable and different witnesses will remember events and facts in different ways, an experienced attorney can use well-crafted cross-examination questions to create doubt and damage the government’s case against you.
Similarly, a good lawyer with the right fact pattern will be able to use the circumstances of your arrest to show that the police’s radar or similar equipment is in some way unreliable.
This can be hard, as the technology is usually quite effective.
However, calibration or training issues can be used to create doubt in the mind of the judge or jury.
Lastly, if your reckless driving was the result of a legitimate medical emergency or some similar emergency, your reckless driving could be justified and not subject to reckless driving laws.
This is risky, as the law may not share your opinion on what constitutes an emergency.
Why You Need a Fairfax Reckless Driving Lawyer?
You need a Fairfax reckless driving lawyer, because of how damaging a reckless driving conviction can be on your professional, personal, and financial wellbeing.
Experienced Strong Defense Fairfax Reckless Driving Lawyer
Call Now – FREE Consultation
Se Habla Español
Reckless driving can cost thousands of dollars in fines, increased insurance costs, and lost wages from jail time, or increased difficulty finding a job.
To fight a reckless driving charge, you need the skilled attorneys at the American Lawyers Group.