Reckless Driving Lawyer in Lexington Virginia

Overview of Reckless Driving Law

If you have been charged with reckless driving in Lexington, Virginia, and you have a court date coming up in the Rockbridge County General District Court, the first thing you should know is reckless driving is not just a traffic ticket. Under Virginia law, reckless driving is a Class 1 Misdemeanor. It carries a potential penalty of up to 12 months in jail, a fine up to $2,500, and/or a license suspension.

In the majority of cases, the Rockbridge County General District Court in Lexington, Virginia, will not impose the highest punishment allowed by statute. Most cases can be resolved at a reduced fine, without the necessity of jail time or a license suspension. It all depends on the facts of the case, your prior driving record, and the other surrounding circumstances, to determine what can be done in your case.

But it is important for you to know – especially if you are an out-of-state drivers- that Virginia reckless driving is more than just a traffic ticket. It is not a prepayable offense. You can challenge the charge, and possibly avoid a misdemeanor conviction altogether, but you will likely need to go to court or have an attorney go to court for you to contest the offense and work for a reduction.

So what should you do? The first step is to call for a free consultation at (540) 319-4111. That way, we can talk through your to determine what can be done to fight the charge. As a reckless driving lawyer in Lexington, Virginia, who has worked in the Lexington prosecutor’s office, I can investigate the charge, talk to the officer, contact the prosecutor, and work on your behalf to get the charge dismissed or reduced.

Reckless Driving By Speed

There are several types of reckless driving under Virginia law. Some have to do with accidents, driving erratically, or passing an emergency vehicle or school bus in an unsafe manner. But most reckless driving charges fall under the category of Reckless Driving by Speed. Virginia Code § 46.2-862 states:

A person shall be guilty of reckless driving who drives a motor vehicle on the highways in the Commonwealth (i) at a speed of twenty miles per hour or more in excess of the applicable maximum speed limit or (ii) in excess of eighty miles per hour regardless of the applicable maximum speed limit.

Under the reckless driving by speed statute, you can be charged with reckless driving (misdemeanor) for traveling more than 20 mph over the speed limit. Or, you can be charged for driving faster than 80 mph, regardless of the posted speed limit. The interstate highways around Lexington, VA, near the Rockbridge court, have a speed limit of 70 mph, including Interstate 81 and Interstate 64. That means you can be charged with a crime – reckless driving by speed – for driving just 11 mph over the highway’s speed limit!

How a Lexington, VA Reckless Driving Lawyer Can Help

If you have an upcoming court date for reckless driving in the Rockbridge County General District Court, you are probably wondering:

• I’m an out of state driver. Do I have to appear in the Rockbridge court in person?
• Is it a traffic ticket, or something more?
• Will I really get jail time just for speeding in Rockbridge County court?
• What will happen to my license? My insurance rates?
• Can it get reduced or dismissed by the Rockbridge prosecutor?

When you contact my office, I can help answer each of those questions well in advance of your court date. As a reckless driving lawyer, it may be possible for me to go to court for you – so that you do not have to travel back to Lexington, Virginia, for your court date in Rockbridge County General District Court.

The first step is to schedule a free phone consultation. We will go over what happened and develop a strategy. By the end of our phone appointment, you will have a precise fee quote and a case plan. As a small firm by choice, we work efficiently to provide clients like you with reasonable rates with a focus on results.

Next, we’ll get to work preparing a defense in your case. Depending on the facts, we can develop a strategy to reduce, or even dismiss, your Lexington, VA, reckless driving charge. It depends on the following factors:

• Driving Record
• Emergency Circumstances
• Speedometer Accuracy
• Radar Calibration
• Laser Calibration
• Legality of Traffic Stop

We will get a copy of your driving record, perform a full investigation, and work to obtain a reduction or dismissal of the reckless driving charge in the Rockbridge County General District Court in Lexington, VA. You have options, and we are ready to help. To take the next step, call (540) 319-4111.