Case Results

DISCLAIMER: Please note that every case is different and these verdicts and settlements, while accurate, do not represent what we may obtain for you in your case.

Driving Over 80 mph in Virginia is a Misdemeanor Criminal Offense

Like most people who have the misfortune of being stopped by a law enforcement officer in Virgnia for speeding, when Mr. X was stopped by a Virginia State Trooper for driving 89 mph in a 65 mph zone, he thought he might be lucky enough to be given a warning, but at worst he expected to be given a speeding ticket which he could pre-pay.  So, like most others in Virginia who end up in a similar situation, Mr. X was surpsied when the Trooper told him that he was being charged with Reckless Driving and that since it was not a pre-payable offense he would have to come to court on the scheduled date.  Confused and a bit irritated about why he would have to miss work and come to court for what he was still thinking of as a Speeding ticket, Mr. X politely signed the summons and then set out on a mission to learn about Reckless Driving and Speeding in Virginia.  

Mr. X called The Wilson Law Firm and was shocked to learn that driving fater than 80 mph in Virginia is not just Speeding - a simple traffic infraction, but rather it is Reckless Driving - a Class 1 Misdemeanor criminal offense, for which Mr. X could be put in jail for up to one year, fined up to $2,500.00 and have his privilege to drive in Virginia suspended for up to six months.  Of course, in addition to having a permanent criminal record, paying a fine and court costs, perhaps being incarcerated, and possibly having the ability to drive taken away, a conviction would result in the assessment of demerit points by the DMV and would likely trigger an increase in insurance premiums.  Mr. X, a Manager for a well-known grocery store chain, was concerned about saving his ability to drive to and from work, and I explained that if his license was suspended, we could ask that he be granted a restricted license allowing him to do so.  However, Mr. X had another concern which had him desperately wanting to avoid a license suspension altogether.  Mr. X was active in the life of his step-daughter, who he raised as his own, but she lived several hours away and Virginia law would NOT allow him to drive to see her under these circumstances.   

Mr. X trusted The Wilson Law Firm and he hired T. Kevin Wilson to represent him on his charge of Reckless Driving.  When they appeared in court, Mr. Wilson was able to speak about Mr. X's case with both the Virginia State Trooper who issued the summons and the Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney, and after a lengthy discussion about Mr. X's situation, his excellent driving history and the other facts and circumstances of his case, Mr. Wilson was able to persuade the Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney to reduce the charge against Mr. X from the misdemeanor criminal offense of Reckless Driving to the traffic infraction of Speeding and ask the Court to simply impose a fine.  

Misdemeanor conviction: NO.  Criminal record: NO.  Jail sentence: NO.  License suspension: NO.

Ability to drive for work: YES.  Ability to visit his step-daughter: YES.  Happy he hired The Wilson Law Firm: YES.  
 
The Wilson Law Firm:  DUI & Criminal Defense...When Results Matter 

The Wilson Law Firm
DUI, Criminal & Traffic Defense ...When Results Matter

We have helped thousands of clients - and we can help you, too.

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The lawyers of The Wilson Law Firm have traveled Virginia’s several interstates helping clients just like you - appearing in courts all across the Commonwealth of Virgnia - from Virginia Beach and Norfolk in the southeast, to Wise County in the southwest, all the way up I-81 to Frederick County / Winchester in the northwest, and all the way across Warren County, Fauquier County, Prince William County, and Fairfax County on the way to Arlington County and the City of Alexandria in the northeast. The Wilson Law Firm regularly serves Prince William County, the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park, the towns of Haymarket and Quantico, Fauquier County / Warrenton, Stafford County, Spotsylvania County / Fredericksburg, Loudoun County / Leesburg, Fairfax City, Fairfax County, Arlington County, the City of Alexandria, Culpeper County, Warren County / Front Royal, Clark County / Berryville and Shenandoah County.