Virginia Reckless Driving and Serious Traffic Offenses

With heavy traffic running east-west on I-66 from Washington D.C. into cities like Centreville, Manassas and Fort Royal and I-95 heading north-south through Stafford, Prince William and Fairfax Counties, the interstates and highways of Northern Virginia can be busy, frustrating routes. Even high-density state roads like Highway 234 can be a problem. But as citizens of nearby areas like Arlington and Fredericksburg attempt to travel these thoroughfares each day, the situation is worsened by congested commuter traffic, speed traps and areas of construction. A momentary lapse of focus or judgment often leads to a brush with the law.

What at first seems like a minor inconvenience to the driver, and a 30-minute traffic stop in the day of a police officer, can lead to long-term negative effects if a motorist finds him or herself charged with reckless driving or another serious, misdemeanor traffic offense. In Virginia, typically Reckless Driving is a Class 1 misdemeanor punishable by jail up to one year and a fine up to $2,500.  If convicted in those cases, the court may also suspend your privilege to drive up to six months and the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles will independently assess 6 demerit points on your driving record.  However, Reckless Driving may even rise to a felony if racing causes serious bodily injury or death to another, or where the reckless driver's license is suspended or revoked for a moving violation and the reckless driving causes the death of another.  Clearly, the Commonwealth of Virginia takes these violations very seriously. So should you. 

• Driving Without a License (46.2-300)
• Driving on a Revoked or Suspended License (46.2-301)
• Driving Outside a Restricted License (18.2-272)
• Leaving the Scene (Hit and Run) (46.2-894)
• Failure to Stop for Police (Eluding) (46.2-817)
• Driving After Being Designated as Habitual Offender (46.2-357) 

If you've been charged with DUI, reckless driving, driving with a suspended or revoked license, hit and run or another serious traffic offense in Virginia, don't make the common mistake of trying to go it alone.  You need an experienced and knowledgeable attorney who will fight for your rights. Let us be your legal advocate.

If saving your driver's license, minimizing fines and avoiding a jail sentence are important to you, call The Wilson Law Firm at 703-361-6100 or toll free at 1-888-384-5997 for a free, no obligation consultation.

The Wilson Law Firm is located in Manassas, Virginia and serves clients throughout the entire Commonwealth of Virginia, including but not limited to: Prince William County, Fairfax County, Fauquier County, Loudoun County, City of Manassas, City of Manassas Park, Stafford County, City of Fredericksburg, City of Winchester, Warren County, Sterling, Reston, Chantilly, Warrenton, Haymarket, Quantico and Front Royal.

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

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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.

Blog for Virginia Reckless Driving and Serious Traffic Offenses

• Virginia Driver Charged with Reckless Driving Following Accident with Ambulance
• Crash on I-95, Three Injured, Local Man Arrested
• Virginia Teen Dies in Crash, Five Other Injured
• Driver Crashed into ABC Store, Cited for Reckless Driving
• Virginia Lawmakers Looking to Make Rolling Stops a Criminal Offense
• Truck Driver Claims Cough Attack Caused Fatal Accident on I-81
• Eleven Miles Over the Speed Limit Can Land You a Reckless Driving Charge in Virginia
• Bicyclist Killed; Two Norfolk Police Officers Charged with Involuntary Manslaughter
• Reckless Driving Charge Dropped for Redskins’ Trent Williams
• I-95 Crash Injures Six, Including VA State Trooper Edward Brown
• VA Trooper Hit by Tractor Trailer
• Virginia’s 5th “Operation Air, Land and Speed” Effort Yielded Many Citations
• Redskins’ First Draft Pick Due in Court
• I-95 Shut Down after Truck Hauling Oxygen Overturns, Driver Charged with Reckless Driving
• New Criminal and Traffic Law for Virginia Effective July 1, 2010
• Charges Dismissed in Accident that Injured Senator’s Wife
• Fairfax Reckless Driving Accident Injures Senate Leader’s Family
• Street Race Claims the Life of an Innocent Bystander
• Chesterfield Crash Involving Fire Truck Injures Two
• Loudoun County Man Wanted by Police

Library for Virginia Reckless Driving and Serious Traffic Offenses:

• § 46.2-869. Improper driving.   
  § 46.2-869. Improper driving.
• Driving without a License   
  In Virginia, no person shall drive a motor vehicle on a highway without a valid license. A first offense driving without a license is a Class 2 misdemeanor.
• Driving on a Revoked or Suspended License   
  In Virginia, no person whose driver’s license has been suspended, or who has been directed not to drive by the court or DMV.
• Driving Outside a Restricted License   
  Under Virginia law, operating or driving a motor vehicle in violation of the terms of your restricted license is a Class 1 misdemeanor criminal offense.
• Leaving the Scene of An Accident - “Hit and Run”   
  In Virginia, leaving the scene of an accident, or “hit and run”, is a serious criminal offense that principally arises out of your failure to report.
• Failure to Stop for Police – “Eluding”   
  In Virginia, if a police officer signals (either visible or audible) for you to stop your motor vehicle, it is a Class 2 misdemeanor for you to continue driving
• Driving After Being Designated as an Habitual Offender   
  In Virginia, if you have been adjudicated an habitual offender, you may not drive a vehicle while your revocation is in effect.
• Understanding the Penalties for Reckless Driving in Virginia   
  Have you been ticketed for reckless driving in Virginia? The penalties for this offense are serious and can lead to jail time, thousands of dollars in fines, and a criminal record. Do not plead guilty or try to get out of this charge on your own. Call the experienced attorneys at the Wilson Law Firm today at (800) DUI-LWYR.
• Virginia Moving Violations and Point Assessments   
  The Virginia DMV is notified by the court when a person is convicted of a traffic offense. Certain traffic offenses are assigned demerit points. If you’ve been charged with a criminal, traffic, Drunk Driving or Reckless Driving offense in Virginia, call us at 1-888-384-5997 for a free, no obligation consultation.
• No Texting While Driving in Virginia   
  Texting while driving now illegal in Virginia. If you’ve been charged with a criminal, traffic, Drunk Driving or Reckless Driving offense in Virginia, call us at 1-888-384-5997 for a free, no obligation consultation.
• Points and the Virginia DMV: How Long Are Convictions and Demerit Points Reflected on a Virginia Driving Record?   
  In Virginia motorists earn "safe driving points" and the DMV assesses "demerit points", but how long do the points and the convictions stay on the Virginia driving record? If you’ve been charged with a criminal, traffic, Drunk Driving or Reckless Driving offense in Virginia, call us at 1-888-384-5997 for a free, no obligation consultation.
• Points and the Virginia DMV: When Demerit Points Start to Accumulate   
  What happens in Virginia when a motorist begins to accumulate demerit points and what can be done to offset the assessment of demerit points by the Virginia DMV? If you’ve been charged with a criminal, traffic, Drunk Driving or Reckless Driving offense in Virginia, call us at 1-888-384-5997 for a free, no obligation consultation.
• Points and the Virginia DMV: How Safe Driving Points Are Earned and How Demerit Points Are Assessed   
  The "point system" used by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles is a complicated one in which motorists licensed in Virginia earn "safe driving points" for good driving and the Virginia DMV assesses "demerit points" for moving violations. If you’ve been charged with a criminal, traffic, Drunk Driving or Reckless Driving offense in Virginia, call us at 1-888-384-5997 for a free, no obligation consultation.

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Frequent Questions for Virginia Reckless Driving and Serious Traffic Offenses:

• Can I expunge my Reckless Driving conviction?

• Does the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) assess demerit points for accidents?

• If my Virginia license is suspended, can I drive in other states?

• If I am licensed in Virginia and my privilege to drive is suspended in another state, can I continue to drive in Virginia?

  
  

   

• If am licensed in another state and my privilege to drive in Virginia is suspended, can I continue to drive in the state in which I am licensed?

  
  

   

• What can happen to me if I am convicted of a Virginia Reckless Driving charge?
• How fast do I have to be going for it to be considered Reckless Driving in Virginia?  
• If I am convicted of a Virginia Reckless Driving, will my insurance rates increase? 
• Do I need to hire a Virginia lawyer if I have been accused of Reckless Driving in Virginia?
• What can a Virginia Reckless Driving Lawyer do for me?
• How much does it cost to hire The Wilson Law Firm to handle a Virginia case involving Reckless Driving or some other serious traffic offense?
• Is Reckless Driving a traffic infraction or a crime in Virginia? 
• Is Reckless Driving in Virginia a misdemeanor criminal offense or a felony criminal offense?

• If I am convicted of Reckless Driving in Virginia, how long will it stay on my record?

• If I am convicted of Reckless Driving in Virginia, will points be assessed against my license?  If so, how long will the points count against me?

• My next court date is an arraignment.  What happens at an arraignment?

• I was pulled over for Speeding in Virginia, but my ticket says Reckless Driving.  Why was I charged with Reckless Driving when all I was doing was driving above the speed limit?

• What are the differences between simple Speeding and Reckless Driving Speeding in Virginia?

• What is the definition of Reckless Driving in Virginia?
• Can a lawyer handle the arraignment for me in Virginia or will I actually be required to appear in court for the arraignment?

Case Results for Virginia Reckless Driving and Serious Traffic Offenses:

• Manassas Lawyer Gets Reckless Driving - Accident Charge Reduced
• Manassas, Virginia Lawyer Gets Reckless Driving Charge Dismissed
• Driving Over 80 mph in Virginia is a Misdemeanor Criminal Offense

Web Resources for Virginia Reckless Driving and Serious Traffic Offenses:

• Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

  Description: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) provides additional regulations and safety measures for large trucks and buses.

• In-Person Driver Improvement Courses

  Description: Locate in-person driver improvement clinics throughout the state of Virginia.

• Online Driver Improvement Courses

  Description: Locate Virginia approved online driver improvement courses.

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