While you hope your new teen driver will never be arrested for reckless driving or another offense in Virginia, it is a good idea to talk to him in case he finds himself in this situation. Unfortunately, this is possible because there are at least 15 separate offenses that constitute reckless driving in our commonwealth.
Five Things to Tell Your Teen in Case He’s Charged With Reckless Driving
If your child is charged with reckless driving, you want to take all the steps you can to help him so that he achieves the best possible outcome. One of the most important steps you can take is to retain an experienced reckless driving lawyer to defend him. You can also help prepare him by discussing:
- Be polite. You should instruct your teen to be polite and cooperative with the police officer who pulls him over. He could be charged with a more serious crime or put himself in danger if he argues with the officer or does not follow his instructions.
- Understand this is not a ticket. If your teen is charged with reckless driving, he will most likely not be handcuffed and taken to jail. Instead, he will receive a notice to appear in court. It is important that he understand that he is being charged with a misdemeanor offense and not being ticketed for speeding or another traffic infraction.
- Know the penalties. You should explain the potential penalties of a reckless driving conviction to your teenager. Teens can be charged as an adult, although their case would be heard in juvenile court. Reckless driving is a misdemeanor offense with serious penalties. His punishment could include a fine, community service, confinement in a juvenile detention center, probation, and/or suspension of his driver’s license.
- Call you if he’s arrested. You should instruct your child to call you immediately if he is charged with reckless driving. Let him know that you will support him and do whatever you can to help him to fight the charges.
- Don’t pretend he wasn’t arrested. Your teen may be tempted to pretend that he was not charged with reckless driving. Teach him that pretending it did not happen could make his situation worse. He could miss important court dates, which could lead to additional charges or a bench warrant for his arrest. In addition, a lawyer can mount a stronger defense if he is retained soon after he was charged with reckless driving.
Let Us Help Your Teen Build a Strong Defense
Has your teen been arrested for reckless driving in Virginia? Our skilled legal team is here to aggressively fight the charges he faces so that they are dismissed or reduced to a less serious offense. Fill out the online form on this page to schedule your free consultation to learn more about our extensive experience in these cases and how we can assist your teenager.
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