Reckless driving is a crime in Virginia. Therefore, the court procedures for a reckless driving charge are different than they are for a typical speeding ticket or a simple traffic infraction. While a reckless driving charge is a criminal charge, most reckless driving cases are not handled the way that you see criminal cases handled in TV shows or movies. Instead, the initial court appearances for reckless driving charges in Virginia are streamlined and, if your case goes to trial, it will be heard by a judge and not a jury.
Reckless Driving Arraignments
Your first court appearance in a reckless driving case may be an arraignment. However, arraignments do not always happen in reckless driving cases. You are more likely to have an arraignment if you were traveling at an extremely high speed or if you violated a reckless driving statute in an egregious way.
If you do have an arraignment as your initial hearing, the judge will explain that you have a right to an attorney, that you can waive your right to an attorney, or that the court may appoint an attorney for you if you can’t afford to hire one yourself.
Reckless Driving Trials
Most Virginia reckless driving cases do not have pre-trial hearings or motion hearings the way other criminal cases typically do. Instead, your next court appearance may be a bench trial before a Virginia judge. Any evidentiary matters or other issues may be decided during trial.
While the pre-trial process for reckless driving charges is different than it is for other crimes, it is important to remember that you have been charged with a crime and the potential penalties are serious.
Therefore, it is important to contact an experienced Virginia reckless driving lawyer as soon as possible. An attorney can make sure that all of your legal rights are protected and that you are confident of that every time you enter a courtroom. To learn more, please call The Wilson Law Firm today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation and to ensure that all of your rights are protected throughout your reckless driving case.
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