out of state reckless driving chargesWhen you're traveling in Virginia for business or pleasure, it's important to keep in mind that the state's laws apply to all motorists regardless of where their license was issued. This means that you can be arrested for reckless driving in Virginia even if your license is from another state.

How Virginia Defines Reckless Driving

Virginia law considers a wide range of actions to be reckless driving. For example:

  • Driving 20 miles or more over the speed limit or over 85 miles per hour regardless of the speed limit
  • Driving too fast for weather conditions
  • Failure to maintain control
  • Driving with an obstructed view
  • Passing two vehicles abreast
  • Passing a stopped school bus
  • Passing at the crest of a grade or on a curve
  • Failing to yield right of way
  • Failing to give proper signals
  • Drag racing

In addition, there is a general rule that allows an officer to arrest you for reckless driving if he believes you are operating your vehicle in a way that endangers the property or safety of others. You do not have to actually cause an accident to be charged with reckless driving.

About the Interstate Driver License Compact

The Interstate Driver License Compact is an agreement between states that allows offenses committed out of state to be treated as though they were committed in your home state. This means that a reckless driving charge in Virginia will result in whatever penalties your state would apply if you had committed the offense at home.

The Interstate Driver License Compact applies to all states in the U.S. except Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.

How a Lawyer Can Help With Out Of State Reckless Driving Charges

An experienced reckless driving lawyer can help you build an aggressive defense against the charge. In many cases, your lawyer can appear in court on your behalf so you don't need to travel back to Virginia to take care of the matter. To learn more, call Virginia reckless driving attorney T. Kevin Wilson to schedule a free, no-obligation case review.