Loudoun Reckless Driving Lawyer

Reckless driving is a serious offense in Virginia, particularly in Northern Virginia and Loudon. As a Loudoun reckless driving lawyer I can fight your criminal traffic charges in court and defend your right to drive.

read how we fight traffic tickets in virginia courts

What is Reckless Driving in Loudoun Virginia?

Reckless driving in Virginia is defined in §46.2-852 as driving that can endanger the life, limb, or property of another. 

To prove the danger to life, limb, or property, the police will gather witness testimony and assess damage to cars and property. 

Witness testimony of erratic driving can be enough to establish that a driver was driving recklessly. 

Additionally, police can examine patterns of damage to determine recklessness. 

Lastly, charges can be pressed on an injured person for reckless driving, even if they are the only person affected.

Other Ways to be Charge Reckless Driving

In Virginia, reckless driving can be established in several ways besides showing danger to life, limb, or property.

Driving 20 mph above the speed limit automatically opens the driver to a reckless driving charge. 

Additionally, driving at an unreasonable speed can be considered reckless driving. 

Police have discretion on whether or not to charge a driver with reckless driving or a lesser speeding ticket. 

Here, having a previous history of speeding and other offenses will influence the officer’s decision.

Driving faster than 85 mph anywhere in Virginia is reckless driving. 

It does not matter what the speed limit was where you were driving.  Failure to yield the right of way when entering a highway is also considered reckless driving in Virginia. 

Driving on any highway with faulty brakes or without proper control of the car is also considered reckless driving. 

There are other ways Virginia can charge you with reckless driving as well that range from driving with an obstructed view to driving next to a car in the same lane. 

Passing a school bus with its stop sign out is reckless driving.  Failure to properly signal while driving is also reckless driving in Virginia.

There are many ways to be charged with reckless driving in Virginia. 

Because there are more commuters and drivers in Northern Virginia, there are more driving offenses issued in Northern Virginia areas like Loudoun.

If you are charged with reckless driving, seek an experienced Loudoun Reckless Driving Lawyer.

Multiple Charges with Reckless Driving

Because there is no double jeopardy for moving violations, the police can charge multiple crimes at once for a single act.

For example, an officer may issue a speeding ticket and a reckless driving charge to a person driving for a single act of speeding. 

Similarly, a police officer who sees you texting and driving can give you a ticket for texting and driving, and possibly use the texting to justify a reckless driving charge. 

Again, which crimes are charged are largely at the discretion of the officer.

Penalties for Reckless Driving

Reckless driving in Virginia is a class 1misdemeanor.  Class 1 misdemeanors come with jail time up to a year and fined up to $2,500.  Additionally, reckless driving will add points to your license. 

Too many points in a certain amount of time will lead to mandatory driving education classes and possibly license suspension.

Reckless driving will also lead to increased insurance costs.  Because insurance companies insure Northern Virginia drivers based in part on driving history, a conviction of reckless driving will lead to higher insurance costs.

Lastly, a conviction of reckless driving will have to be disclosed on employment forms when employers ask if you have been convicted for a crime. 

Most traffic violations will not have to be disclosed, but reckless driving is different and very serious. 

Reckless driving will affect employment in the future.

Why You Should Hire a Loudoun County Reckless Driving Lawyer?

As discussed above, reckless driving can be charged when your driving threatens the life, limb, or property of another.  Reckless driving can also be charged for great levels of speeding, or other specific acts while driving. 

The penalties for reckless driving are jail time, fines, higher insurance costs, and damage to future employment. 

If you are facing reckless driving charges, you need an attorney. 

Get an experienced Loudoun Reckless Driving Lawyer from the American Lawyers Group to build the best defense and minimize penalties today.