Reckless driving by speed is more than just a traffic ticket – it’s a Class 1 criminal misdemeanor in Virginia. This conviction could carry up to 12 months in jail, a fine up to $2,500 and a license suspension. Courts will not typically impose the highest punishments unless there are extenuating circumstances like speeds over 100 MPH or a bad driving record.

However, even if you do not receive jail time or a substantial fine, a conviction for reckless driving means that your insurance rates will almost certainly increase, and your future employers could hold a criminal conviction against you. In addition, a reckless driving conviction will remain on your Virginia driving record for 11 years, and, absent rare circumstances, it will remain on your criminal record forever.

It seems odd that having a lead foot could make you a criminal, but the Commonwealth of Virginia takes reckless driving very seriously. The good news is that if you hire an experienced attorney to dispute the charge, you may be able to convince the Court to dismiss or reduce the charge to a traffic offense only.

If your attorney is able to get your reckless driving charge reduced to speeding, the penalties are far less severe. A speeding charge is a traffic ticket, not a criminal offense, and it carries a much smaller fine. In addition, it will be removed from your Virginia driving record (and hence insurance premiums) in far less time. Future employers will not be able to hold a criminal charge against you; a fact that may be particularly important for our clients with security clearances in nearby areas like Norfolk or Washington D.C.

The Commonwealth of Virginia wants to see drivers take excessive speeds seriously. A good attorney will help you prepare your defense in a way that sympathetically demonstrates to the Court that you are deserving of a reduction. In some cases, an attorney can help get the case dismissed altogether. Disputing a reckless driving ticket may seem daunting, but the potential benefits far outweigh the risk of having a criminal conviction forever.

Our attorneys at Simons, Thurman & Fix successfully handle reckless driving cases regularly. We offer free consultations on reckless driving charges and are happy to answer any questions you may have. Give us a call at (540) 463-6016 to schedule your free consultation today.