Prince William County Reckless Driving Prosecution

Reckless driving is prosecuted very harshly in Prince William County. Once you have been charged with reckless driving, it is mandatory to attend court. Judges take this charge very seriously whenever such a case comes before them. Therefore, it is very important that you retain an experienced Prince William County reckless driving lawyer; a local attorney will not only be aware of the laws regarding reckless driving for Prince William County, but also understand how the courts will prosecute such cases, and determine the best course of action to take for your case.

What to Expect During a PWC Reckless Driving Case

The process of a Prince William County reckless driving case is a bit of a hybrid between speeding charges and criminal charges. Someone who is charged with speeding is just given a speeding ticket, with no obligation to appear in court. Reckless driving is similar in that a ticket is issued, but the difference is that there is no option to avoid a court appearance. It is absolutely mandatory to appear in court for a reckless driving charge.

Is Arrest Involved?

However, unlike many other criminal cases, there is usually no arrest with reckless driving. Instead, you are issued a summons, which is a document that takes the place of a traditional arrest. You signing the summons is equivalent to you agreeing to appear in court to answer to this charge.

Court Process

Once you go to court, the process is similar to any other case. You will be asked by the judge how you plead: guilty, not guilty, or no contest. From there, you will either have a trial if you pleaded not guilty, or you will just have to argue sentencing if you are pleading guilty.

Each side has an opportunity to testify. The judge will make a decision as to what should happen to you immediately, and then you can move on with your life.

How Law Enforcement Treat Reckless Driving

Prince William County takes reckless driving very seriously. Judges rule extremely harshly in these cases, with some judges giving people one day in jail for every mile per hour over the speed limit at which they were driving recklessly.

Is Reckless Driving a Criminal Charge?

If the prosecution makes a compelling enough case against you and you are convicted of reckless driving, some of the penalties you might be facing include a class 1 misdemeanor conviction, possible fines of up to $2,500 and a suspended license.

These are not cases that should be taken lightly at all, as they are criminal charges, and will permanently remain on your criminal record if you are convicted. The best thing to do is to get an attorney to help you in your reckless driving case.

Importance of a Prince William County Reckless Driving Attorney

It is important to have local counsel in these types of cases because each jurisdiction is a little bit different and each judge in each jurisdiction is going to feel differently about certain charges as well. Local counsel in Prince William County can help you understand the best thing for you to do as well as what the different outcomes may be depending on which jurisdiction you are in.

Ways an Attorney can Help

They can help you best prepare for what the prosecution will bring against you in your reckless driving case by telling you what to do in advance of your court date. This gives you a good chance of getting your charges reduced or dismissed, and they can help you in court with properly presenting evidence on your behalf as well as providing strong cross examination of officers.

Generally, local attorneys appear in court on a very regular basis, so they are familiar with the judges and with the police officers. Sometimes, this can help you if your attorney has a good reputation, because they tend to get better results from people who already know and respect them.