Warrenton Reckless Driving Lawyer

If you’ve been charged with reckless driving in Warrenton or anywhere else in Fauquier County, a solid defense is essential. There are many effective defenses available in these cases, including the questionable accuracy of speed cameras and radar guns. An experienced Warrenton defense lawyer can help you avoid the consequences of these charges by employing any number of defense tactics that are relevant to the facts and circumstances of your case.

Reckless driving is a serious offense in Virginia. A person charged with reckless driving can face a Class 1 misdemeanor which can lead to a criminal record. However, when a case is argued well and a prosecutor is unable to prove an offense beyond a reasonable doubt, you can face lesser charges, or even have your case dismissed altogether. Call our law offices today to learn how an experienced Warrenton reckless driving attorney from our firm can help you.

Reckless Driving Enforcement in Warrenton

The Warrenton Police Department and the Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office actively enforce traffic laws on local roads, especially on nights and weekends. Due to Warrenton’s proximity to a number of heavily-trafficked roads in Fauquier County, there are a variety of reckless driving enforcement efforts in and around town. Most commonly, reckless driving is enforced on the Route 29 bypass, where the speed limit goes up and down between 45 to 55 miles per hour and ultimately drops to 35 miles per hour. Many reckless driving charges are also enforced at the speed drop zone.

Speeding vs. Reckless Driving

A simple speeding violation evolves into a reckless driving violation when a person is driving 20 miles over the posted speed limit or driving faster than 80 miles per hour anywhere in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Although reckless driving by speed is the most common form of the charge, the Virginia reckless driving statute includes many other offenses. Overall, any person whom a law enforcement officer deems to be driving a vehicle in a manner that is reckless or dangerous can be charged. In addition to excessive speed, a person may be charged with reckless driving if he or she:

• Passes an emergency vehicle
• Fails to control a vehicle
• Drives in a dangerous manner based on the road and the weather conditions
• Passes a vehicle at a railroad crossing
• Drives with an obstructed view
• Fails to give a proper signal when merging or turning

Potential Penalties

Reckless driving carries a harsher penalty than basic speeding offenses. These penalties include up to a year in jail, a significant fine, six demerit points (which can cause your insurance premiums to skyrocket), and even suspension of a license.  If you think that you will not receive demerit points or a suspension if you are from another state—then you are probably wrong. The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will report this suspension and many states honor suspensions that were issued in other states.

When you work with one of the Warrenton reckless driving attorneys at our firm, he or she can take you through your case step-by-step to evaluate how to build your defense. It’s not always possible to have charges dropped or reduced, but our VA reckless driving lawyers use their knowledge of the law and experience litigating in the local court system to help clients reach their goals.

Contact a Reckless Driving Attorney Today

You are not the first person and definitely not the last person to have been charged with reckless driving in Virginia. Whether you are a government employee who is afraid of how a conviction could affect your security clearance, a student trying to prevent a conviction form affecting future job prospects, or simply someone who is trying to maintain a clean criminal record, you probably want to do everything you can to protect yourself. A Warrenton reckless driving lawyer can help you protect your driving record, insurance premium, and most importantly criminal record. Call our law offices today to complete your free initial consultation and get started.