Chantilly Traffic Lawyer

Traffic offenses in Chantilly are anything involving a vehicle, whether it is a motor vehicle, a bicycle, or a motorcycle. Anything that is using the roads in Chantilly is subject to a series of laws requiring certain behavior on the road and is subject to a traffic charge in Chantilly.

If you have been cited for a traffic infraction, it is imperative to speak with an experienced Chantilly traffic lawyer as the offense may be more serious than you think. An experienced attorney, however, will be able to assist you in determining the potential penalties and building a defense.

Common Traffic Infractions

Common traffic infractions that are more serious than one might think include things like reckless driving which is a misdemeanor criminal offense in Virginia. Reckless driving includes driving any speed over 80 miles per hour or any speed that is 20 miles per hour or more over the speed limit. That charge will stay on a person’s criminal record for the rest of their life and on their traffic record for eleven years. It is much more serious than most people think and is not the same as a simple speeding ticket.

Another commonly underestimated traffic offense is a hit and run. A hit and run charge has varying degrees of damage, but all face severe penalties. Leaving the scene of an accident that a person is involved in, including a fender-bender or hitting a parked car, without reporting it and calling the police could cause a person to face very serious charges for a hit and run depending on how much damage occurred. It would be charged as either a misdemeanor offense or a felony offense .

If an individual hits a vehicle with an individual inside and then leaves, that can be charged with a hit and run, which is a felony offense, even if the damage was minimal.  Those are probably the two most common traffic charges that are not taken as seriously that warrant the attention of a traffic attorney in Chantilly.

Penalties

The potential penalties for a traffic infraction in Chantilly are going to vary depending on whether or not it is a mere traffic infraction or a misdemeanor or felony offense. If it is just an infraction, the penalties could be up to a $250 fine depending on the infractions settled. Additionally, points will be added to the individual’s driving record with the Virginia DMV.

For a misdemeanor offense, it could be up to a $2,500 fine and up to 12 months in jail making it important a Chantilly traffic lawyer is contacted. For example, reckless driving is a misdemeanor offense with a potential of jail time up to 12 months and a higher fine. If the charge is a felony offense, somebody could be looking at years in prison and a much higher fine. It will all depend on what the individual is actually charged with, and if there are any aggravating factors.

Points System

The point system as it relates to traffic law is, in a nutshell, the Department of Motor Vehicles’ way of keeping track of an individual’s driving record. Depending on the state, it is done a little bit differently, but here in Virginia, the Department of Motor Vehicles keeps track of an individual’s driving ability in their driving record by using a system of good and bad points. If a person has a Virginia license and goes a year without obtaining any new traffic infractions or violations of driving laws, then they will get one good point. They can also receive good points for taking driving classes, and can do that once every two years.

Every time an individual is convicted of a traffic infraction or a misdemeanor offense that involves driving, they will lose points. The negative points from a person’s license can be canceled out by their good points, depending on how many they are.

Once a person receives a certain number of negative points, their license will be put on probation for a certain period of time and will be required to go to traffic court. After the period of time is over, usually the license can be reinstated to its normal state, however, if they have too many points their license could be suspended or revoked entirely.

A traffic infraction will affect a person’s license depending on the number of points their license already has.

Role of an Attorney

If a person is concerned with having points in their record, they should absolutely contact a Chantilly traffic attorney, even if somebody is charged with a minor traffic infraction to see if the points or even the infraction could be negotiated down. Depending on what you are charged with and what your driving record is like, you could potentially do traffic school and the whole infraction could be removed from your record.

Only an experienced attorney in Chantilly would be able to tell you exactly what the ramifications of each type of charge would be and what the likely outcome will be for you in that specific jurisdiction. It is always a good idea to call a traffic attorney and to see if there is anything that can be done, or there is anything that the attorney can do for you that you cannot do for yourself.