Leesburg Reckless Driving Prosecution

Every jurisdiction in Virginia has slight nuances in how they handle reckless driving cases. Some courts are more apt to give high fines, some judges more vigorously enforce reckless driving convictions with jail time or license suspension, and other jurisdictions view the offenses itself as punishment enough.

In Leesburg, however, prosecutors and judges do not take a reckless driving charge lightly. Contact a Leesburg reckless driving lawyer as soon as possible to discuss possible defense strategies and how to start building your case.

How Leesburg Prosecutors & Judges Treat Reckless Driving

Prosecutors and judges in Leesburg treat reckless driving cases very seriously. First, reckless driving is viewed as a safety issue. Local law enforcement officials want to make sure that all roads are safe and free from those who may cause accidents or drive in a manner to can cause danger to life, limb or property.

Therefore, when cases display reckless or dangerous behavior and other serious consequences, prosecutors and judges take them very seriously. This is especially true in high speed cases, cases involving repeat offenders, or when drugs, alcohol or distracted driving is involved.

If you are convicted of a reckless driving offense in Leesburg, you will be punished accordingly as it is a Class 1 misdemeanor offense. Like all Class 1 misdemeanor offenses, reckless driving is punishable by up to 12 months in jail and up to a $2500 fine or a combination thereof.

As a special condition, reckless driving convictions may also result in a loss of your Virginia license or your ability to drive in Virginia for up to six months, if you are an out-of-state driver.

For Virginia drivers, you will also face negative six demerit points for a period of 11 years. Out-of-state drivers may also be assessed points based upon their home state’s rules, but that is fact specific and depending on their home state.

Impact of a Reckless Driving Conviction

The short-term implications of a reckless driving conviction in Leesburg include a potential loss of liberty, fines, court costs, and license suspension. However, there are also long-term implications from these convictions. The most apparent of these are negative points on your Virginia DMV record, which may then accumulate and lead to a Virginia DMV administrative license suspension. There is also the potential for a negative impact on insurance rates.

Penalties on Your Driver’s License

If you are found guilty of reckless driving in Leesburg you will receive six demerit points on your driver’s license for a period of 11 years. If you are an out-of-state driver and you receive a reckless driving conviction in Virginia, you may receive points depending on how your home state views your Virginia record. Other states may not assess points and this varies from state to state and is offense specific.

Unique Aspects of Leesburg Reckless Driving Cases

Reckless driving offenses in Leesburg, Virginia are unique because of the various different speed limits in which they may occur. A commonly seen reckless driving offense, for example, is reckless driving by speed. While Loudoun County has a lot of roads and a lot of drivers on those roads, the area does not have a lot of high-speed areas.

This is especially true in the town of Leesburg. Leesburg has very limited 55 miles/hour zones on the local bypasses. The majority of the roads are 25 mile/hour zones if it is residential or businesses. There are also descending and ascending speed limit areas as one enters and exits the town of Leesburg.

As a result of these often fluctuating speed limit ares, knowing the speed limits, where they change, and how these different zones are viewed by the court and prosecutor is very important.