Richmond Reckless Driving Lawyer

If you have been charged with reckless driving in Richmond, the consequences may be more serious than you think. Because Virginia designates this particular crime as a Class 1 misdemeanor, a conviction could result in jail time—a far cry from your average speeding ticket.

The good news is, a Richmond reckless driving lawyer can help you work toward less severe consequences, even if you’re an out-of-state driver who cannot afford to show up to court. Regardless of the circumstances of your charges, contacting a Richmond reckless driving lawyer is a great first step toward a brighter outcome.

Reckless Driving in Virginia

In the Commonwealth of Virginia, reckless driving is defined by Virginia Code Section 46.2-862 as a number of dangerous actions, such as operating a motorized vehicle at speeds of 20 miles per hour over the posted speed limit or at speeds higher than 80 miles per hour on any roadway, public or private.

As a Richmond reckless driving attorney can tell you, Virginia has 20 sections pertaining to reckless driving, which include:

Passing on curve
Racing
Passing a stopped school bus
Driving a vehicle not under your control (for example, having faulty brakes, poor steering, non-working headlights or flashers)

Whether you’re on the highway or in the parking lot of a local small business, you can be ticketed for driving recklessly.

Speed Limits in Virginia

When it comes to reckless driving tickets, people ask the same questions, or they wonder how their driving could be considered “reckless.” The truth is, the state sets speed limits according to how engineers measure and analyze the road surface, angles, and nearby obstructions, and they determine the safe travel speed for that stretch of road using their calculations. They aren’t setting speed limits “willy-nilly.” There is a science to it, and it has saved lives.

Richmond Reckless Driving Punishments

Reckless driving is a serious offense, not only because it carries serious penalties, but also because of the danger it poses to people and property. If you’ve been ticketed for reckless driving, there are two different convictions to consider.

Class 1 Misdemeanor—Reckless driving convictions are class 1 misdemeanors meaning that the possible penalty includes up to a year in jail and/or a fine of $2,500. There is also a maximum of a six month suspension of the privilege to drive in the Commonwealth of Virginia if convicted.

Trying to figure out any possible sentencing can get tricky, but a knowledgeable Richmond reckless driving lawyer can help clarify your situation. If, while driving recklessly, you “caused the death of another,” you can be convicted of a class 6 felony, which carries a much heavier penalty.

Class 6 Felony—According to Virginia Code Section 18.2-10, a class 6 felony is punishable by up to five years in prison and/or a fine of up to $2,500.

Distracted Driving in Richmond

Driving recklessly means driving in a manner that endangers your life, the life of others or public or private property. For instance, driving recklessly could be driving the wrong way on a one-way road, or driving on the sidewalk, or driving while applying make-up or changing your clothes.

One thing that can cause reckless driving is distracted driving which is driving while your attention is focused on something other than the road ahead. One such distraction is texting while driving. Texting while driving is banned in most states, and talking on a cell phone while driving is banned for bus drivers and novice (inexperienced) drivers.

According to Virginia Code Section 46.2-1078.1, first offenses of texting while driving are fined $125, and any subsequent offenses are fined $250. While these numbers seem low, consider that you can be ticketed for reckless driving, which carries a much steeper penalty.

More people are communicating with their fingertips than ever before. Because texting is so easy and fast, many assume they can text no matter where they are, even if they are behind the wheel of their car. This is a dangerous assumption, and you will be caught, and you will be fined if you do this. In the seconds it takes to look down at your phone and reply to a text, an accident can occur—and you’ll never see it coming.

Hiring a Richmond Reckless Driving Lawyer

Reckless driving can take your license, cost you your job, empty your bank account, and land you in jail. A Richmond reckless driving lawyer who can help is only a call or click away. Contact one of our attorneys today to start building the strongest defense possible.