Were you surprised, perhaps even shocked, to be pulled over and charged
with a criminal offense? Driving fast can be the rush of a lifetime, especially
for those who love cars, but the possibility of endangering the lives
of others on the road is going to make an officer of the law quite furious.
Not only can
speeding lead to these charges, but also if you are caught trying to pass an ambulance
or fire truck as they are en route, that is cause for reckless driving
charges. In many cases of reckless driving, there is often the use of
alcohol as well, likely accounting for the drivers fast speeds, though
this is not always the case.
If you have received one or more traffic tickets since you began driving, the next one could be anything but a routine traffic stop. The Commonwealth of Virginia takes reckless driving seriously, and you will face much harsher penalties than for a normal traffic offense.
To start your defense, contact our Virginia Beach reckless driving lawyer today.
Common reckless driving offenses in Virginia Beach are:
These are Class I misdemeanors – a conviction could result in losing your driver’s license, being forced to pay up to $2,500 in fines and being sent to jail for as long as a year. These categories, depending on the event, may all be included in the reckless driving charges, or perhaps just one.
Either way, if you are being accused of reckless driving in Virginia Beach and convicted, there is a likelihood that it will remain on your records for over a decade, with possible jail time, fines, and loss of license. It is vital to contact a Virginia Beach reckless driving attorney who specializes in criminal defense charges relating to reckless driving so that you can receive the proper legal counsel that you deserve.
The Virginia traffic laws identify a number of circumstances that fall under reckless driving. One that is often overlooked by drivers is driving too fast for conditions.
Section 46.2-861 is driving too fast for highway and traffic conditions. The code states, “A person shall be guilty of reckless driving who exceeds a reasonable speed under the circumstances and traffic conditions existing at the time, regardless of any posted speed limit.”
There are a few important points to note in this code. First, you can be charged with reckless driving even if you aren’t speeding. If the roads are icy, flooded or there are other hazards, an officer may determine you are driving too fast for the circumstances, even if you are below the posted speed limit. It’s important to note this isn’t only weather-related. If you are charged with reckless driving section 46.2-861, the officer could feel you are driving too fast for the traffic conditions.
This charge can even appear after a traffic accident, if the police feel you were driving too fast for the circumstances at the time.
Jerrell Johnson’s 15 years as a police officer make him uniquely qualified to defend you against a reckless driving charge. As your Virginia Beach reckless driving attorney, Jerrell and his team at JRLaw PLC will thoroughly investigate the evidence against you, diligently working to have your case dropped or to prove your innocence.
Don’t wait – contact a Virginia Beach reckless driving lawyer at JRLaw PLC now to talk about your case.
Call Us at (757) 447-0080.
