Richmond Reckless Driving Lawyer
Reckless driving is a very serious offense. It is defined as driving in a manner that endangers people or property. Reckless driving is charged in many instances, it can be charged with regard to speed or where there’s erratic or careless driving that results in an accident or endangers other individuals. As a Richmond reckless driving lawyer can tell you, it is not a speeding ticket; it’s much more serious than a speeding ticket. Unlike a speeding ticket, reckless driving is a class 1 misdemeanor which carries substantial penalties up to a $2,500 fine, up to a year in jail, and up to a six-month loss of license. Therefore, if you have been charged consult with a reckless driving lawyer in Virginia today to discuss your case.
A Richmond Reckless Driving Lawyer Can Help
A Richmond reckless driving lawyer can assist in getting these charges dismissed or reduced so that your criminal record stays clean and that the damage to your driving record is minimal. They will also seek to ensure that your license is not suspended and avoid a conviction that could increase your insurance. An attorney can speak with the officer and negotiate with prosecutors to get the matter negotiated down to a lower charge, or even possibly get the matter dismissed.
The experienced attorneys with our firm knows that many people believe a reckless driving charge is just like a ticket. It isn’t. Any violation of these laws is considered a misdemeanor criminal offense, which means potential for jail time, among other things. Defined as driving “recklessly or at a speed or in a manner to endanger the life, limb, or property of any person,” according to Virginia law. As you can see, this law could be interpreted in a variety of ways. What makes the difference between a traffic ticket and a reckless driving charge is often the interpretation of the police officer on the scene. It’s because of this subjectivity that reckless driving cases can be particularly tricky. If you have any questions about the charge you face, or if you haven’t even been arrested yet but want to find out more information about these laws so that you can avoid any issues in the future, please contact our attorneys for more information about these laws and the penalties you could be facing for a violation. If you are facing a simple speeding charge, a Richmond speeding ticket lawyer can help.
Reckless Driving Charges in Richmond
Reckless driving in Richmond is driving in manner that endangers life or property. It can be charged as a result of speed; speed is 20 miles over the speed limit or over 80. It can also be charged if you’re driving in matter that endangers other individuals, cutting in and out of lanes or driving in a manner that causes (or could cause) an accident.
- More Information on Reckless Driving Charges in Richmond
- Richmond Uniform Demerit Point System
- Potential Defenses in Richmond Speeding Cases
The Role of a Richmond Reckless Driving Attorney
The role of an attorney in a reckless driving case is to try to minimize the damage to your record, to try to get the charge either reduced or dismissed, and obtain the best outcome possible for you. A Richmond reckless driving lawyer can prepare a proper to a reckless driving charge and recommend mitigating factors you can take to assist in the case. We will recommend getting your speedometer calibrated, obtaining an updated copy of your driving record, getting information on what driving is required of your employment, and possible recommend you complete a driving school.
Your Richmond reckless driving lawyer will speak with the officer involved and review their evidence to determine if they can prove you were driving recklessly. In addition and most importantly, your attorney will speak with the prosecutor in an attempt to get your matter resolve in a manner that may result in a reduction or dismissal. If necessary, we will use our experience to argue your case before the Court to show you were not reckless driving.
The Value of Local Richmond Counsel
It’s important to get local counsel on a reckless driving because a local reckless driving attorney is going to understand the policies and procedures of the court and they’ll know what defenses to explore. In addition to that, a local attorney in Richmond is going to understand what the judges and the prosecutors are looking for and what mitigating factor they’ll usually consider in either reducing or even possibly dismissing a charge.
In addition, and last but not least, a local attorney is also going to understand what options are available for a client to try and get the matter reduced or to lessen the penalties, whether that’d be a driving school or what’s called the RDAP Program, which is a program unique to the Richmond area.