What we look for in cases as a reckless driving lawyer in Arlington is how best can we either fight the charge at trial or work with the prosecutor or judge to get the best possible outcome on a plea. In doing so, we discuss with the client all possible outcomes and work with the client to determine their goals for the case.
We will also examine the strength of the Commonwealth’s case, see what witnesses were there, whether the equipment used to gauge your speed was in working order, and whether the police have an adequate memory of the case to win at trial. We will also discuss any mitigating factors that can be presented to a prosecutor or to judge to put you in the best possible position for a plea to a reduced charge or to minimize your sentence.
These are things like showing that have you been a good driver in the past, that you have taken driving school, that you take the offense very seriously, that you have proactively done community service to the court that you are repentant. All of these things will be discussed to help put a client in the best possible position for the best outcome in court.
The biggest misconception about reckless driving cases in Arlington is that it’s only a traffic offense and it’s not that big of a deal, that you can just pay a fine and life will go on. In fact, it is a class 1 misdemeanor. It has a serious range of punishment, it can result in active jail time, it can result in high suspended jail time meaning you’re on probation for a year and if you mess up you can be placed into jail. It can result in the suspension of your license, so it can’t just be blown off as a speeding ticket. Often times, you also can expect high fines, court cost, driving school, and up to a six month loss of license.
The myth is to take it too lightly, to think it’s not that big of a deal, when in fact, it’s a very serious offense and needs to be handled as such.
Well, the biggest mistake is to not take it seriously. Too often it is just viewed as a traffic infraction when in fact it’s a crime. By taking it seriously and realizing that’s a crime just like any other crime and knowing that it is taken very seriously by the courts and prosecutors, you can put yourself in a good position to help your case out.
By taking it seriously, realizing it’s a crime, realizing the impact that it could have on you, and realizing that the potential sentence that will help you shape your behavior in a way that puts you in the best possible light to the court to either win the case, get the charges reduced to something more favorable, or at least reduce the sentence.