If you are facing reckless driving charges for a traffic violation, help is available by contacting a Prince William County reckless driving lawyer. An experienced reckless driving attorney in Prince William County can provide you with a free case evaluation to determine the best approach for handling your case to help you minimize or avoid penalties such as fines, driving restrictions, incarceration, and more.
Regardless of whether you are a resident of the state of Virginia or just passing through, call a Prince William County reckless driving lawyer when you need help dealing with a reckless driving charge.
When an individual’s driving practices are deemed to endanger the life, property, or well-being of another person, he or she may be charged with reckless driving, which can carry the same penalties as a driver who is under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Thus, what may be a minor traffic violation just across the state line, can actually lead to criminal charges in the Commonwealth.
The Prince William County reckless driving attorneys at our firm have a well-developed presence in the local court system and an in-depth knowledge of the local roads, highways, and law enforcement tactics. By bringing this knowledge to bear on your case, our lawyers can help you to achieve positive results that may not have been easy to achieve on your own.
Call today to learn more about how a Prince William County reckless driving lawyer can improve your ability to effectively deal with your charges.
A reckless driver is defined in the Criminal Code of Virginia as “any person who drives a vehicle on any highway recklessly or at a speed or in a manner so as to endanger the life, limb, or property of any person.” Listed in the code, as well, are specific traffic violations which qualify as reckless driving. Even without violating any of the specific traffic laws listed, a person may be charged with reckless driving if the arresting officer feels that he or she has put the lives of others in danger. A skilled Prince William County reckless driving attorney may be able to refute the subjective opinion of law enforcement to reduce your charges to a mere traffic violation, rather than a criminal charge such as reckless driving, thereby helping you avoid up to 12 months in jail and significant fines and a criminal record.
One often visualizes instances of road rage, intoxicated drivers, high-speed police evasion, or aggressive and blatantly dangerous driving when the term reckless driving is heard. While those would certainly qualify as reckless driving, even more mundane traffic infractions can incur criminal reckless driving charges in the Greater Prince William County area. Some such criminal traffic violations include, but are not limited to:
A conviction for reckless driving is severely punished when compared to the penalties associated with a simple traffic violation. A reckless driving conviction can carry serious fines, driving restrictions, license suspension, mandatory enrollment in a driver’s safety course, and much more. Additionally, a conviction will mar your reputation by leaving you with a criminal record which can negatively impact future employment and other opportunities.
Because the criminal code uses a slightly ambiguous definition of reckless driving, it is possible for the subjective opinion of a highway patrol officer or other law enforcement agent to file criminal charges against you for driving that he or she deems to put others’ lives at risk. Speeding, for example, is charged as reckless driving if one is found driving more than 20 miles per hour (mph) above the posted speed, found driving at more than 80 mph, regardless of the posted speed, or is considered by law enforcement to be driving too fast for roadway conditions.
After evaluating the details of your citation, an experienced Prince William County reckless driving lawyer can help you to determine how to best develop your defense. By avoiding a conviction, you can keep a misdemeanor charge off your record and avoid the substantial penalties associated with a criminal conviction.
If your lawyer is unable to get your charges completely dropped, he or she may still be able to negotiate a reduction of charges. By incurring a lesser charge of “improper driving,” as opposed to “reckless driving,” the associated penalty is much less severe as such a charge is punishable by a fine of no more than $500.
If a seemingly simple traffic violation has you facing criminal charges, you can benefit from the counsel of a Prince William County reckless driving lawyer. If you are seeking to avoid a conviction or minimize the penalties and consequences that can accompany a reckless driving charge, begin by contacting a Prince William County reckless driving attorney with our firm for a free legal consultation.