Best Fairfax County VA Reckless Driving Lawyers • 1500+ Client Reviews
Riley & Wells Attorneys-At-Law is an experienced law firm. We specialize in defending reckless driving cases and have over 60 years of collective reckless driving trial experience. Our trial lawyers have been recognized for superior legal ability and the highest ethical standards. We can help you with your Fairfax County VA reckless driving charges. Do NOT plead guilty without first consulting an attorney. The consequences can be devastating. Do not miss an opportunity to defend yourself! CAUTION: A Fairfax County reckless driving conviction will on average increase the automobile insurance premium by 73% or $1,046 EACH YEAR, according to a study conducted by Insurance.com
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30,000+ Clients Represented
1500+ Client Reviews
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Experienced Fairfax Criminal Reckless Driving Defense
Reckless Driving in Virginia is a criminal misdemeanor violation. Most of our clients are good people who simply made a mistake. Our clients are serious about protecting their freedom & driving privileges. Other concerns include employment, professional licensing and automobile insurance policies. Virginians and motorist from other states need a dedicated professional advocate. We represent Virginia drivers and out-of-state clients before the Fairfax County General District Court. Our Fairfax County VA reckless driving lawyers have been positively reviewed more than any other Fairfax attorney.
Most Rated Fairfax Reckless Driving Lawyer Client Review
Reckless Driving on Interstate 95 in Fairfax County VA
Interstates 95, 495 & 66 run through Fairfax County VA. I-95 enters Virginia in Emporia and stretches over 160 miles before entering Fairfax County. Several motorists get pulled over for driving too fast on this stretch of highway. Our reckless driving lawyers will examine your case and use proven strategies to successfully defend you. We use every resource the law allows to best protect our client. We zealously advocate for every client. We are diligent and fight for our clients to achieve the best possible outcome under the law. Let us review your case. You can benefit from our experience.
Virginia Summons Reckless Driving Ticket Issued by Fairfax Police
A Virginia Uniform Summons is the legal document issued by Fairfax Police or State Troopers during a reckless driving traffic stop. Motorists often refer to this document as a ticket. The summons serves as legal notice for the alleged reckless driving violation. Signing the summons is not an admission of guilt. The summons advises you that a hearing will be at the Fairfax General District Court on a particular date and time. The hearing will either be an arraignment or a trial depending on the case. Allow our top rated Fairfax County VA reckless driving lawyers to review your summons. We can develop a defense strategy even if you think you are guilty.
Reckless Driving Lawyer Fairfax County VA Free Consultation
Some drivers think they do not need a lawyer for their Fairfax VA reckless driving case. The biggest issue is usually experience. Keep in mind that there can be a lot riding on the case because reckless driving is a criminal misdemeanor that carries harsh penalties. Our top rated Fairfax County VA reckless driving lawyers know the best tactics for obtaining good results. Our attorneys spend a significant amount of time in the Fairfax General District Court every day and are familiar with the habits of the of the different judges and the law enforcement officers who issue reckless driving tickets. This knowledge is invaluable when determining how to best defend your case.
Fairfax Reckless Driving Trials are Adversarial By Design
If you have been accused of reckless driving in Fairfax, then your case will eventually be set for trial before the Fairfax General District Court. Reckless driving trials are adversarial. This involves a structured and formalized dispute between the Fairfax Commonwealth Attorney’s Office and the defense. The adversarial system is designed to ensure a fair trial process subject to the rules of law and evidence by allowing each side to present their case and to be able to challenge the other’s arguments and evidence. The Fairfax District Court Judge ultimately evaluates the evidence and arguments to reach a verdict. This system ensures that the prosecution meets its high standard of proof.
Elite Fairfax VA Reckless Driving Attorneys by Virginia Super Lawyers
Super Lawyers is a lawyer rating service of outstanding attorneys from 70 plus practice areas including reckless driving law who have attained the highest degree of recognition and achievement. This legal organization recognizes the top lawyers nationwide across a variety of practice areas and firm sizes using a patented process of independent research and peer input. Our Fairfax VA reckless driving lawyers have been recognized by this publication since 2009. No more than five percent of all lawyers are on this list and no more than 2.5 percent are on the Rising Stars list. This recognition is merit based. Retain a top rated Fairfax reckless driving attorney who has been recognized with this award.
VA Reckless Driving Speeding Law is Enforced in Fairfax County
Fairfax County enforces the reckless driving excessive speed law. Va. Code 46.2-862 is the most enforced reckless driving provision by State Troopers & Fairfax County Police Officers. In Fairfax County, much of the enforcement occurs on the Interstates, the Fairfax Parkway and Dulles Toll Road. Virginia law states that a driver is guilty of reckless driving for driving faster than 85 mph or 20 miles per hour or more above the speed limit. Violations of this law carry strict penalties if convicted.
Penalties For Virginia Reckless Driving Convictions
- Incarceration
- Maximum fine of $2,500
- Permanent Virginia criminal misdemeanor conviction
- Increased automobile insurance premiums
- Potential loss of employment or employment opportunities
- Suspension of driving privileges
A Fairfax Reckless Driving Ticket is NOT an Automatic Conviction
A reckless driving criminal conviction can negatively affect you in many ways. However, a Virginia Uniform Summons or ticket is NOT a conviction. Our reckless driving defense lawyers defend this type of allegation in the Fairfax County General District Court. We know how to best protect our clients. The facts of each case can vary. Our knowledge, expertise, and experience helps us to select the best defense for your case. We diligently prepare arguments for your particular circumstances.
Riley & Wells Attorneys-At-Law Defend Fairfax County VA Reckless Driving Cases
- 46.2-852 – General rule
- 46.2-853 – Fail to maintain control; brakes
- 46.2-854 – Passing on grade or curve
- 46.2-855 – View obstructed/control impaired
- 46.2-856 – Passing two vehicles abreast
- 46.2-857 – Driving two abreast
- 46.2-863 – Failure to yield
- 46.2-864 – Parking lots
- 46.2-865 – Racing
- 46.2-865.1 – Injury or death while racing
- 46.2-858 – Passing at a railroad crossing
- 46.2-859 – Passing a stopped school bus
- 46.2-860 – Failing to give proper signals
- 46.2-861 – Driving too fast conditions
- 46.2-861.1 – Failure to “Move Over” or Yield to Stationary Emergency Vehicle
- 46.2-862 – Excessive speeding
- 46.2-866 – Racing; aiders or abettors
- 46.2-867 – Racing
- 46.2-868.1 – Aggressive driving
- 46.2-869 – Improper driving
Fairfax Legal Elite Reckless Driving Lawyer by Virginia Business
The Virginia Business publication is dedicated to covering the legal community in Fairfax County. Since 2000, in cooperation with the Bar Association, the Top Attorneys are recognized with the Legal Elite award. There are over 23,000 legal practitioners in the Commonwealth. Legal Elite recognitions are awarded to approximately 1400 attorneys each year. This is an exclusive list of top rated lawyers who have been recognized by their peers for excellence. Only outstanding and experienced professionals are recognized for being Legal Elite. A practitioner cannot purchase their way in to being recognized as a member of the Legal Elite community. Let a Fairfax County VA Legal Elite reckless driving attorney review your case.
Out of State Reckless Driver Retains Top Rated Fairfax Defense Lawyer
Out-of-state drivers must defend their Fairfax County reckless driving ticket because a conviction will be reported back to the home state. The home state and automobile insurance company will likely then take action against the driver. Fairfax County sits along the Interstate 95 corridor. Many of our clients are not from the area or are drivers from other states such West Virginia, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Kentucky, & Ohio because large numbers of motorists drive through Fairfax County on the interstate. In many instances, we can make a motion to waive our client’s appearance so that our client does not have to return to Fairfax VA for the trial.
VA Move Over Law Can Be Reckless Driving in Fairfax County
Virginia law requires the driver of any motor vehicle to “move over” to an adjacent lane when passing a stationary vehicle stopped on the shoulder of the Fairfax County highway under certain traffic conditions. A violation of this law can be considered reckless driving if an emergency vehicle is in involved, which is a criminal misdemeanor in some cases. If you have been accused of violating this law in Fairfax then it would be in your best interests to consult an accomplished local driving attorney before appearing in the Fairfax County VA General District Court. You may have a valid defense and not realize it.
Fairfax County VA Reckless Driving Accident Defense Attorneys
Reckless driving general (46.2-852) and driving a vehicle not under proper control or with faulty brakes (46.2-853) are the two most common reckless driving laws that Fairfax police officers will charge a motorist with in Fairfax accident cases. Any person who drives a vehicle that is not under proper control may be violating the reckless driving law. NOTE: The mere happening of an accident does not mean you are guilty of reckless driving. Sometimes the prosecution cannot prove how the accident happened. Other times there is only evidence of slight culpability. The issuance of a summons for reckless driving is not a conviction. Our Fairfax County VA reckless driving attorneys know how to best defend these types of cases.
RACING in Fairfax VA is Serious Reckless Driving & Can be a Felony
The racing law is the most serious type of reckless driving law. Any person who engages in a race in Fairfax County VA between two or more vehicles on a highway is guilty of reckless driving. Racing can even be a felony if it causes serious bodily injury to another person who is not involved. The Fairfax Judge can suspend driving privileges for as many as three years if convicted. In fact, you do not even have to be engaged in a race to violate this law. Any person who aids or abets a race can also be convicted of criminal misdemeanor reckless driving racing. Contact our top rated Fairfax VA reckless driving attorneys to review your case.
The Jail Penalty is Real in Aggravated Fairfax VA Reckless Driving Cases
Reckless driving is a criminal offense. With the exception of some racing cases, the offense is a class 1 misdemeanor. The maximum penalty is 12 months in jail. Most drivers charged with reckless driving will not see the inside of a jail cell even if convicted. That all changes if the Fairfax County Commonwealth Attorney considers your case to be an aggravated reckless driving case and has set the matter for arraignment. At the arraignment, the Fairfax Judge will advise the reckless driving motorist defendant of their constitutional right to hiring their own lawyer. Do not take any chances at this point. Retain a top rated Fairfax County VA reckless driving lawyer with the experience to present your best defense.
Fairfax Reckless Driving Convictions Six DMV Demerit Points
There are numerous types of Virginia DMV demerit point violations. Demerit points are not issued when the Fairfax County reckless driving summons or ticket is issued. The reckless driving demerit points are assigned only by the DMV shortly after the Fairfax Court finds the defendant motorist guilty of reckless driving. The demerit points associated with a conviction remain valid for two years from the date the offense is committed. Fairfax VA reckless driving convictions carry 6 demerit points. One safe driving point is assigned for each full calendar year that you hold a valid Virginia driver’s license and drive without any violations or suspensions. A driver may accumulate a maximum of five safe driving points.
Fairfax County VA Reckless Driving Reduced to Improper Driving
Improper Driving is a lesser offense of reckless driving. Improper driving is not a criminal misdemeanor. It is a minor traffic infraction. Va. Code § 46.2-869 gives the Fairfax Judge the authority and discretion to find the defendant motorist not guilty of reckless driving and guilty of improper driving where the degree of culpability is slight. A conviction for improper driving is typically considered a win. The only thing that appears on the driving record is a conviction for improper driving. Improper Driving is a 3-point demerit point offense and stays on the Virginia driving record for 3 years. The maximum fine allowed by law is $500. Retain a top rated Fairfax County VA reckless driving lawyer to argue your case.
Speedometer Calibration For Fairfax Reckless Speeding Cases
Sometimes a motorist is driving too fast in Fairfax County but the vehicle has a defective speedometer. A speedometer calibration may assist our top rated Fairfax reckless driving lawyers. A speedometer calibration is a specialized test performed by certain mechanics that measures the accuracy of a vehicle’s speedometer. Not just any mechanic can perform this type of diagnostic test. The test comes with a report showing whether the speedometer was off and if so, by how many miles per hour. An experienced Fairfax County VA reckless driving attorney will introduce evidence of the calibration results pursuant to Va. Code 46.2-942. Such evidence shall be considered by the court in both determining guilt or innocence and in fixing punishment.
Driver Improvement Program For Fairfax VA Reckless Driving Cases
A Driver Improvement Program is an educational course designed to improve the knowledge and driving skills of participants. One of the main purposes to complete such a program is to provide a pathway for our Fairfax reckless driving clients to mitigate the consequences of their Fairfax reckless driving case. Completing a program may assist our top rated Fairfax reckless driving attorneys in convincing the Fairfax Judge to dismiss or reduce the case. The duration of the Program can either be a 12 hour or an 8 hour course. The program has in person and online formats. Consult our experienced Fairfax VA reckless driving lawyers to understand your options before you pursue a driver improvement program for your reckless driving case.
Fairfax County Reckless Driving Lawyer Wins Case
Defective equipment is a minor no points non-moving traffic infraction. A common example is operating a motor vehicle with a broken headlight or cracked windshield. A conviction only triggers a minor fine. There is no other negative impact. In some instances, we can convince the Court to find our client NOT GUILTY of criminal misdemeanor reckless driving. If the Judge will not completely dismiss the case, then a defective equipment disposition is the next best result.
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3/31/2022 | Updated 11/3/2024
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