Best Richmond VA Reckless Driving Lawyer • 1500+ Reviews

The Virginia reckless driving law is more strict than other states. Reckless Driving is a class one criminal misdemeanor offense. Virginia has several reckless driving laws ranging from general offenses to racing. A Virginia reckless driving conviction is permanent and stays on file with the Virginia DMV for 11 years. A conviction can negatively affect you in many ways. Richmond City Police, Virginia State Police, and VCU Police are the primary agencies that enforce the reckless driving laws in Richmond VA. CAUTION: A 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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Experienced Reckless Driving Defense Attorneys in Richmond VA

Riley & Wells Attorneys-At-Law is a local Richmond VA law firm. We specialize in defending reckless driving charges. Our lawyers have over 60 years of combined reckless driving experience. We believe that lawyers who dedicate their practice to a specific area of law provide better representation. Our attorneys are regularly recognized for their legal excellence and high ethical standards. We are recognized as a “Best Law Firm” by U.S. News & World Report. Our firm has been positively reviewed more than any other firm that defends Richmond reckless driving cases. Serious clients want an experienced attorney. Let us review your case. We can help! NOTE: A reckless driving allegation is NOT a reckless driving conviction.

Richmond VA Reckless Driving Attorney Client Review

Thomas Eichler

Excellent legal advice and professional representation. Highly recommended!!

Effective Criminal Misdemeanor Reckless Driving Defense

Our reckless driving lawyers defend this allegation every week before the Richmond VA General District Courts located at the John Marshall Courthouse and the Marsh-Manchester Courthouse. We believe that a local attorney who regularly appears before the same Judges every week are able to provide better representation. Our Richmond reckless driving attorneys examine every case in great detail. The facts of each case can vary. We select the best defenses and arguments for your particular circumstances. We have the experience to protect you. Contact a top rated professional with an experienced track record of success.

Penalties For Reckless Driving Conviction

Maximum 12 months in jail
Maximum $2,500 fine
Loss of driving privileges
Criminal record

Moving violation demerit points
Community service
Driver improvement programs
Potential employment problems

Virginia Summons Reckless Driving Ticket Issued by Richmond Police

A Virginia Uniform Summons is the legal document issued by Richmond 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 Richmond 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 Richmond VA reckless driving lawyers to review your summons. We can develop a defense strategy even if you think you are guilty.

Elite Richmond 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 professional achievement. This 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 Richmond VA reckless driving lawyers have been recognized by this publication since 2009. No more than five percent of the lawyers are named to this list and no more than 2.5 percent are named to the Rising Stars list. This recognition is merit based. Retain a top Richmond reckless driving attorney who has been recognized with this award.

Free Richmond VA Reckless Driving Lawyer Consultation

Some drivers think they do not need a lawyer for their Richmond 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 Richmond VA reckless driving lawyers know the best tactics for obtaining good results. Our attorneys spend a significant amount of time in the Richmond General District Courts 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 local knowledge is invaluable when determining how to best defend a reckless driving case.

Richmond Reckless Driving Trials are Adversarial By Design

If you have been accused of reckless driving in Richmond VA, then your case will eventually be set for trial before the Richmond General District Court. Reckless driving trials are adversarial in nature. This involves a structured and formalized dispute between the Richmond 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 Richmond 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.

Richmond VA Reckless Driving Speeding Ticket Attorneys

if the richmond police see reckless driving they will stop the vehicle and issue a virginia uniform summons or reckless driving ticket

Richmond VA Reckless Driving

The reckless driving excessive speed law is one of the most enforced Virginia reckless driving laws in Richmond VA. Va. Code 46.2-862 states that driving 20 mph or more over the limit is reckless driving. The Virginia State Troopers generally patrol Interstates 95, 195 & 64, the Powhite Parkway and the Downtown Expressway in Richmond VA. The Richmond Police Department patrols the rest of the Richmond, which includes: Manchester, Church Hill, Shockoe Bottom & Slip, the Fan & Museum Districts & Carytown. Reckless driving speeding tickets are issued by these police officers every day.

Speedometer Calibration For Richmond Reckless Speeding Cases

Sometimes a motorist is driving too fast in the City of Richmond but the vehicle has a defective speedometer. A speedometer calibration may assist our top rated Richmond 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 Richmond 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.

Riley & Wells Attorneys-At-Law Defend Any Richmond VA Reckless Driving Case

46.2-852 General recklessness
46.2-853 Fail to maintain proper control
46.2-854 Passing on a grade or curve
46.2-855 Obstructed view/control impaired
46.2-856 Passing two vehicles abreast
46.2-857 Two abreast in a single lane
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 for conditions

46.2-861.1 Failure to “Move Over” or Yield to Stationary Emergency Vehicle
46.2-863 Failure to yield
46.2-864 Parking lots, etc
46.2-865 Racing
46.2-865.1 Injury or death while racing
46.2-866 Racing; aiders or abettors
46.2-867 Racing; seizure of motor vehicle
46.2-868.1 Aggressive driving
46.2-869 Improper driving

The Jail Penalty is Real in Aggravated Richmond 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 Richmond Commonwealth Attorney considers your case to be an aggravated reckless driving case and has set the matter for arraignment. At the arraignment, the 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 Richmond VA reckless driving lawyer with the experience to present your best defense.

Reckless Driving Richmond VA Emergency Vehicle Move Over Law

Va. Code 46.2-861.1 requires drivers to “move over” to an adjacent lane when passing an emergency stationary vehicle stopped on the shoulder of the highway with emergency lights activated under certain traffic conditions. A violation can be considered reckless driving if a stationary emergency vehicle is in involved, which is a criminal misdemeanor. If you have been accused of violating this reckless driving law in Richmond Virginia then it would be in your best interests to consult an accomplished top rated local Richmond VA reckless driving attorney before appearing in the Richmond General District Court. We successfully defend these types of cases. You may have a valid defense and not realize it.

Passing a Stopped School Richmond VA Reckless Driving Violation

A driver is guilty of reckless driving if they do not stop for a Richmond City school bus with its warning device activated. The school bus must be taking on or discharging children, elderly individuals, or individuals with mental or physical disabilities. Drivers shall remain stopped until all such individuals are clear of the highway, private road, or school driveway and the bus is put in motion. In some instances, there may be defenses that only a top rated Richmond VA reckless driving attorney will know how to best present at trial. Allow us to review your case. NOTE: There is a civil penalty version of this violation that is less serious.

RACING in Richmond 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 Richmond 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 Richmond 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 Richmond VA reckless driving attorneys to review your case.

Richmond VA Reckless Driving Reduced to Improper Driving

Improper Driving is a lesser offense of reckless driving. It is not a criminal misdemeanor. It is a minor traffic infraction. Va. Code § 46.2-869 gives the Richmond 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 top rated Richmond VA reckless driving lawyers to argue your case.

Driver Improvement Program For Richmond 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 reckless driving clients to mitigate the consequences of their Richmond reckless driving case. Completing a program may assist our top rated Richmond reckless driving attorneys in convincing the Richmond 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 Richmond VA reckless driving lawyers to understand your options before you pursue a driver improvement program for your reckless driving case.