Reckless Driving Charge in Virginia
If you have a Reckless Driving Charge, you should contact a lawyer to discuss your particular case and to learn how your case can be best handled in the courtroom at your trial. You can call our office at 540-786-7700, my personal cell phone at 540-760-8725 or send us an email to schedule a free consultation for your reckless driving ticket.
Every case is different, and no website can tell you everything that you need to know. This website certainly isn’t intended to tell you how to handle your own case, and isn’t meant as legal advice.
There are several things that are often helpful if you are charged with Reckless Driving. These include the following:
- When you are being pulled over, it is always a good idea to be polite and cooperative with the police officer. They is just doing their job, and a big part of that job is to help keep the roads safe. The police don’t have anything against you personally, and it doesn’t cost you anything to smile and to be nice to them. They have no idea what they are going to find when they walk up to a car, and their job can be very risky. Do your best to put them at ease and to make the the stop as pleasant as possible. When you get in the courtroom, if you were polite and cooperative it can help you a great deal. Note that you do not have to ever agree to be searched, or to have your vehicle searched, and you never have to make any statements that could incriminate you. However when you decline an officer’s request for a search or to make statements you can still be polite and treat them with respect.
- Keep your hands on the wheel until they are at the window, don’t go digging into your glove box for your registration as soon as you get pulled over. Nothing makes a police officer more nervous than to see a driver reaching around in their car as they walk up. Remember they have no idea what to expect from you, so just relax and don’t make any sudden moves. If it is dark, then it is also a good idea to turn your interior lights on so that they can see that you are not a threat.
- If you have an older vehicle, you might want to consider having your speedometer calibrated. This calibration can be performed at any garage with a dynamometer, and is not very expensive. If your speedometer gives a reading that is less than your actual speed, the judge may give you credit for that and lower the speed of your ticket, which could change the offense from Reckless Driving to a simple speeding ticket.
- It is often a good idea to take your state’s defensive class, and to bring the certificate of completion with you to court. In Virginia the state recognizes the Defensive Driving Course and the Aggressive or Reckless Driving Course. These courses can help convince the judge that you are taking steps to be a better driver, and can reduce the negative points on your DMV record as well.
- You can also get your driving record from DMV for a small fee and bring that with you. The judge is going to want to know if you have been convicted of reckless driving or speeding in the recent past. The police often have your driving record with them in court, but it is always a good idea to have your record and to know what is on it before you appear before the judge. If you live in another state, the police most likely will not have your driving record, and so you should bring a copy with you, especially if you have a good record.
- Get a lawyer! Reckless Driving is a serious offense and a lawyer can recognize issues and defenses that may never occur to you. Also, a lawyer is more likely to be able to speak with the police officer about your case and to get information that is important for your trial. A lawyer is always going to handle your case better than you can on your own.
Reckless Driving can have sever and negative impacts on your ability to drive and the cost of your insurance. For extreme cases it can result in heavy fines, license suspension and jail time. If you are charged with Reckless Driving, contact our office today for your free consultation.
Photo by: Eli Christman
