Dale City Reckless Driving Lawyer
Reckless driving is a traffic offense and a crime that can take on numerous forms. One of the most common is simply excessive speed. However, you can also be charged with reckless driving if you commit one of a variety of other surprisingly common traffic offenses. If you are accused of reckless driving, contact a Dale City reckless driving lawyer. Hiring a dedicated criminal defense lawyer could be the best way to protect your right to drive, and may help avoid a hefty fine and even potential jail time. Call and schedule an appointment as soon as possible.
Reckless Driving in Dale City
Driving recklessly in Dale City is more than just driving while distracted or making poor decisions—reckless driving involves taking risks that put others into unnecessary danger on the roads.
Needless to say, this can happen in a huge variety of ways. Regardless of the situation, though, a conviction is a Class 1 misdemeanor offense under Va. Code Ann. § 46.2-868. Penalties include up to a year in jail, up to $2,500 in fines, a six-month license suspension, and a six-point moving violation. If the incident happened while on a suspended license or caused a fatality, though, these penalties increase significantly.
Speeding
Speeding is one of the things that can lead to a charge of reckless driving. Under Va. Code Ann. § 46.2-862, a driver can be accused and convicted of reckless driving if they are going either 20 miles per hour over the speed limit or over 80 miles per hour, regardless of the speed limit. A knowledgeable Dale City reckless driving lawyer could work to refute the claims and fight the charge. Schedule a consultation with an attorney today and begin building a credible defense.
Driving Too Fast for Conditions
Even drivers who are not necessarily speeding can be driving recklessly if they are going too fast for the conditions on the road. Va. Code Ann. § 46.2-861 prohibits driving over a “reasonable speed under the circumstances and traffic conditions existing at the time,” even if the driver was not exceeding the speed limit.
Other Traffic Offenses that Can Lead to Reckless Driving Charges
Speeding is not the only type of traffic offense that can lead to a charge of reckless driving. Other offenses that can amount to reckless driving include:
- Driving with faulty brakes
- Passing another vehicle while on a curve in the road or near the crest of a hill, or at a railroad crossing
- Driving with a view obstructed by cargo or others in the vehicle
- Driving side-by-side in a single lane
- Illegally passing a school bus
- Failing to use proper turn signals or yield right-of-way
- Racing
Defending Against a Charge of Reckless Driving
An accusation of reckless driving in Dale City can be a surprising allegation to face. Many drivers who are accused of reckless driving think that they did nothing wrong, or at worst made an honest mistake on the road. However, prosecutors and law enforcement often try pursuing these serious allegations whenever they suspect that poor driving turned into reckless driving.
Poor driving, distracted driving, and negligent driving, however, are far cries from reckless driving because recklessness involves a conscious disregard for the safety of others. Unless they prove this mental state, prosecutors cannot reach a conviction for reckless driving.
A Dale City reckless driving attorney can throw doubt into a prosecutor’s case in an attempt to prevent them from reaching this standard of proof.
Reach Out to a Dale City Reckless Driving Attorney Today
If you have been accused of reckless driving—regardless of whether the underlying traffic offense was for speeding, racing, passing another vehicle, or not using your turn signals—hiring a Dale City reckless driving lawyer can make a big difference in the outcome of your case.
With a lawyer’s help, you can rest assured that your defense is being taken seriously.
