If you are reading this, then you probably received anywhere from three to ten scary letters from lawyers talking about how you've been charged with a Class 1 Misdemeanor and are "...possibly facing up to 12 months in jail, a $2,500 fine and a loss of license for up to 6 months, etc. etc." Indeed, you may have seen some of this language in my letter because in some cases those are, in fact, realistic outcomes. Hopefully what you took from my letter, however, was more even-keeled tone which really expressed what is true for the vast majority of people who are cited for Reckless Driving in Virginia... and, that is: It May Not Be That Bad.
So, in order to allay your concerns in the quickest and most effective way (i.e. from scariest to most inconvenien to most expensive), I am going to lay out four (4) bullet points which - I think - will assuage some of your concerns and answer some of your most immediate and pressing questions.
- Although true in the 'world of possibilities,' most people do not go to jail for Reckless Driving;
- Similarly true in the same 'world of possibilities,' most people do not receive a license suspension for Reckless Driving;
- While, again, true in the world of possibilities,' most people do not receive enormous fines ranging in the thousands of dollars; and,
- You almost never need an appeal to Cicuit Court; so, call us before you pay for one!
That said, there are exceptions to these general rules and some of those include:
- Young Drivers (i.e. under 25 years of age)
- Reckless Driving in a Highway Saftey Corridor (fines are doubled)
- Reckless Driving over 85mph (in most Virginia cities/counties)
- Roadside arguments with the officer
- Others too numerous to name but which include: "tailgating at over 85mph," "agressive driving," "racing," etc.
Additionally, in some places, things can be done on an Appeal to the Circuit Court which can't (or won't) be done in the General District Court. So, if it's even possible that you might fall into one of these execptions or think you might need an appeal, then either e-mail us or call us. We will help. This is what we do and we do it well.