Amelia County Reckless Driving by Speed Lawyer
Under Virginia law, reckless driving by speed means is one of roughly 15 charges for which a person can be brought up for reckless driving. If a person is charged with reckless driving by speed, the allegation is that they were driving 20 miles per hour or more over the posted speed limit, or any speed over 80 miles per hour.
Reckless driving is more severe than a simple speeding ticket and may necessitate experienced legal representation from a dedicated reckless driving attorney. An Amelia County reckless driving by speed lawyer could help a driver avoid criminal penalties for speeding and maintain full use of their license.
Criminal Implications
Reckless driving by speed is a Class One misdemeanor, which means it carries a maximum penalty of 12 months in jail and a fine of $2,500. A speeding ticket, by contrast, is a simple traffic infraction that is not considered a criminal offense under Virginia law. A reckless driving conviction also places a misdemeanor crime on a person’s criminal record.
Depending on a defendant’s future plans, a misdemeanor record have some adverse effects on their ability to work, apply to college, and secure a commercial driver’s license.
Building a Defense to a Reckless Driving by Speed Charge
Whenever a defense attorney is dealing with a reckless driving by speed charge, they will likely try to acquire the defendant’s driving record to determine whether the offense is a one-off or a re-occurring problem. Often, courts will be more lenient on a defendant who made a mistake outside of their normal character but harsher on a driver with repeated reckless driving charges.
The attorney may also be interested in finding out how the speed of the vehicle was clocked. Did police use stationary radar, LIDAR, or did the police pace them to get the number they came up with? Any of these detection methods could be subject to error.
Another consideration is the speed limit and the extent to which the defendant exceeded that limit. If they were going 80 miles-per-hour in a 70-mile-an-hour zone, that is not very aggressive, and should not be much of a problem for the driver. If it was 100 in a 70 zone, however, the driver may be subject to harsh penalties. An attorney could work to determine the extent of a defendant’s charges and the potential consequences of a conviction.
Hiring an Amelia County Reckless Driving by Speed Attorney
Do not make the common mistake of treating a reckless driving by speed charge as just another traffic ticket. Reckless driving is a criminal charge that can lead to real penalties, particularly if a defendant fails to take it seriously and misses a court date or a similar legal obligation.
If you are facing charges, consider reaching out to an Amelia County reckless driving by speed lawyer. An attorney could review evidence from the police report, negotiate with local prosecutors, and work to provide a defendant with the best possible outcome in their case. Contact a lawyer today to learn more.
