Reckless Driving & Traffic Defense Lawyer
Many people charged with reckless driving in Virginia, including out of state drivers and out of state motorists, think that reckless driving is simply a glorified speeding ticket because they never endangered anybody. This could not be further from the truth.
Reckless driving is aggressively prosecuted in Virginia. It is NOT a traffic offense. Rather, it is a criminal offense – a class 1 misdemeanor. A class 1 misdemeanor is the most serious misdemeanor offense in Virginia – equivalent to assault and battery or possession with intent to distribute a small amount of marijuana. If convicted, you will have a criminal record. This can present significant problems for people with a security clearance or who have employers that do (or ask about) a criminal background check. Moreover, applications for life insurance routinely ask whether the applicant has ever been convicted of reckless driving. In other words, there can be consequences beyond your auto insurance rates skyrocketing.
More importantly, reckless driving, even as a first offense, is punishable by up to 12 months in jail, a $2,500 fine, and 6 months license suspension. In cases where the speed is above 90 MPH, or there is actual reckless behavior, prosecutors routinely seek active incarceration and a hard license loss (no restricted license), even if the defendant has a clean driving record.
If you have been charged with a serious traffic offense in Northern Virginia, contact Manikas Law LLC in McLean, Virginia (Tysons Corner) in Fairfax County at 703-873-7473 (toll-free 888-503-8075). Attorney Kyle G. Manikas has handled thousands of reckless driving cases.
We Handle All Reckless Driving Charges
The most commonly charged forms of Reckless Driving are Va. Code 46.2-862 and Va. Code 46.2-852. However, there are many forms of reckless driving, as outlined on our page discussing Reckless Driving penalties and punishment.
Attacking Reckless Driving Charges
Like DWI cases, reckless driving cases can be very technical. Reckless driving cases can often be defended by attacking the admissibility of the officer's laser or radar calibration. Virginia has strict statutory requirements for the admissibility of these documents in reckless driving cases. Issues with respect to the form of the calibration, the notarization, the authentication or the date of the calibration, among many other potential issues, can prevent the calibration from coming into evidence.
As one of the few defense lawyers that has handled thousands of reckless driving cases, Kyle G. Manikas authored a book about defending reckless driving cases in Virginia. You can Order Your FREE Copy for yourself.
Other Serious Traffic Cases
There are a number of other very serious traffic offenses in Virginia. Such charges include, among others:
- Driving on a Revoked/Suspended License (18.2-272; 46.2-301, 46.2-391)
- Driving Without an Operator's License (46.2-300)
- Hit & Run/Leaving the Scene of an Accident (46.2-894 & 46.2-896)
- Eluding an Officer (46.2-817)
- Driving After Being Declared an Habitual Offender (46.2-357)
These offenses are not merely traffic tickets, but are criminal offenses punishable by jail, substantial fines, and license loss. In fact, some of these offenses are felony crimes punishable by up to five years in prison. In my experience as a prosecutor, people end up serving more jail time on these offenses than they do on DWI and other criminal cases. There are important defenses than can be asserted against these charges.
Schedule a Free Consultation Today
To speak with a criminal defense lawyer about reckless driving or other traffic charges in Northern Virginia, contact Manikas Law LLC by calling 703-873-7473, or contact us by e-mail. For toll-free assistance, call 888-503-8075. We are located in McLean, Virginia (Tysons Corner) in Fairfax County.
