Best Brunswick County VA Reckless Driving Lawyer • 1500+ Reviews
Riley & Wells Attorneys-At-Law is an experienced local Brunswick VA law firm. Our Brunswick County reckless driving lawyers specialize in reckless driving defense. We have over 60 years of collective reckless driving law experience. Our firm has been recognized as a “Best Law Firm” by U.S. News & World Report. We are recognized for professional excellence and high ethical standards. Our firm has been positively reviewed more times than any other law firm. We can help you with your reckless driving case. Do NOT plead guilty without first consulting an attorney. The consequences can be devastating. CAUTION: A reckless driving conviction will on average increase the automobile insurance premium by 73% or $1,046 EACH YEAR according to Insurance.com
Brunswick Defense Services
For broader statewide guidance, see our Virginia Reckless Driving Lawyer page.
Reckless Driving is a Criminal Offense in Brunswick Virginia
Reckless Driving is a criminal class one misdemeanor violation in Brunswick Virginia. Many of our clients are good people who simply made a mistake. Our clients are serious about protecting their freedom, their future & their driving record. They are also concerned about maintaining driving privileges to care for their family and to secure and retain employment. Protecting the automobile insurance policy is also very important. Virginians and citizens from out of state need a dedicated professional advocate. We represent drivers from New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Connecticut, New Jersey, North Carolina, Florida and other states.
Most Rated Brunswick VA Reckless Driving Lawyer Review
Reckless Driving on Interstate 85 in Brunswick County VA
Interstate 85 runs through Brunswick County VA. This stretch of highway is aggressively enforced by Brunswick Deputy Sheriff’s and State Troopers. Several motorists get pulled over for excessive speeding on this stretch of highway. Our Brunswick VA reckless driving lawyer will examine your specific case and deploy proven strategies to defend your case successfully. We use every resource the law allows to protect our clients. We zealously advocate for every client. We diligently fight for our clients to achieve the best possible outcome under the law. Let us review your case. You can benefit from our experience.
What is The Brunswick VA Reckless Driving Speeding Law?
There are more than 10 different laws that criminalize reckless driving in Virginia. The Reckless Driving Excessive Speed law pursuant to Va. Code 46.2-862 is the most enforced reckless driving provision by Brunswick County Deputy Sheriffs and State Troopers. In Brunswick County, most of the enforcement occurs on Interstate 85 and Route 58. Virginia law states that a driver is guilty of reckless driving for driving a motor vehicle at a speed of 20 miles per hour or more above the speed limit OR driving over 85 miles per hour regardless of the speed limit. Violations of this law carry strict penalties.
Penalties For Brunswick Virginia Reckless Driving Convictions
- Incarceration
- Maximum fine of $2,500
- Permanent Virginia criminal misdemeanor conviction
- Increased automobile insurance premiums
- Potential loss of employment
- Suspension of driving privileges
Free Brunswick VA Reckless Driving Lawyer Consultation
Some drivers do not think they need a Brunswick VA reckless driving lawyer for their reckless driving case. Keep in mind that there is a lot riding on the case because reckless driving is a criminal misdemeanor with the potential for harsh penalties. The biggest issues with representing yourself are first that you have to return for trial and second that you likely lack experience and the requisite legal knowledge. Experienced reckless driving attorneys know the best tactics and options for obtaining good results. Our lawyers spend a significant amount of time in traffic court and are familiar with the habits of the different judges and the law enforcement officers who issue the reckless driving tickets.
Elite Brunswick VA Reckless Driving Attorneys by Virginia Super Lawyers
Super Lawyers is a lawyer rating service of outstanding attorneys from 70 plus practice areas including reckless driving law who have attained the highest degree of recognition and achievement. This legal organization recognizes the top lawyers nationwide across a variety of practice areas and firm sizes using a patented process of independent research and peer input. Our Brunswick VA reckless driving lawyers have been recognized by this publication since 2009. No more than five percent of all lawyers are on this list and no more than 2.5 percent are on the Rising Stars list. This recognition is merit based. Retain a top rated Brunswick reckless driving attorney who has been recognized with this award.
A Brunswick Reckless Driving Ticket is NOT a Conviction
Brunswick VA Reckless Driving Ticket
A reckless driving conviction can negatively affect you in many ways. However, a Virginia Uniform Summons or ticket is NOT a conviction. Our Brunswick VA reckless driving lawyer defends this type of allegation in the Brunswick General District Court every week and know how to best protect our clients. The facts of each case can vary. Our knowledge, expertise, and experience helps us to select the best defense for your case. We diligently prepare arguments for your particular circumstances. You must contact an experienced attorney. One with an established working relationship with all the Brunswick County Judges.
Riley & Wells Attorneys-At-Law Can Defend Any Brunswick VA Reckless Driving Case
- 46.2-852 – General rule
- 46.2-853 – Fail to maintain control; brakes
- 46.2-854 – Passing on grade or curve
- 46.2-855 – View obstructed/control impaired
- 46.2-856 – Passing two vehicles abreast
- 46.2-857 – Driving two abreast
- 46.2-863 – Failure to yield
- 46.2-864 – Parking lots
- 46.2-865 – Racing
- 46.2-865.1 – Injury or death while racing
- 46.2-858 – Passing at a railroad crossing
- 46.2-859 – Passing a stopped school bus
- 46.2-860 – Failing to give proper signals
- 46.2-861 – Driving too fast conditions
- 46.2-861.1 – Failure to “Move Over” or Yield to Stationary Emergency Vehicle
- 46.2-862 – Excessive speeding
- 46.2-866 – Racing; aiders or abettors
- 46.2-867 – Racing
- 46.2-868.1 – Aggressive driving
- 46.2-869 – Improper driving
Legal Elite Brunswick County VA Reckless Driving Lawyer
Virginia Business is dedicated to covering the legal community in Brunswick County VA. Since 2000, in cooperation with the Bar Association, the top reckless driving attorneys are recognized with the Legal Elite award. There are over 23,000 legal practitioners in the Commonwealth. Legal Elite recognitions are awarded to approximately 1400 attorneys each year. This is an exclusive list of top rated lawyers who have been recognized by their peers for excellence. Only outstanding and experienced professionals are recognized for being Legal Elite. A practitioner cannot purchase their way in to being recognized as a member of the Legal Elite community. Let a Legal Elite Brunswick VA reckless driving attorney review your case.
Reckless Driving Fail Move Over Stationary Brunswick Emergency Vehicle
Virginia code 46.2-861.1 requires a motorist to “move over” to an adjacent lane when passing a stationary vehicle stopped on the shoulder of the highway under certain traffic conditions. A violation of this law can be considered reckless driving if an emergency vehicle is in involved, which is a criminal misdemeanor in some cases. This can happen very easily on Interstate 85. If you have been accused of violating this law then it would be in your best interests to consult an accomplished local reckless driving attorney before appearing in the Brunswick County VA General District Court. We specialize in driving defense law. You may have a valid defense and not realize it.
Reckless Driving Defense REDUCES Case to Defective Equipment
Brunswick County Reckless Driving REDUCED to Defective Equipment
The Virginia Defective Equipment law is a minor non-moving infraction. Defective equipment does not add moving violation demerit points. A common example of defective equipment is operating a motor vehicle with a broken headlight. A violation might trigger a nominal fine. A defective equipment violation is analogous to a parking ticket. Both trigger a small fine. But afterward, there is no other negative long-standing impact. In many instances, we can convince the Judge to find our client NOT GUILTY of criminal misdemeanor reckless driving. If the Judge is unwilling to dismiss the case completely, then a defective equipment disposition is the next best result. Our reckless driving lawyers could do that very thing in this case. [Click on the image to the left to see case disposition]
RACING in Brunswick VA is Serious Reckless Driving Can be Felony
The racing law is the most serious type of Virginia reckless driving law because it can be a felony. Any person who engages in a race between two or more vehicles on a Brunswick County highway is guilty of reckless driving. Racing can even be a felony if it causes serious bodily injury to another person who is not involved. The Brunswick County VA Judge can suspend driving privileges for as many as three years if convicted. In fact, you do not even have to be engaged in a race to violate this law. Any person who aids or abets a race can also be convicted of criminal misdemeanor reckless driving racing.
The Jail Penalty is Real in Aggravated Brunswick VA Reckless Driving Cases
Reckless driving is a criminal offense. With the exception of some racing cases, the offense is a class 1 misdemeanor. The maximum penalty is 12 months in jail. Most drivers charged with reckless driving will not see the inside of a jail cell even if convicted. That all changes if the Brunswick Commonwealth Attorney considers your case to be an aggravated reckless driving case and has set the matter for arraignment. At the arraignment, the Judge will advise the reckless driving motorist defendant of their constitutional right to hiring their own lawyer. Do not take any chances at this point. Retain a top rated Brunswick VA reckless driving lawyer with the experience to present your best defense.
Brunswick Reckless Driving Convictions Six DMV Demerit Points
There are numerous types of Virginia DMV demerit point violations. Demerit points are not issued when the Brunswick County reckless driving summons or ticket is issued. The reckless driving demerit points are assigned only by the DMV shortly after the Brunswick Court finds the defendant motorist guilty of reckless driving. The demerit points associated with a conviction remain valid for two years from the date the offense is committed. Brunswick VA reckless driving convictions carry 6 demerit points. One safe driving point is assigned for each full calendar year that you hold a valid Virginia driver’s license and drive without any violations or suspensions. A driver may accumulate a maximum of five safe driving points.
Brunswick County VA Reckless Driving Reduced to Improper Driving
Improper Driving is a lesser offense of reckless driving. Improper driving is not a criminal misdemeanor. It is a minor traffic infraction. Va. Code § 46.2-869 gives the Brunswick Judge the authority and discretion to find the defendant motorist not guilty of reckless driving and guilty of improper driving where the degree of culpability is slight. A conviction for improper driving is typically considered a win. The only thing that appears on the driving record is a conviction for improper driving. Improper Driving is a 3-point demerit point offense and stays on the Virginia driving record for 3 years. The maximum fine allowed by law is $500. Retain a top rated Brunswick VA reckless driving lawyer to argue your case.
Brunswick VA is Serious About I-85 Reckless Driving Enforcement
Brunswick County VA law enforcement officers use speed traps to enforce the reckless driving law. A speed trap is an area of the road where police officers hide in order to detect vehicles exceeding a speed limit. According to a study by Governing magazine, there is a group of small Virginia counties, cities and towns – which includes Brunswick – that rely on traffic fines to fund its local government budget. Needless to say the Brunswick Sheriff’s Office aggressively enforces the reckless driving law. However, the Town of Eastville over on the Eastern Shore in Northampton County relies more on traffic fines for revenue than Brunswick County with an astounding 72% of its budget coming from traffic fines and forfeitures.
Brunswick VA Reckless Driving Lawyer Client Reviews
Passing a Stopped School Brunswick VA Reckless Driving Violation
A driver is guilty of reckless driving if they do not stop for a Brunswick County school bus with its warning device activated. The school bus must be taking on or discharging children, elderly individuals, or individuals with mental or physical disabilities. Drivers shall remain stopped until all such individuals are clear of the highway, private road, or school driveway and the bus is put in motion. In some instances, there may be defenses that only a top rated Brunswick County VA reckless driving attorney will know how to best present at trial. Allow us to review your case. NOTE: There is a civil penalty version of this violation that is less serious.
Brunswick County Reckless Driving FAQs
Is reckless driving in Brunswick County a criminal charge?
Yes. In Virginia, reckless driving is generally charged as a Class 1 misdemeanor, not a simple traffic infraction. A conviction can create a criminal record, DMV demerit points, fines, possible license suspension, increased insurance consequences, and possible jail exposure depending on the facts of the case.
Why are many Brunswick County reckless driving cases connected to Interstate 85?
Interstate 85 runs through Brunswick County and is a major enforcement corridor for reckless driving by speed, aggressive driving, following too closely, move-over violations, and other serious traffic allegations. Drivers traveling through the area may be stopped by Brunswick County law enforcement or Virginia State Police.
Can speeding become reckless driving in Brunswick County?
Yes. Under Virginia law, driving 20 miles per hour or more above the posted speed limit or driving over 85 miles per hour can be charged as reckless driving. In Brunswick County, many reckless driving by speed cases involve Interstate 85, Route 58, and other major roadways.
Can a Brunswick County reckless driving charge be reduced?
Sometimes. Depending on the facts, the driver’s record, the alleged speed, the officer’s evidence, and the court’s view of the case, a reckless driving charge may be reduced to a lesser offense such as improper driving, speeding, or defective equipment. The available options depend on the specific case.
What is improper driving in a reckless driving case?
Improper driving is a lesser traffic offense that may be available when the degree of culpability is slight. Unlike reckless driving, improper driving is not a criminal misdemeanor. It is generally treated as a traffic infraction, although it can still carry DMV demerit points and a fine.
Can defective equipment help resolve a reckless driving case?
In some cases, yes. Defective equipment is a non-moving infraction and does not carry DMV moving violation points. Whether a reckless driving charge can be reduced to defective equipment depends on the facts, the driver’s record, the court, and the position of the officer or prosecutor.
Can an out-of-state driver be affected by a Brunswick County reckless driving conviction?
Yes. A Virginia reckless driving conviction can be reported to the driver’s home state. The home state may then apply its own rules for points, license consequences, insurance consequences, or other administrative penalties.
How many DMV points does reckless driving carry in Virginia?
A Virginia reckless driving conviction generally carries six DMV demerit points. The conviction can also remain on the Virginia driving record for an extended period and may affect insurance, employment, and future traffic cases.
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9/27/2013 | Updated 4/28/2026