Best Goochland County VA Reckless Driving Lawyers • 1500+ Reviews
Riley & Wells Attorneys-At-Law is an experienced law firm. We specialize in defending Goochland County reckless driving cases and have over 60 years of collective reckless driving law experience. Our reckless driving lawyers have been recognized for superior legal ability and the highest ethical standards. We can help you with your Goochland County VA reckless driving case. Do NOT plead guilty without first consulting an attorney. The consequences can be devastating. Do not miss an opportunity to defend yourself! Our firm has been positively reviewed more than any other law firm that defends Goochland County VA reckless driving cases. CAUTION: A reckless driving conviction will significantly increase the automobile insurance premium according to a study conducted by Insurance.com
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Reckless Driving is a Criminal Offense in Virginia
Reckless Driving in Virginia is a criminal misdemeanor offense. Violations of this law carry strict penalties if convicted. Most of our clients are good people who simply made a mistake. Our clients are serious about protecting their freedom & driving privileges. Other concerns include employment, professional licensing and automobile insurance policies. Virginians and residents from out of state need a dedicated professional advocate. We represent Virginia drivers and out-of-state clients before the Goochland County General District Court. State Troopers aggressively patrol Interstate 64 and Routes 250 & 288 in Goochland County VA. Deputy Sheriffs patrol the county to include Manakin-Sabot, Oilville & Hadensville.
Top Rated Goochland County VA Reckless Driving Client Review
Reckless Driving is a Criminal Misdemeanor Violation
Virginia reckless driving laws are some of the strictest in the country. There are more than 10 different reckless driving laws that Goochland authorities enforce. Reckless driving is a class 1 misdemeanor criminal offense just like a DUI / DWI. The penalties include incarceration. A reckless driving conviction can also jeopardize your driving privileges, career, driving record, and automobile insurance. Have you received a reckless driving ticket in Goochland County VA? If so, you need help from an experienced professional who specializes in successfully defending Goochland County reckless driving cases. In Virginia, reckless driving convictions are permanent, cannot be expunged, and remain on the DMV driving record for 11 years.
Reckless Driving on Interstate 64 in Goochland County VA
Interstate 64 runs through Goochland County VA for approximately 23 miles. I-64 first enters Goochland around Exit 148 and finally exits the county just west of Short Pump. Several motorists get pulled over for driving too fast on this stretch of highway. Our Goochland County reckless driving lawyers will examine your case and use proven strategies to successfully defend you. We use every resource the law allows to best protect our client. Our Goochland VA lawyers specialize in defending these cases. We zealously advocate for every client. We are diligent and fight for our clients to achieve the best result.
Virginia Summons Reckless Driving Ticket Issued by Goochland Police
A traffic ticket in Goochland County is issued on a Virginia Uniform Summons. That is the legal document issued by Goochland Deputy Sheriff’s or State Troopers during a reckless driving traffic stop. Motorists often refer to this document as a ticket. The summons serves as legal notice for the alleged reckless driving violation. Signing the summons is not an admission of guilt. The summons advises you that a hearing will be at the Goochland County VA traffic court on a particular date and time. The hearing will either be an arraignment or a trial depending on the case. Allow our top Goochland VA reckless driving lawyers to review your summons. We can help even if you think you are guilty.
Free Goochland County VA Reckless Driving Lawyer Consultation
Some drivers think they do not need a lawyer for their Goochland County VA reckless driving case. The biggest issue is usually experience. Keep in mind that there can be a lot riding on the case because reckless driving is a criminal misdemeanor that carries harsh penalties. Our top rated Goochland VA reckless driving lawyers know the best tactics for obtaining good results. Our attorneys spend a significant amount of time in the Goochland General District Court every day and are familiar with the habits of the of the different judges and the law enforcement officers who issue reckless driving tickets. This local knowledge is invaluable when determining how to best defend a reckless driving case.
Goochland Reckless Driving Trials are Adversarial By Design
If you have been accused of reckless driving in Goochland County, then your case will eventually be set for trial before the Goochland County General District Court. Reckless driving trials are adversarial in nature. This involves a structured and formalized dispute between the Goochland Commonwealth Attorney’s Office and the defense. The adversarial system is designed to ensure a fair trial process subject to the rules of law and evidence by allowing each side to present their case and to be able to challenge the other’s arguments and evidence. The Goochland District Court Judge ultimately evaluates the evidence and arguments to reach a verdict. This system ensures that the prosecution meets its high standard of proof.
VA Reckless Driving Speeding Law is Enforced in Goochland County
Goochland County is serious abou the reckless driving excessive speed law. The Virginia reckless driving law pursuant to Va. Code 46.2-862 criminalizes speeding 20 mph or more over the posted speed limit or driving faster than 85 mph regardless of speed zone. This is the most enforced reckless driving law in Goochland County. The speed limit on the interstate in Goochland VA is 70 mph. State Troopers & Deputy Sheriff’s enforce this law. This means that a motorist can be convicted of criminal misdemeanor reckless driving for driving 86 mph in a 70 mph speed zone. A harsh punishment for driving 16 mph over the speed limit. Retain a top rated Goochland professional to present the best defense.
Penalties For Virginia Reckless Driving Convictions
- Incarceration
- Maximum fine of $2,500
- Permanent Virginia criminal misdemeanor conviction
- Increased automobile insurance premiums
- Potential loss of employment or employment opportunities
- Suspension of driving privileges
Elite Goochland 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 professional achievement. This 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 Goochland County VA reckless driving lawyers have been recognized by this publication since 2009. No more than five percent of the lawyers are named to this list and no more than 2.5 percent are named to the Rising Stars list. This recognition is merit based. Retain a top Goochland County reckless driving attorney who has been recognized with this award.
Speedometer Calibration For Goochland Reckless Speeding Cases
Sometimes a motorist is driving too fast in Goochland County but the vehicle has a defective speedometer. A speedometer calibration may assist our top rated Goochland reckless driving lawyers. A speedometer calibration is a specialized test performed by certain mechanics that measures the accuracy of a vehicle’s speedometer. Not just any mechanic can perform this type of diagnostic test. The test comes with a detailed report showing whether the speedometer was off and by how many miles per hour. An experienced Goochland VA reckless driving attorney will introduce evidence of the calibration results pursuant to Va. Code 46.2-942. Such evidence shall be considered by the court in both determining guilt or innocence and in fixing punishment.
A Goochland VA Reckless Driving Ticket is NOT an Automatic Conviction
A reckless driving criminal conviction can negatively affect you in many ways. However, a Virginia Uniform Summons or ticket is NOT a conviction. Our reckless driving defense lawyers defend this type of allegation in the Goochland County General District Court. You can benefit from our experience. We 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.
Riley & Wells Attorneys-At-Law Defend Goochland County VA Reckless Driving Cases
- 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
Reckless Driving Goochland County Emergency Vehicle Move Over Law
Va. Code 46.2-861.1 requires drivers to “move over” to an adjacent lane when passing an emergency stationary vehicle stopped on the shoulder of the highway with emergency lights activated under certain traffic conditions. A violation can be considered reckless driving if a stationary emergency vehicle is in involved, which is a criminal misdemeanor. If you have been accused of violating this reckless driving law in Goochland County then it would be in your best interests to consult an accomplished top rated local Goochland VA reckless driving attorney before appearing in the Goochland General District Court. We successfully defend these types of cases. You may have a valid defense and not realize it.
Goochland Legal Elite Reckless Driving Lawyer by Virginia Business
Virginia Business is dedicated to covering the legal community in Goochland County VA. Since 2000, in cooperation with the Bar Association, the Top 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 Goochland County VA Legal Elite reckless driving attorney review your case.
Out of State Reckless Driver Retains Top Rated Goochland Defense Lawyer
Out-of-state drivers must defend their Goochland County reckless driving ticket because a conviction will be reported back to the home state. The home state and automobile insurance company will likely then take action against the driver. Goochland County sits along Interstate 64. State Troopers aggressively patrol this area. Many of our clients are not from the area or are drivers from other states such Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut & Massachusetts because thousands of motorists drive through Goochland County on the interstate. In many instances, we can motion to waive our client’s appearance so that our client does not have to return to Goochland VA for the trial.
The Jail Penalty is Real in Aggravated Goochland 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 Goochland 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 Goochland VA reckless driving lawyer with the experience to present your best defense.
RACING in Goochland VA is Serious Reckless Driving & Can be a Felony
The racing law is the most serious type of reckless driving law. Any person who engages in a race in Goochland County VA between two or more vehicles on a 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 Goochland County Judge can suspend driving privileges for three years. 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. Contact our top rated Goochland County VA reckless driving attorneys to review your case.
Passing a Stopped School Goochland VA Reckless Driving Violation
A driver is guilty of reckless driving if they do not stop for a Goochland 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 Goochland 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.
Reckless Driving Convictions Carry Six DMV Demerit Points
There are numerous types of Virginia DMV demerit point violations. Demerit points are not issued when the Goochland County reckless driving summons or ticket is issued. The reckless driving demerit points are assigned only by the DMV shortly after the Goochland 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. Goochland County 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.
Goochland County Virginia Reckless Driving Reduced to Improper Driving
Improper Driving is a lesser offense of reckless driving. It is not a criminal misdemeanor. It is a minor traffic infraction. Va. Code § 46.2-869 gives the Goochland 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 top rated Goochland County VA reckless driving lawyers to argue your case.
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4/23/2023 | Updated 2/8/2024
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