Best Newport News VA Reckless Driving Lawyer • 1500+ Client Reviews
Riley & Wells Attorneys-At-Law is an established law firm. Our lawyers specialize in defending reckless driving cases. We represent clients in the Newport News General District Court. Our attorneys have over 60 years of collective reckless driving law experience. We are a “Best Law Firm” according to U.S. News & World Report. Our attorneys are routinely recognized by various legal organizations for superior legal ability and high ethical standards. CAUTION: A Newport News VA reckless driving conviction will on average increase the automobile insurance premium by 73% or $1,046 EACH YEAR, according to Insurance.com
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Experienced Reckless Driving Defense Attorneys Newport News VA
Virginia has strict reckless driving laws. Reckless driving is a criminal misdemeanor. The most enforced reckless driving provision in Newport News VA is the excessive speed provision pursuant to Va. Code 46.2-862. This law criminalizes speeding 20 mph over the posted limit. The City of Newport News VA is along the I-64 corridor. Newport News Police & State Troopers aggressively patrol Interstates 64 & 664 and other state highways in Newport News including Warwick Boulevard/Route 60 & J. Clyde Morris Boulevard/Jefferson Avenue/Route 17. Let us review your case. We can help.
Top Rated Newport News VA Reckless Driving Lawyer
Experience Matters – Retain a Recognized Newport News Professional
Our lawyers are dedicated reckless driving defense lawyers. We are leaders in this practice area with a deep bench of experience from lecturing other attorneys about the status of the law at Virginia Trial Lawyers Association conventions to being a former Virginia State Trooper. You can benefit from our experience. An experienced Newport News VA Reckless Driving Attorney can present your best defense before the Newport News General District Court. We know how to best protect our clients.
Penalties for Newport News VA Reckless Driving Convictions
- Maximum 12 months in jail
- Maximum $2,500 fine
- Loss of driving privileges
- Moving violation demerit points
- Increased automobile insurance rates
- Community service
- Driver improvement programs
- Possible employment problems
Virginia Summons Reckless Driving Ticket Issued by Newport News Police
A Virginia Uniform Summons is the legal document issued by Newport News Police 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 Newport News General District Court on a particular date and time. The hearing will either be an arraignment or a trial depending on the case. Allow our top rated Newport News VA reckless driving lawyers to review your summons. We can develop a defense strategy even if you think you are guilty.
Free Newport News VA Reckless Driving Lawyer Consultation
Some drivers think they do not need a lawyer for their Newport News 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 Newport News VA reckless driving lawyers know the best tactics for obtaining good results. Our attorneys spend a significant amount of time in the Newport News 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.
Newport News Reckless Driving Trials are Adversarial By Design
If you have been accused of reckless driving in Newport News, then your case will eventually be set for trial before the Newport News General District Court. Reckless driving trials are adversarial in nature. This involves a structured and formalized dispute between the Newport News 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 Newport News 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.
Elite Newport News 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 peer recognition and professional 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 Newport News 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 rated Newport News reckless driving attorney who has been recognized with this award.
Riley & Wells Attorneys-At-Law Defend Newport News 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 Fail Move Over Newport News Stationary Emergency Vehicle
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 a Newport News 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 then it would be in your best interests to consult an accomplished top rated local Newport News VA reckless driving attorney before appearing in the Newport News General District Court. We know how to successfully defend these types of cases. You may have a valid defense and not realize it.
Newport News VA Reckless Driving Accident Defense Attorneys
Reckless driving general (46.2-852) and driving a vehicle not under proper control or with faulty brakes (46.2-853) are the two most common reckless driving laws that Newport News police officers will charge a motorist with in traffic accident cases. Any person who drives a vehicle that is not under proper control may be violating the reckless driving law. NOTE: The mere happening of an accident does not mean you are guilty of reckless driving. Sometimes the prosecution cannot prove how the accident happened. Other times there is only evidence of slight culpability. The issuance of a summons for reckless driving is not a conviction. Our Newport News VA reckless driving attorneys know how to best defend these types of cases.
Legal Elite Newport News VA Reckless Driving Lawyer
The Virginia Business publication is dedicated to covering the legal community in Newport News 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 Legal Elite Newport News VA reckless driving attorney review your case.
Out of State Reckless Driver Retains Top Rated Newport News Lawyer
Out-of-state drivers must defend their Newport News 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. Newport News sits along the Interstate 64 & 664 corridors. Many of our clients are not from the area or are drivers from other states such Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont & Maine because large numbers of motorists drive through Newport News on the interstates. In many instances, we can make a motion to waive our client’s appearance so that our client does not have to return to Newport News VA for the trial.
RACING in Newport News 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 Newport News VA race 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 Newport News 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. Contact our top rated Newport News VA reckless driving attorneys to review your case.
The Jail Penalty is Real in Aggravated Newport News 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 Newport News 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 Newport News VA reckless driving lawyer with the experience to present your best defense.
Newport News Reckless Driving Convictions Six DMV Demerit Points
There are numerous types of Virginia DMV demerit point violations. Demerit points are not issued when the Newport News reckless driving summons or ticket is issued. The reckless driving demerit points are assigned only by the DMV shortly after the Newport News 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. Newport News 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.
Newport News VA Reckless Driving Reduced to Improper Driving
Improper Driving is a lesser offense of reckless driving. Improper driving is a minor traffic infraction. Va. Code § 46.2-869 gives the Newport News 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 Newport News VA reckless driving lawyer to argue your case.
Newport News VA Reckless Driving DISMISSED
Newport News VA Reckless Driving DISMISSED
Our Newport News reckless driving lawyer represented a client accused of reckless driving excessive speed. In this case, we developed defenses to the RADAR device used by police to calculate speed. A plea of not guilty was entered. We were able to effectively cross examine the police officer who operated the RADAR in this case and made the reckless driving allegation. We exposed the fact that the RADAR used in this particular case was not tested for accuracy with properly calibrated tuning forks, which is required by Va. Code 46.2-882. The Court granted our motion to dismiss the case.
Reckless Driving 80+ mph in Newport News NOT GUILTY
Our reckless driving lawyers represented a student who was charged with Reckless Driving for driving over 80 miles per hour on Interstate 64. There are several colleges and universities located along the I-64 corridor. Many college students and their families use I-64. We were able to present compelling evidence and arguments to persuade the Court to take the case under advisement and to eventually find our client NOT GUILTY of the allegation.
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4/9/2022 | Updated 5/20/2025
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