North Carolina Residents Ticketed Reckless Driving Virginia

Riley & Wells Attorneys-At-Law successfully defended North Carolina licensed drivers in Virginia. Our attorneys have over 60 years of collective experience. Our law firm receives calls daily from North Carolina motorists charged with reckless driving. The most enforcement occurs on I-95, I-85, I-77, I-81 and U.S. Route 13. We have the experience to properly defend your Virginia reckless driving case. Call today for a free case evaluation.

***Our attorneys are licensed to practice law in all Virginia Courts***

North Carolina Drivers Ticketed For Reckless Driving Speeding In Virginia

What happens in Virginia does not stay in Virginia. North Carolina licensed drivers to beware: If you violate a Virginia traffic law, such as reckless driving, and are convicted, then the conviction will be reported to the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The Virginia court will first report the conviction to the Virginia DMV. The Virginia DMV will create a driver record based on the conviction if a driver record does not already exist, and forward the conviction to the North Carolina DMV.

CAUTION: A reckless driving conviction will on average increase the automobile insurance policy by 73% or $1,046 EACH YEAR

NC Drivers Charged With Reckless Driving in VA – Client Reviews

NOTE: Virginia does not have Prayer For Judgement.

VA Reckless Driving Convictions Will Be Reported To The North Carolina DMV

The North Carolina DMV will post Virginia convictions to the North Carolina driving record. Depending on the conviction, the North Carolina DMV may suspend driving privileges in North Carolina. Insurance points will then be assessed according to the North Carolina Insurance Rate Bureau. According to the North Carolina Department of Insurance policy, a Virginia conviction may lead to a driver’s license suspension by the North Carolina DMV and significant insurance increases.

NOTE: Issuing a Virginia Uniform Summons (the “traffic ticket”) is NOT a conviction.

Speeding Can Turn Into A Misdemeanor Criminal Reckless Driving Offense

Virginia code 46.2-862 is the most commonly enforced Virginia reckless driving law. This law criminalizes speed where the speed evidence is either 20 miles per hour above the posted speed limit or in excess of 85 miles per hour. Reckless driving in Virginia is a criminal misdemeanor offense. The speed limit on many Virginia interstates is 70 miles per hour. This means a North Carolina driver can be charged with criminal misdemeanor reckless driving if driving 16 mph over the 70 mph speed limit.

North Carolina Drivers Need A Local Virginia Lawyer For All Traffic Violations

The North Carolina DMV and automobile insurance companies are notified only when a conviction exists. No notification is made when the summons or ticket is issued.  Every North Carolina driver who has been cited in Virginia for reckless driving or any traffic violation needs a Virginia Traffic Attorney. Most North Carolina residents want to protect their driving privileges, driving records, and auto insurance policy.

North Carolina DMV Will Suspend Driving Privileges

The North Carolina DMV has the authority to suspend a North Carolina driver’s license if there is a conviction for certain speeding cases, even if the conviction is from another state. To avoid a suspension, the ticket must be contested. According to N.C. 20-16, the North Carolina DMV has the authority to suspend driving privileges as follows:

• 2 convictions of speeding over 55 mph within a 12-month period
• 1 conviction of speeding over 55 mph and 1 conviction of reckless driving within a 12 month period
• 1 conviction of speeding over 55 mph and 1 conviction of aggressive driving within a 12 month period
• a conviction for speeding over 75 mph where the maximum speed is less than 70 mph
• a conviction for speeding in excess of 80 mph where the maximum speed is 70 mph

North Carolina Department of Insurance Safe Driver Incentive Plan

The North Carolina Safe Driver Incentive Plan (SDIP) was created by state law to give drivers a financial incentive to practice safe driving habits. SDIP points are charged as follows for convictions and at-fault accidents occurring during the Experience Period (the three-year period preceding the date an individual applies for coverage or the insurance company prepares to renew an existing policy). No SDIP points will be charged for Speeding 10 mph or less over the posted speed limit provided the violation did not occur in a school zone, and there is not another moving traffic violation for the experience period.

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2017 | Updated 5/3/2023