Lawrenceville, VA Speeding Lawyer & Reckless Driving Attorney
Each year, over nine thousand people are killed in speeding-related incidents.[1] As a result, Lawrenceville police officers aggressively enforce the speed limit along busy roadways such as Route 694 and Highway 58.
Being charged with speeding in Virginia can have serious impacts on your life, especially if you are driving fast enough to warrant a reckless driving citation (which consists of going 81 mph or faster in Virginia. If found guilty of excessive speeding or reckless driving, you can face penalties, including:
- Fines
- Points on Your Driving Record
- A Misdemeanor or Felony
- Driving Restrictions
- A Driver’s License Suspension or Revocation
- Jail Time
While you are entitled to represent yourself in any Virginia criminal case, but it is generally not advisable. Speeding and reckless driving laws are complicated, and if you are convicted, the penalties can be significant and permanent. As an experienced Lawrenceville, Virginia speeding and reckless driving lawyer, Mark Hurt may be able to help you prevent this outcome. If you hire the Law Offices of Mark T. Hurt, we can research your case, negotiate with prosecutors, prepare a defense and, if needed, fight tenaciously at trial for a not guilty verdict.
We Offer Affordable Fixed-Fee Representation and Accept Credit Cards
Many people are concerned about the potential cost of retaining an attorney for fear that the cost may be both high and unknown. This is not the case with our office.
We provide a fixed fee for representation, which does not increase even if your case goes to trial. Investing in retaining our firm can often lead to a much better outcome than simply paying a fine, and clients may save significantly on insurance and not having points on their record if a favorable outcome results.
What is Considered Speeding in Virginia?
In Virginia, citations can be issued for a variety of speeding-related conduct, including but not limited to:
- Driving too fast during bad weather conditions
- Cruising over the speed limit
- Failing to adhere to special speed limits in school zones or crossings
- Driving too fast on bridges or in tunnels
- Speeding in a business district
- Exceeding the speed limit on nonsurface-treated highways
- Driving over the limit on the highway[2]
Not only can these speeding violations result in a driving record conviction, but they also can result in points on your driving record or lead to a license suspension or revocation. At the Law Offices of Mark T. Hurt, we have been helping clients with speeding citations for over years – we are knowledgeable about Virginia speeding laws and can argue for reduced penalties or a dismissal.
What is Considered Reckless Driving in Virginia?
Every year, over twenty million drivers are stopped by police, often because they are driving recklessly.[3] In Virginia, there are a handful of traffic offenses that are considered so serious that they constitute a criminal offense, rather than a moving violation or minor traffic infraction. Reckless driving rises to this level of seriousness.
Given the severity of the infraction, a police officer may arrest you for reckless driving if he or she witnesses you:
- Driving with faulty brakes
- Driving next to a vehicle on a single-lane road
- Failing to yield to a right-of-way
- Racing or speeding excessively
- Illegally passing
- Endangering a person
Under the Code of Virginia,[4] reckless driving can also result in a misdemeanor or felony charge that can stay on your record for five to eleven years (depending on the reckless conduct). According to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, a Lawrenceville reckless driving charge can result in a conviction being reported on your DMV record for the following lengths of time:
- Speeding in excess of 85 mph – 11 years
- Speeding 20 mph or more above the speed limit – 11 years
- Racing – 11 years
- Passing or overtaking an emergency vehicle – 11 years
- Passing a school bus – 11 years
- Passing on the crest of a hill – 11 years
- Passing at a railroad crossing – 11 years
- Passing two vehicles abreast – 11 years
- Driving two vehicles abreast – 11 years
- Driving too fast for conditions – 11 years
- Failing to give a proper signal – 11 years
- Faulty brakes/improper control – 11 years
- Reckless driving – On parking lots, etc. – 11 years
- With an obstructed view – 11 years
- Reckless driving – generally – 11 years
- Speeding 20 mph or more above the posted speed limit – 5 years
I Was Pulled Over for Speeding, But My Citation Says “Reckless Driving.” Is this the Same Thing?
Speeding is a traffic infraction; however, if you are driving 20 mph or more above the speed limit, or at any speed over 85 mph, it is considered reckless driving.[5] If found guilty of reckless, excessive speeding, you can be charged with a Class 1 misdemeanor and fined $250. Because a misdemeanor criminal offense will be reported on your record and made publicly available, it is in your interest to consult with an experienced Virginia attorney who is skilled at arguing for reduced, non-criminal charges.
What are the Penalties for Reckless Driving?
If you are convicted of reckless driving, you can be charged with a misdemeanor (or a felony for more severe actions) and may be subject to other penalties, including:
- 6 demerit points on your driving record
- Up to a $2,500 fine
- Up to 6 months of suspended driving privileges
- Up to 1 year in jail
- A criminal record
- Increased insurance rates
- Difficulty with government and contractor security clearances
If you received a citation for reckless driving, it is important that you reach out to our office as soon as possible. Refuting a speeding or reckless driving charge requires building a strong defense, and it may be necessary to compile evidence (such as photographs, police reports, eyewitness testimony) and hire experts. As a result, it is important to leave ample time for preparation, so that we can present the best case possible.
Why Should I Hire a Skilled Lawrenceville, Virginia Speeding & Reckless Driving Lawyer?
Mark Hurt has over three decades of legal practice. He has represented clients before the United States Supreme Court, in other federal district and appellate courts, and before all level of state courts in Virginia.
Mark has helped numerous clients obtain complete dismissals for speeding and reckless driving tickets, as well as lessened penalties.
Some judges have reputations for being lenient, while others are known for imposing strict penalties. As an experienced Lawrenceville traffic lawyer, Mark has knowledge about local judges and prosecutors and can utilize this information to formulate a strategy that provides the best odds of obtaining a positive outcome. By hiring a Virginia attorney who understands local laws and customs, you are essentially providing yourself with an advantage that may lead to a favorable outcome.
In addition to providing a strategic advantage, having an experienced attorney by your side can also save you time. In most cases, when you hire the Law Offices of Mark T. Hurt, we can appear in court on your behalf, without you having to be physically present.
Call our Offices Today to Schedule a Free Consultation!
If you have received a speeding or reckless driving ticket, we encourage you to reach out to our firm for a free consultation. At the Law Offices of Mark T. Hurt, we can evaluate your case and explain your options, so that you can make an educated determination about whether you would like to proceed with hiring us to represent you.
In addition to speeding or reckless driving citations, we also represent clients who have been charged with other offenses such as driving with a suspended license, DUI, or DWI. Schedule a free consultation to learn how experienced Lawrenceville, Virginia speeding and reckless driving attorney Mark Hurt may be able to help you!
[1] Speeding, National Highway Traffic Safety Association, https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/speeding.
[2] See VA Code § 46.2-870 through VA Code § 46.2-883.
[3] Contacts Between Police and the Public, Bureau of Justice Statistics, https://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/cpp15_sum.pdf.
[4] See VA Code § 46.2-852 through VA Code § 46.2-869.
[5] VA Code § 46.2-852.
