How to Get Reckless Driving Ticket Reduced
If you’ve received a summons to appear in a Fairfax County court due to reckless driving, what’s next? The next plan of action is to appear on the summoned date.
Why do you need to go to court vs. pay fines online or with the DMV?
This is because reckless driving is considered a misdemeanor. The behavior essentially endangers the life, limb and property of others, and as a result – Virginia proceeds with a heavy-handed approach. Others states outline similar penalties, and here’s what you need to know:
Common Penalties
The cost for this offense, if found guilty, can go up to $2,500. It will also cost you 6 points from your driver’s license, and may even lead to license suspension for up to 6 months. While the most severe of these penalties are reserved for the most egregious violations, they are in play if you were going in excess of 100 miles per hour or have a very bad driving record. (Although even in those circumstances the fines are usually much lower.)
The Basis of Penalties
The sentence handed to drivers is largely based on the discretion of the judge. Nevertheless, there are a plethora of actions you can take now, which could help to shift the judge’s orders in your favor, including:
- Print Your Driving Record – if this is your first offense, and you can show that this was simply a moment of “slight indiscretion”, charges may be reduced or dismissed. A clean driving record depicts drivers as being generally responsible.
- Get A Criminal Defense Attorney –reckless driving is a criminal offense; and a lawyer can help to present the case in a more favorable light for dismissal or reduced charges.
- Challenge Speedometer Readings – once again, lawyers can help disprove so-called speedometer reading through calibrations or other proven methods.
- Prove An Emergency – was there a valid and reasonable reason why you were speeding? Were you fearful of some health issue, and were heading to an ER? A lawyer can help to prove these scenarios.
The Goal
The main goal when you receive a reckless driving charge is to either reduce or dismiss it altogether. A reduction can entail an improper driving infraction, which unlike reckless driving, isn’t a crime.
