Reckless Driving Ticket Cost
Is reckless driving a traffic or criminal offense, and what’s the average cost ofthe ticket in Fairfax County?
We’ve all heard that in order to drive safely, we must drive defensively. Does this mean that there are more reckless drivers on the road than responsible ones, and what does it actually mean to drive recklessly?
Reckless driving is defined as intentionally driving in a careless manner with blatant disregard for life, property or limb.
Typically when someone is driving recklessly, they’re operating a vehicle in a manner that could cause serious harm to passengers and other drivers on the road. This behavior places the public at risk, and as a result, it’s plausible why Virginia penalizes the crime so heavily.
Some good examples of reckless driving include:
- The driver continues driving, even when signaled by an officer to stop.
- The driver exceeds the posted speed limit by over 20 MPH.
- The driver ignores a red light or other traffic signals.
- The driver ignores an emergency vehicle, school bus, or railroad warning.
- The driver ignores rules to slow down when dangerous conditions arise.
- The driver is maneuvering a vehicle with faulty brakes.
- The driver races on a public roadway.
The Consequences of Reckless Driving
Now that we have a better idea of what constitutes reckless driving, is it labelled a crime? In the state of Virginia, this act is sort of a quasi-crime. It is listed as a crime, but is heard in traffic court in Fairfax. Additionally, while a conviction will appear on your court and driving records, it will usually not appear on your criminal record.
Typical Costs
Class 1 misdemeanor reckless driving includes the following penalties:
- Points – Six points are deducted from the driver’s license.
- Driving Record – A conviction can remain on the driver’s motor vehicle record for a period of 5-11 years, depending on the type of reckless driving committed. The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles outlines these stipulations.
- Fines – There is no mandatory fine, the amount will be up to the judge but is usually in the $100-250 range.
Ticket costs are evaluated based on a number of factors, including speed, aggressive driving and/or driver’s history. Even the judge you get will have a major impact on the end resolution of the case.
Should you pay and forget about it?
This may seem like the simplest thing to do, however reckless driving isn’t a mere traffic infraction. It’s a criminal offense. The smartest move to take is to hire an attorney, who can fight to dismiss or lower charges. Additionally, you cannot simply pay before court. Because it is technically listed as a misdemeanor you are required to appear in court. That much said if you have an appropriate case and hire an attorney your appearance may be able to be waived.
