Reckless Driving cases in Shenandoah County, Virginia are common and routinely handled by the law office. Interstate 81 passes through the County and the highway is patrolled by State Troopers and local police. Shenandoah County is a beautiful area with mountains, caverns and other attractions. Shenandoah National Park and the Appalachian Trail are nearby. The county seat is the town of Woodstock.
Reckless Driving cases for adults are heard in the General District Court. The presiding judge in the General District Court in Woodstock is Judge Amy Tisinger. The other judges in the General District Court are Mr. Stanley Hart, Mr. Kenneth Alger II, Mr. Christopher Collins, and Ms. Mary Louise Costello Daniel. Judge Amy Tisinger also sits in Clarke County, Virginia.
Reckless Driving in Virginia is a Class 1 misdemeanor. It is punishable by zero to twelve months in jail, a fine of up to $2,500.00, and/or loss of driving privileges in Virginia for up to six months. It is a 6 point demerit conviction with the Virginia DMV and stays on a Virginia driving record for 11 years. The most common form of Reckless Driving charged in this county is Reckless Driving by Speed. This is charged when a driver drives over 85 miles per hour or 20 or more miles over the speed limit. Other forms of Reckless Driving include Faulty Brakes, Passing a School Bus, and Reckless Driving by Conduct (Endangering Life, Limb, or Property). Reckless Driving by Conduct is usually charged when there is a traffic accident.
The law office handles these cases often and works hard to obtain a reduction of the charges to a traffic infraction, such as Improper Driving. This reduced charge is not a criminal offense and may be punished by a fine of up to $500.00. It carries three points with the Virginia Division of Motor vehicles and falls off a Virginia Driving record after three years. The Court does not impose any license suspension when the ticket is reduced to Improper Driving.
Reckless Driving charges in Virginia generally require that the defendant appear in court to respond to the charges. Each county is different and has its own rules about when defendants must appear or may be represented in their absence by a licensed Virginia lawyer. In this county, the lawyer may appear on the client's behalf in some high speed cases. The law office will as a precaution contact the prosecutor's office to determine if the defendant's appearance may be waived. The law office has done this in cases over 90 miles per hour (90, 92, 93, etc.). The lawyer will then advise the client ahead of the court date if it is possible to avoid an appearance.
The law office recommends that the client complete a driver improvement course, get a copy of their driving record, and obtain a speedometer calibration of their vehicle before the court date. In this county, the judges prefer that the client complete an in-person driver improvement course approved for Virginia rather than an online class. You will be given a certificate of completion for the class which may be printed and presented by the lawyer to the Judge and prosecutor.
If you have a high speed Reckless Driving case over 95 miles an hour in this county, the law office recommends that you also complete a Virginia RADEP class. This stands for Reckless Driving/Aggressive Driving Educational Program. It is a four hour in-person class. The course administrator will give you an additional certificate of completion for this class which may be used in court.
The speedometer calibration is a notarized document. It shows if your car has a defective speedometer or the speed on the display is less than the relative speed of the vehicle. The calibration will check the speed of the car at different levels: 40 MPH, 50 MPH, 60 MPH, etc. It can be useful mitigating evidence in court to help obtain a reduction of the charge to a traffic infraction and/or reduced penalties. Advanced Automotive in Chantilly, Virginia is a good location to obtain the calibration.
If the speed cited on the Reckless Driving Summons is very high, the law office may suggest completing community service with a non-profit entity. The non-profit can write a letter on its letterhead stating the number of hours performed. Contact the law office for helpful suggestions on the number of hours needed for your particular case and where it may be performed.
There are technical defenses to the charge of Reckless Driving by Speed. The most common defense is that the radar or lidar device used by police to measure the speed of the vehicle was not calibrated within six months. The Virginia Code requires that the police have properly executed calibrations to present in court on the date of trial in speed cases. Failure to have proper documentation may result in dismissal of the case.
Contact the law office for a free initial consultation at 703-352-9044 if you have a pending Reckless Driving case in the county of Shenandoah. The lawyer will advise you of what needs to be done before court to prepare for your case and get the best outcome. Attorney Yeargan has 25 years of experience handling criminal and traffic matters in the State of Virginia. The law office offers in-person office consultations to personally review your case, as well as reasonable flat fee rates.