Stafford County, Virginia is a large county in Northern Virginia that straddles Interstate 95. Thousands of drivers pass through the county every day. As a result, Reckless Driving tickets are routinely given to drivers who exceed the speed limit by 20 or more miles per hour or drive over 85 miles per hour. Attorney Yeargan lives in Stafford County and has experience handling high speed cases there in the General District Court.
Reckless Driving in the Commonwealth of Virginia is a Class 1 misdemeanor, and can result in harsh penalties, including jail time of up to one year, a fine of up to $2,500.00, and/or loss of license for up to six months. The county is considered one of the strictest counties in Virginia. It is not unusual in Stafford to see high speed drivers (unprepared for court) receive an actual jail sentence by the judges. The prosecutors in this county (called Commonwealth Attorneys) are not involved in the prosecution of these cases.
The objective of the law office handling cases in this county is to obtain a reduction of the misdemeanor charge to a traffic infraction, if possible. Traffic infractions, such as Improper Driving or Speeding, are not criminal offenses and are punishable by only a fine.
There are a number of action items that high speed drivers need to complete when facing a Reckless Driving charge in this county. First, the driver should complete a standard eight hour driver improvement course approved for Virginia. This can be done online or in person. The course will provide a certificate of completion which can be shown to the judge in court. Virginia licensed drivers receive five good points on their driving record for completing a class.
Second, the client in high speed cases should complete community service hours with a non-profit entity and obtain a letter from the organization stating the work performed and the number of hours completed. Habitat for Humanity, churches, and animal shelters are excellent opportunities for community service. The letter should be on the letterhead of the charity. The law office recommends completing a minimum of fifty hours or more of community service in high speed Reckless Driving cases approaching 100 miles her hour.
Third, an Aggressive Driving/Reckless Driving (RADEP) four hour course approved for Virginia should be completed. This is an in-person class and more intensive than the standard eight hour class. The course will provide a certificate of completion which may also be provided to the judge.
Fourth, the client should obtain a speedometer calibration of the vehicle if it is five years of age or older or has high mileage. A speedometer calibration prepared by a mechanic will be properly notarized and state any discrepancy of speed between the speedometer display and the actual speed of the car. This can be good mitigation evidence to present to the judge for possible reduction of the misdemeanor charge to a traffic infraction. Advanced Automotive and M&M Collision do a good job with speedometer calibrations in Northern Virginia.
Finally, the client is advised to obtain a certified copy of the driving record. If the client is from out of state, this may usually be done online or through the mail. A good driving record can be very helpful with persuading the judge to be lenient and possibly reduce the misdemeanor to a traffic infraction.
If you have a pending Reckless Driving ticket in Stafford County, Virginia and want a free initial consultation with an experienced traffic lawyer, contact attorney Yeargan at 703-352-9044. He will guide you through the steps needed to accomplish an excellent outcome in court. He has practiced law in Virginia for 24 years and knows the court system extremely well. Each case is personally handled by the lawyer. Cases are not delegated to another firm.