Fauquier County, Virginia is located in Northern Virginia next to Prince William County and Warren County. The county seat is in Warrenton, Virginia. The county gets steady traffic on many roads, including Interstate 66, US Route 50, US Route 211, US Route 17, US Route 29, and State Route 28. State Troopers and county officers patrol the roads and give motorists tickets in the county.
The main traffic court for adults is the General District Court. It is located in Warrenton, Virginia at the old courthouse. The judge that hears traffic matters in this court is the Honorable Jessica Foster. She also sits in Rappahannock county. Below is the contact information for the court:
Fauquier County General District Court
6 Court St #3299, Warrenton, VA 20186
Telephone: (540) 422-8030
The county receives a large number of Reckless Driving tickets due to its proximity to Washington, D.C. and the sprawling suburban density of the area. Reckless Driving in Virginia is a Class 1 misdemeanor, a criminal offense. It is the same level of seriousness as a Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol arrest. The ticket is punishable by up to 12 months in jail, a fine of up to $2,500.00, and loss of license of up to six months.
The majority of Reckless Driving tickets are Speeding related. This can be charged when the driver is exceeding 20 miles or more over the limit, or driving more than 85 miles per hour. Other types of Reckless Driving in Virginia are charged under different statutes and include Failure to Yield to Emergency Vehicles, Racing, Reckless Driving by Conduct - Endangering Life, Limb, or Property, and Passing a School Bus. Because of the seriousness of the charge, the law office seeks to make an agreement with the prosecutor to get it dismissed or reduced down to a traffic infraction.
Traffic infractions are non-criminal offenses and carry only the potential for a fine and court costs. Examples of these type of offenses are Defective Equipment, Speeding, and Improper Driving.
Fauquier County does have a deferral program for dismissal of traffic charges under certain circumstances. The deferral program is usually only available to drivers with exceptional driving records. The deferral program includes completion of a Virginia approved driver improvement course and payment of court costs. The law office has utilized this program many times for eligible clients.
The law office recommends that those charged with Reckless Driving by Speed complete an eight hour online driver improvement course or an eight hour in-person class before court. When the class if completed, you will receive a certificate of completion that may be used in court. It is also important that the driver get their driving record from the Division of Motor Vehicles in the state they are licensed.
If the law office is unable to get the charge deferred for complete dismissal, it seeks to get it amended to a lesser traffic infraction.
In extremely high-speed cases, or if the driver has a very bad driving record, the law office may recommend completion of community service hours with a non-profit firm. The client will get a letter from the organization stating the number of hours performed on their letterhead. An extra four hour Aggressive Driving course called RADEP may also be recommended to the client. Contact the law office for precise advice tailored to the facts of your case.
If you need help with a pending charge in Fauquier County General District Court, call the law office for a free, initial consultation. Attorney Wilfred Yeargan has 25 years of personal experience defending these types of charges. The attorney will explain what needs to be done for your particular case and offer a reasonable flat fee rate to handle the matter. In most cases, the lawyer can represent you without the need for your appearance in court.