Reckless Driving charges are common in the City of Fredericksburg, The speed limits are low in the city and police presence is high. The courthouse in Fredericksburg, Virginia is in a new building in the center of town. Traffic and misdemeanor cases for adults are heard in the General District Court. The Presiding Judge in this court is David Danieli. The address and contact information for the court is below:
City of Fredericksburg General District Court
701 Princess Anne Street, Suite 200
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
Telephone Number: 540-372-1228
There are more than a dozen types of Reckless Driving laws in Virginia. These include Passing a School Bus, Failure to Yield to Emergency Vehicle, Obstructed Windshield, Faulty Brakes, etc. The most common type of Reckless Driving is Reckless Driving by Speed. This may be charged when a person exceeds the speed limit by 20 miles per hour or more or travels at 85 miles per hour or more.
Speed of a vehicle is normally measured by police with three methods: Radar, Lidar and Pacing. Lidar is a laser based method and is the most accurate. Calibrations of police equipment used to measure speed must be done every six months under Virginia law.
Reckless Driving of all types is a Class 1 misdemeanor and may be punished with up to 12 months of jail time, a fine of up to $2,500, and/or loss of license of up to six months. It is a criminal offense and may impact employment, immigration status, insurance rates, and security clearances. Reckless Driving charges carry six demerit points and stay on a Virginia driving record for 11 years.
Mr. Yeargan has defended thousands of Reckless Driving charges over 27 years. His office seeks to help clients get the charge dismissed or reduced to a traffic infraction. Traffic infractions are non-criminal and carry only a fine and court costs. Examples of traffic infractions are Improper Driving, Failure to Obey a Highway Sign, and Speeding. Improper Driving carries a fine of up to $500 and court costs. The court does not have the ability to suspend the license for traffic infractions.
The City of Fredericksburg also has a city code called Failure to Pay Full Time and Attention under §58-16. It is a traffic infraction that carries a fine up to $100. It does not carry points. It also does not go on the driving record. The law office has gotten high speed cases reduced to this Code.
In order to get the charge dismissed or reduced, the law office recommends that pre-court work be completed by the client. Depending on the speed involved in the case, the lawyer may recommend a standard eight hour driving improvement course, a four hour Reckless Driving course called RADEP, community service, and/or a speedometer calibration. The client needs to obtain the driving record in their state.
If you have a pending Reckless Driving charge in the City of Fredericksburg, please contact an experienced lawyer for advice on what you need to do to prepare for court. A Reckless Driving conviction can have serious and long-lasting ramifications on your life. The lawyer will explain what mitigation efforts are needed for your particular charge in a free, initial consultation. If you decide to retain the law office, it will provide written instructions on what steps you need to complete before court. Reasonable, Flat Fees are offered for these types of cases. The law office may be reached at 703-352-9044.