If you’re the unlucky recipient of a Fairfax reckless driving ticket, I’ll bet you’re overwhelmed. You’ve probably heard stories about people losing their license, read forum posts about jail time, and been flooded with lawyer ads in the mail. Which Fairfax reckless driving lawyer should you hire? Do you even need an attorney at all?
Take a breath.
You have options, and you’ve come to the right place!
Instead of calling all those lawyers and trying to figure out who isn’t going to rip you off, educate yourself. Learn about the charge, what options you may have, and how you can move forward to get the best possible result.
What is Fairfax County reckless driving?
There are many different versions of reckless driving in Fairfax, but two of the common types are reckless driving by speed (46.2-862) and reckless driving general (46.2-852). Reckless driving by speed simply means that you’re charged with going more than 80 mph or more than 19 mph over the limit. General reckless driving can be charged in any case where you allegedly endangered life, limb, or property with your driving.
You could also be facing a charge of reckless driving for “failure to maintain control” of your vehicle, which is under 46.2-853. That charge most commonly arises in single-vehicle accident cases.
You’ll learn all about the reckless driving charge itself in Chapter 1 of my book.
What are the consequences for reckless driving?
You’ve probably read that Fairfax County can be tough on reckless driving. The maximum punishment according to Virginia law is any combination of: a fine up to $2,500, jail up to 12 months, and license suspension up to 6 months.
But that’s just the maximum.
Realistically, many cases are resolved without jail time or license suspension. But some reckless driving charges DO get jail time or license suspension in Fairfax. That’s determined by the overall facts of your case including your driving record.
Chapter 2 will cover the consequences of reckless driving in Fairfax, along with issues such as employment and security clearances.
What defenses can we use?
Like any criminal charge, the Commonwealth has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you committed the crime in question. Thus, the possible defenses come from the elements of the offense.
The possibilities are too numerous to cover in a short website article, but Chapter 3 will go into detail on some of your options. For example, you may be able to challenge the officer’s tuning fork calibrations or even argue that you weren’t driving on a “highway” as required by Virginia law.
Importantly, Chapter 4 will give you an idea of defenses that don’t work in my experience. Judges have heard it all hundreds of times, and some things just won’t get you anywhere.
Are there other options in Fairfax?
Even if you don’t have a solid defense, you may still have options to get the charge reduced or dismissed. It will definitely depend upon the prosecutor, judge, and the facts of your case. But Chapter 5 of my book will give you some ideas that might help get a good result in the courtroom.
Frankly, this is one area where hiring an attorney makes a lot of sense. An experienced Fairfax reckless driving attorney may be able to negotiate a good deal on your case with the Commonwealth Attorney.
What if I lose?
Here’s something cool about Virginia law: if you aren’t happy with the first outcome in your case, you get a complete redo!
You can appeal your Fairfax General District Court reckless driving charge within 10 days of the trial. That will give you a brand new trial in Fairfax Circuit Court with a different judge. Chapter 7 will give you the scoop on how to appeal, along with a sample appeal form.
What about hiring a lawyer?
If you decide to talk with a Fairfax reckless driving lawyer about your case, YOU need to ask the questions. It’s your chance to find out if the lawyer is qualified to handle your case.
But what questions should you ask? Yep, that’s covered in Chapter 8 of my book. One of the most important questions is on page 50: “Do you EVER pass your clients off to other attorneys?” You’d be surprised how some firms shuffle clients around to make a buck. It’s scary and not in your best interest.
Why am I giving the book away?
If you’ve read all this, you may be asking yourself why I’m giving away the farm. After all, my book is for sale on Amazon right now. Why would I give it away for free?
I want to help. I’m sick of seeing folks preyed upon by scare-tactic lawyers. It doesn’t cost me anything to give my book away by email, and it could help you learn the truth about your case.
Now, what are you waiting for? You’ve got nothing to lose by downloading your free copy below.