Can you represent yourself? Yes. Should you? Absolutely not.

If you mistakenly believe that a reckless driving charge is nothing to worry about and that you can handle your own defense, you could be in for a shock. In Virginia, reckless driving is a criminal offense, and criminal charges should always be taken seriously.

What Is Reckless Driving?

The Virginia legal code defines reckless driving as driving "recklessly or at a speed or in a manner so as to endanger the life, limb, or Reckless Driving Stampproperty of any person." Sound a little vague? That's because it is. The reality is that if an officer decides that your driving was reckless, they can charge you with this criminal offense rather than with a moving violation such as speeding. Actions that might be charged as reckless include:

  • Driving more than 20 mph over the posted speed limit
  • Passing illegally on a hill, at a railroad crossing, when approaching a curve, etc.
  • Failing to yield the right-of-way
  • Driving an unsafe or overloaded vehicle
  • Doing anything the officer decides endangers others

If you are pulled over and ticketed, make sure you know whether you were charged with a moving violation or with reckless driving.

Consequences You Face If Convicted of Reckless Driving

As a Class 1 Misdemeanor, the penalties for reckless driving are the same as for other Class 1 criminal offenses, including jail time and a publicly available criminal record. If you are convicted of reckless driving, you could be sentenced to:

  • Up to one year in jail
  • A fine of up to $2500
  • Six points on your driving record
  • Driving privileges suspended for up to six months

These are serious penalties, and you should always consider fighting the charges in order to avoid the worst outcomes. However, you should not take on this battle alone. Without the knowledge and experience that a Virginia reckless driving defense attorney has, you don't stand a chance of getting the charges reduced or dropped.

Our Criminal Defense Attorney Can Help

The sooner you accept that a reckless driving charge is a criminal matter, the better off you will be. You would not try to defend yourself if you were charged with assault and battery, so you should not consider defending yourself against a reckless driving charge because the penalties are the same. If you have been charged with reckless driving in Virginia, contact James E. Short, PCL, to find out how we can help.