Virginia’s criminal reckless driving law is infamously broad.
In Virginia, reckless driving does include some behaviors that most motorists would recognize as dangerous, like street racing or passing a school bus while the bus is stopped to pick up or drop off children. Again, like in other states, a reckless driving charge can come as a relief to someone who otherwise may have been accused of driving under the influence.
However, there are also some driving mistakes that even generally good citizens and even good drivers make that are criminal misdemeanors in Virginia. Examples of behavior that is reckless driving in Virginia include the following:
- Failing to use a turn signal
- Traveling at a speed of greater than 85 miles per hour, even on the interstate
- Simply driving too fast for the weather or traffic conditions, even if the driver was going at or under the posted speed limit
- In some cases, failing to yield the right-of-way
- Certain passing violations
- Failing to control one’s vehicle
- Any sort of behavior which, in the opinion of police or prosecutors, may have caused an accident.
As with any other Class 1 misdemeanor, the penalty for a reckless driving charge can include up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $2,500.
While in practice a person may not face these punishments, they still will have to deal with a criminal conviction on their record and all the professional and personal fallout that comes with that.
If there was an accident associated with the charge, pleading guilty may also expose a person to civil lawsuits.
They also may face serious consequences with respect to their ability to drive a vehicle, especially if they drive for a living.
Most insurance companies will react strongly to a reckless driving conviction, making it harder to afford insurance even if one is otherwise able to keep driving.
Someone facing a reckless driving charge should know their options
Someone from the Richmond area without a criminal history and who made what is in fact no more than an honest driving mistake can be looking at jail time and other serious consequences.
They should understand their options and rights in their criminal traffic case. Often, it is possible to avoid the most serious fallout from a reckless driving charge.