The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) cites speeding as the leading cause of motor vehicle accidents. More than 56% of accidents occur due to a speeding driver. Due to these statistics, law enforcement officers in Virginia have been very strict when it comes to speeding. Speeding offenses are serious in Chesterfield County and throughout Virginia. In certain circumstances, they can lead to a possible jail term or license suspension. Furthermore, speeding tickets can lead to increased insurance premiums, and even deny you various opportunities in education and employment. When you have been given a speeding ticket in Chesterfield County, you are staring at demerit points against your license as well as high fines. The demerit points can affect your insurance rates and even lead to license suspension. If you have received a speeding ticket, you need to consult Chesterfield County VA speeding ticket attorneys to discuss your case. It doesn’t matter whether it is a normal speeding ticket or a reckless driving by speed ticket, you need to consult a traffic attorney for directions on how best to proceed.
Speeding Offenses in Chesterfield County
There are various types of speeding offenses in Chesterfield County. Driving at 10 to 19 mph above the posted speed limit is considered as standard speeding. Reckless driving by speed remains one of the most serious traffic violations in Virginia. In Chesterfield County, reckless driving by speed refers to speeding at 20 mph over the posted speed limit or speeding at 80 mph in a zone where the speed limit is 60 to 75 mph. Most people tend to confuse standard speeding offenses with reckless driving by speed. As much as the two offenses arise from traffic violations, normal speeding is considered as a minor infraction. When you have been charged with normal speeding, you don’t have to appear in court. You can pre-pay the fine and proceed with your journey. Reckless driving, on the other hand, is a misdemeanor criminal offense. If you have been charged with reckless driving, it is mandatory to appear in court. Apart from that, reckless driving carries heavier penalties as compared to normal speeding tickets. In the case of reckless driving, the police officer will indicate the charges on the ticket, as well as the date that you should appear in court. If you encounter any problems interpreting the tickets, just contact Chesterfield County VA speeding ticket attorneys. Most judges will consider life-threatening emergencies as legal excuses for speeding. However, you will have to prove that indeed someone’s life was in danger. If you fail to prove that, then you will have to face trial for reckless driving by speed.
Penalties for Speeding
Speeding penalties range from fines and demerit points, in the case of general speeding. The number of demerit points depends on your driving record, the mph exceeded and various other factors. However, if you have been charged with reckless driving by speed, then you will face severe penalties when convicted. They include heavy fines, a possible jail term, loss or suspension of driving privileges and increase in insurance premiums. As much as jail term is not a common punishment for reckless driving, you can still end up with a prison sentence, if you were speeding at 95 mph or exceeding the speed limit by 30 mph. Whether you will receive a jail sentence or not depends with the judge. However, if a death resulted due to your reckless driving by speed behavior, then the possibility of spending time behind bars increases. The actual jail time depends on numerous factors. Fine is the most common punishment for those charged with reckless driving by speed. The maximum fine is $2,500. An average fine is usually in the range of $300 to $1,000. In the case of reckless driving, you have at least 30 days to settle the fine. If you cannot manage to pay within that period, then you should petition the court for an extension. Drafting a petition is not as easy as writing a job application letter. It requires extensive legal knowledge and experience. That’s why you should contact Chesterfield County VA speeding ticket attorneys in such situations.
Experienced Speeding Ticket Attorneys
Unlike other jurisdictions, Chesterfield handles aggravated cases of reckless driving by speed changes using two processes. The first appearance you make in court will be for arraignment instead of resolving the charges. However, in other jurisdictions, the judge rules on your charges during the first court appearance. The reason behind this is that law enforcement officers in Chesterfield are always pursuing a jail sentence, when it comes to reckless driving. During the first court appearance, the judge will emphasize on the need to have a speeding ticket attorney. After that, the court will then set the trial date, when the matter will be resolved. Another unique aspect about reckless driving by speed charges in Chesterfield is that the prosecutors involved in your case are heavily involved during the trial.
As you can see, every jurisdiction in Virginia applies its unique practices, when it comes to reckless driving. At Joyner Law PLLC, our Chesterfield County VA speeding ticket attorneys handle cases as per court basis. We have a special team that handles Chesterfield County cases, owing to the unique nature of their court processes. We understand that being charged with a crime like reckless driving by speed is a frightening process, for both you as well as your loved ones. At Joyner Law PLLC, we will listen to you and then determine how we can use your information, as well as the available evidence to present a formidable defense strategy, which can prove your innocence or have the charges dropped.
Contact Us Today
Our experienced Chesterfield County VA speeding ticket attorneys know how to fight speeding ticket charges and challenge the evidence presented by the state. With decades of experience, you can always rely on our team to fight when it comes to fighting speeding ticket charges, protecting your rights and ensuring your reputation remains intact. If you are looking for skilled, experienced, and competent attorneys, who can help you to avoid the severe consequences that come with speeding violations, then you should contact our law firm today. Our legal professionals are ready to assess your case during the free initial consultation.
