Although the bulk of traffic infractions in Virginia are basic moving violations, certain ones carry a greater penalty than others, and a handful are regarded as criminal offenses by Virginia legislation. Charges for traffic violations can involve minor fines and rack up negative points or “demerits” on your driver’s license, but other more significant offenses may involve punishment by suspending or revoking your license or even imprisonment. Occasionally charges for traffic violations are influenced by such factors as
- Your prior driving history
- Whether anybody was wounded or killed due to the claimed violation
- Whether the violation lead to a crash by which property was destroyed
- The location of the violation
A licensed and qualified traffic defense attorney may enlighten you to fully grasp the potential charges in your situation, which elements may be taken into consideration in deciding your potential charges, and whether or not any conditions are present to allow you to get your ticket thrown out or your charges minimized.
Virginia Traffic Fines and Fees
Fines for the majority of traffic infractions are determined by the Virginia Supreme Court. Should you receive a ticket for not complying with a highway sign, you will be fined in addition to paying a processing fee regardless of where in Virginia you receive the citation. Neither clerks nor barristers have the ability to modify those fines whenever you pre-pay a ticket, which simply involves paying it and pleading guilty to the offense, thereby avoiding having to go to court. Should you go to court and challenge the citation and are subsequently deemed guilty, your judge is not constrained by the fines detailed in the Supreme Court regulations. Fines may begin from as low as $30 for general violations up to $200 for speeding tickets, with an additional $8 incurred for each mile in excess of the speed limit when driving in a residential area.
For more major violations like fleeing an accident scene, eluding, driving under a suspended license or driving with no license at all, penalties are fixed by criminal codes and will fluctuate according to the conditions of your case and if the violation is a misdemeanor or a felony. If you are cited with one of these serious violations, it’s usually advisable to consult a traffic lawyer about the charges you may encounter and the choices for your defense.
Negative Points
Receiving negative points on your driver’s license is an additional unfortunate outcome of pleading to or being found guilty of a traffic infringement in Virginia. The majority of moving violations will most likely tack three or four points onto your license, but severe offenses may rack up six points that remain on your driving report for 11 years. For instance, a standard speeding ticket in which your speed was 10 mph above the posted speed limit or less is normally a three-point offense. But if your speed was over 10 and under 20 mph above the limit, you’ll receive four points, and speeds above 20 mph over the limit or more than 80 mph in any area is regarded as reckless driving and adds six points to your record if found guilty. To read more on Virginia reckless driving laws and penalties, visit:
Should you receive more than a certain number of points inside of a year or two, your driver’s license may be frozen or suspended. You could possibly have the ability to prevent that by attending a driving improvement course.
Suspension of Driver’s License
Some severe driving-related offenses like DWI, reckless driving, leaving the accident scene, eluding, or being found guilty of driving with a suspended license or without a license can temporarily result indefinite in revocation of driving rights. Sometimes, like with an eluding conviction, Virginia regulations compulsorily demand a suspension. Frequently, the duration of your suspension will be affected by the particular conditions involved in your conviction and elements such as prior convictions or if a person was hurt or killed due to your traffic breach.
Jail Sentences
The majority of traffic violations are disciplined with fines and demerit points determined by the DMV on your driving report, but arrest or imprisonment is a potential penalty in traffic infractions that are regarded as crimes, which includes DUI, DWI, reckless driving, hit-and-run, eluding, or driving while license is suspended or not having a license. Sometimes an indictment of such charges will force you to be locked up in jail for a few days. Penalties for the gravest traffic violations can include imprisonment for up to 10 years or more. A traffic attorney can clarify the potential jail terms involved with your particular offense.
We Are Ready to Fight For You!
If you are facing a charge for a serious traffic violation or, you believe that you were wrongfully charged – contact The Brown Law Firm PLLC today. Our traffic defense attorneys are highly experienced in defending drivers against all varieties of Virginia traffic violations. We offer initial phone or in-person consultations to help you understand your choices before you make a decision. To discuss your case further, call our offices or send us a message online with a description of your case.
