Montgomery County, Virginia Traffic Attorney
Christiansburg, Virginia Reckless Driving Ticket Lawyer
Have you been arrested for severe Reckless Driving in Montgomery County? Have you received a traffic ticket for Reckless Driving or other offense from from a Montgomery County, Christiansburg, or Blacksburg law enforcement officer or a Virginia State Trooper?
Several years ago, Virginia raised the speed limit on Interstate 81 (I-81) in Montgomery County from 65mph to 70mph. Raising the speed limit to 70mph was a welcome change for many travelers in Virginia, allowing them to reach their destinations more quickly. Unbeknownst to many travelers is that this increased speed limit puts them at greater risk for receiving a Reckless Driving ticket when driving on Interstate 81 in Montgomery County.
According to Virginia Code section § 46.2-862, driving at any speed in excess of 80mph anywhere in Virginia can be considered Reckless Driving, and any officer of the law in Virginia can issue a Reckless Driving ticket to any driver motoring in excess of 80mph. Some jurisdictions along the Interstate 81 corridor make a point to always issue Reckless Driving tickets for speeds over 80mph. Montgomery County law enforcement officers vary in this regard.
With a 70mph speed limit, there is only a 10mph difference between the posted speed limit and Reckless Driving. Considering that most drivers expect to be able to drive 5mph above the posted speed limit without receiving a ticket and regularly do so, there is only a 5mph difference between this expectation and Reckless Driving. Putting drivers at greater risk is the use of cruise control when driving on the Interstate in Montgomery County because most cruise control systems will not keep a vehicle within 5mph of the set speed on many of the downhill stretches of Interstate 81 in Montgomery County.
Conversely, when the speed limit was 65mph, there was a 15mph difference between the posted speed limit and Reckless Driving. There was a 10mph difference between the typical cruise control setting at 5mph over the posted speed limit and the speed that was considered Reckless Driving.
The result is that the number of Reckless Driving tickets issued on Interstate highways in Montgomery County has increased significantly since the Virginia legislature passed the increased speed limit.
Reckless Driving tickets in Virginia are particularly troublesome as tickets because unlike simple Speeding tickets which are considered traffic infractions and can be prepaid, Reckless Driving is considered a Class 1 criminal misdemeanor, which cannot be prepaid and requires at least one court appearance by the accused or their attorney. As a Class 1 misdemeanor, punishment for Reckless Driving is up to a $2,500 fine and 1 years in jail.
In addition, a conviction for Reckless Driving can lead to skyrocketing car insurance rates, demerit points on your driving record, and the suspension or revocation of your driver's license, but if you are a Virginia Tech student, then you must also report them to Virginia Tech and may suffer disciplinary action there, and they may affect your future employment opportunities and entrance into professional schools.
If you have received any kind of Reckless Driving other traffic ticket in Montgomery County, you need a good Christiansburg traffic lawyer who knows what to do and gets good results for his clients. Talk to an experienced traffic attorney at the Christiansburg, VA law firm of Bosen and Pollard, located not far from the Montgomery County General District Court in downtown Christiansburg, Virginia — and the sooner the better, for you.
Defending Your Rights, Protecting Your Interests
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We have years of successful experience in Montgomery County General District Court handling a wide variety of traffic offenses, including:
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•Hit and Run
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•Leaving the Scene of an Accident
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•Drunk Driving and DUI/ DWI defense
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•Driving Without a License
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•Driving On a Suspended License
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•Driving Without Insurance
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•Vehicular Manslaughter
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•Vehicular Homicide
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•Other Traffic Tickets and Citations
Contact Us
Does your ability to earn a living depend on your driving privileges? Do not go into a courtroom or DMV administrative hearing alone. Protect your rights.
There are a number of things a dedicated and determined traffic lawyer can do to make the most of the options available to you. If you have a decent driving record, a good traffic attorney can keep you from getting convicted or convince the authorities to reduce or dismiss the charges against you.
Contact attorneys Harry F. Bosen, Jr. and Matthew J. Pollard today for a free consultation. We will explain your rights and what we can do to help you.
Last updated: December 12, 2014