how much is a lawyer for a reckless driving ticket

Full Answer

How much does it cost to hire a lawyer for traffic tickets?

While some traffic tickets cases are settled without going to court, others have and violators shell out $2,000-$5,000 or more. Expect your lawyer to charge you a flat rate of $250 to $500 for a one-time transaction that involves court hearings and plea agreements to negotiate or reduced penalty.

What are the penalties for a reckless a conviction?

A conviction can result in penalties ranging from heavy fines to incarceration in certain cases, depending on state laws. In some states, certain acts are automatically considered reckless, such as:

What happens if you plead not guilty to a reckless driving charge?

Reckless driving is a serious charge and can result in steep fines, loss of driving privileges, or even jail time in some instances. If you have been cited with a reckless driving ticket and are going to plead not guilty, you would be wise to contact an experienced traffic ticket attorney in your area.

How long do you go to jail for reckless driving?

Reckless driving: Up to 6 months in jail and a maximum fine of $1000. Reckless driving involving an accident: Up to a year in jail and a maximum fine of $2000. Class B misdemeanor, unless an accident is involved, then it is considered a Class A misdemeanor.

Should I hire an attorney for reckless driving in VA?

Since reckless driving in VA is a criminal offense, the penalties and long term consequences—such as a criminal record—can be severe. It is in your best interest to consult with a Virginia reckless driving attorney before making any decisions.

Do I have to go to court for reckless driving in Virginia?

Virginia treats reckless driving as a crime, which means you can't just pay the ticket and make it go away. You'll have to appear in court to enter a plea, and if you plead not guilty you have to go through the process of hearings and maybe even a trial.

How can I reduce my reckless driving ticket in Virginia?

As long as you do not possess a commercial driver's license, the judge is permitted to be lenient in cases of reckless driving by recommending that you attend a driver improvement clinic or perform community service in lieu of the normal penalties for the charge.

How much does a reckless driving attorney cost in Virginia?

There are two ways that attorneys structure their fees: (1) Hourly, and (2) Flat Fees. The standard hourly fee for attorneys in Virginia is between $250-$500 an hour.

What is the punishment for reckless driving in Virginia?

What is the Maximum Penalty for a Reckless Driving Conviction In Virginia? Usually, reckless driving is a Class One misdemeanor, punishable by up to 12 months in jail and/or up to a $2,500 fine.

Is 85 mph reckless in Virginia?

Many people also found it problematic that other states' thresholds were 15 mph or more above the posted speed limit for a reckless driving charge. The new amendment to Virginia code raises the Virginia reckless driving speed to 85 miles per hour regardless of the speed limit.

Can you go to jail for reckless driving in VA?

Reckless driving is not merely a moving violation, it is a criminal charge. Reckless driving is usually a Class 1 misdemeanor and is punishable by up to one year in jail, six months suspended driver's license, six points on your driving record in Virginia, and a fine of up to $2,500.

Is reckless driving a felony in VA?

Reckless driving in VA is not a felony (with rare exceptions). Whether you were charged with § 46.2-862 Reckless Driving by Speed, § 46.2-852 General Reckless Driving, or one of the other 12 types of reckless driving in VA, you have been charged with a class 1 misdemeanor.

Is 20 over the speed limit reckless driving in Virginia?

Virginia Code Section 46.2-862 indicates that a person can be found guilty of reckless driving by speed if the motorist: Travels 20 miles per hour or more over the applicable maximum speed limit.

How much does it cost to hire a lawyer in Virginia?

How much do lawyers charge in Virginia? The typical lawyer in Virginia charges between $186 and $391 per hour. Costs vary depending on the type of lawyer, so review our lawyer rates table to find out the average cost to hire an attorney in Virginia.

How much does a criminal attorney cost in Virginia?

Most Misdemeanor Charges: $750-$1500. Felony Charges: $2500-$10000. Violent Felonies: $5000 and up.

How can I reduce my speeding ticket in Virginia?

How to Get a Traffic Ticket Dismissed in VirginiaClarify your reason for taking a driver's improvement course. ... Enroll in a state-approved driver's improvement course. ... Provide your certificate of course completion to the Virginia DMV to claim your safe driver credit.

How many points does a reckless driving charge have to be on your license?

The court must notify the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles about your conviction as well. The DMV could assign four or six demerit points to your license depending on the seriousness of the crime.

What is the maximum fine for reckless driving in Virginia?

Under Virginia traffic law, reckless driving is a Class One misdemeanor. A Class One misdemeanor in Virginia carries a maximum fine of $2,500 along with a potential one-year jail sentence. The fine and jail sentence could be tacked onto penalties for other charges the prosecutor brings against you.

How long do points stay on your driving record?

Your points remain on your driving history for a long time, up to 11 years in many cases, for a conviction for reckless driving. Even if the Virginia DMV removes demerit points from your driving history over time, your car insurer might not.

Do you need a lawyer for a reckless driving ticket?

Many people who receive traffic citations do not hire a lawyer. They simply pay the fine and move on. You cannot take that approach with a reckless driving ticket. Reckless driving is a crime, rather than a traffic offense.

How much does a lawyer charge to interview you?

Depending upon all those factors, legal fees could vary from around $500 to $1,500 and even up to $2,500 in some areas.

What questions should I ask a lawyer?

These are the types of questions you need to be asking lawyers when you interview us: 1 What punishments are you looking at? 2 What outcomes may be possible when working with an experienced reckless driving lawyer like myself? 3 Is jail time a serious risk or not?

How long is reckless driving in jail?

Reckless driving: Up to 90 days in jail and/ or 1000 in fines. Reckless driving resulting in serious injuries: Up to 1 year in jail and/ or 3000 in fines. Reckless driving without bodily harm; and careless driving: A misdemeanor. Reckless driving resulting in bodily harm: Gross misdemeanor.

What is reckless driving?

Reckless driving is driving with a willful or wanton disregard for safety, or showing willful disregard of consequences when operating a vehicle. When you are cited for this traffic offense, it is because you may have disregarded the rules of the road and may or may not have caused an accident or property damage. But as a threshold issue, you normally have to do something more than mere negligence in the operation of a vehicle to be cited for reckless driving.

How long is a motor vehicle offense?

First motor vehicle offense: Between 10-90 days in jail and/or up-to $300 in fines.

What is the penalty for driving a car heedlessly?

First Offense: Imprisonment of no more than 60 days, or a fine between $50.00 and $200.00, or both.

What is a person who operates a vehicle on a highway or a frozen public lake, stream, or

A person who operates a vehicle upon a highway or a frozen public lake, stream, or pond or other places open to the general public, including, but not limited to, an area designated for the parking of motor vehicles, in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.

What happens if you are cited for reckless driving?

If you have been cited with a reckless driving ticket and are going to plead not guilty, you would be wise to contact an experienced traffic ticket attorney in your area.

How long is a law enforcement officer in jail for fleeing?

Fleeing a law enforcement officer in a motor vehicle is reckless driving per se. First Conviction: Imprisonment for a period of no more than 90 days, and/or a fine of between $25 and $500. Second Conviction: Imprisonment of no more than 6 months, and/or by a fine of between $50 and $1,000.

How much does a traffic lawyer charge?

The average penalty for traffic violations is about $120 to $250 highly depending on the scene.

How much does a speeding lawyer cost?

The basic traffic lawyer cost for speeding charges ranges from $50-$250 for representation in traffic court and in some instances, it can run $200-$500 for direct legal services ...

What fees are there to fight for your ticket?

The following fees are to be prepared if you fight for your ticket rights: 1. Lawyer Fees – service and representation fees . 2. Court Fees –the court charges you to process your ticket. You are to pay the court after your ticket is resolved an agreement has been reached. 3.

Is it worth getting a traffic ticket?

Most people, however, have gotten one or more in their driving days. It may be worth it to hire a traffic lawyer to fight your ticket. Many people complain that they “earn” those tickets when they don’t actually deserve them.

Can a traffic ticket affect your insurance?

Having traffic tickets can lead to heavy fines, affect your driving records or increase your insurance rates. Having a lawyer fight for you to can reduce your fines or totally get your ticket dismissed. There are a few different ways on how a lawyer can assist you.

What can a traffic attorney do?

Traffic attorneys can help people facing charges or who have received a major ticket for speeding, DUI, hit and run, reckless driving, red light violations, radar tickets, and other traffic violations . Even for minor tickets, trained professionals can help reduce charges and sometimes prevent clients from getting points against their driver’s ...

How long is a traffic violation a misdemeanor?

This type of traffic offense is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to 364 days in jail and a $2,500 fine. Through negotiations with the supervising attorney for the State's Attorney's Office, the offense was reduced from a misdemeanor to a petty offense (noncriminal) with court supervision (no conviction).

What is a traffic infraction?

Traffic infractions include moving and nonmoving violations such as speeding, running a stop sign or parking illegally. A police officer can issue a ticket without a trial or court, unless the charged individual chooses to contest it. Multiple traffic infractions can lead to loss or suspension of a driver’s license.

How much does Fenbert charge for traffic?

Fenbert of Fenbert & Associates typically charges $350 per court date for misdemeanor traffic offenses. These cases may include a motion hearing, a trial or a sentencing hearing with the judge.

What is a CDL in a moving violation case?

The case took one court date. The client was a licensed commercial driver (CDL) charged with a serious moving violation. In order to keep driving with his company and not suffer a suspension, the client needed the serious moving violation reduced to a nonmoving violation.

What is the most common traffic case in Chicago?

In the Chicago area, Fenbert of Fenbert & Associates says the most common traffic cases he represents are driving while license is suspended or revoked, which is a misdemeanor. He also represents a lot of licensed commercial drivers, drivers under 21 years old and drivers under DUI suspensions because they have a greater interest in protecting their driver’s license than the average motorist.