Did you receive a traffic ticket? Virginia has a number of different categories for traffic violations some of which are criminal charges. Traffic charges may result in increased insurance costs, loss of driver’s license, and even jail. DON’T PAY THAT TICKET. The team at Randall, Page & Bruch, P.C. has proven experience at representation for traffic matters, we get the results you want.
If you pay the fine ahead of time, you are pleading guilty! You will waive your right to a trial and the opportunity to fight the case against you.
We at Randall, Page & Bruch, P.C. look beyond the fines, we look at the long-term effect of “just paying the ticket.” You may pay fines and court costs; however, you will get points on your license which can result in increased insurance premiums and loss of your license. The Court may also suspend your license depending on the severity of the case as well as sending you to jail. Depending on the state where you have licensed a consequence of a traffic conviction in Virginia could result in a license suspension. WE WORK TO GET THOSE LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES MINIMIZED SO IT DOES NOT HAVE A LASTING EFFECT ON YOUR LIFE.
We fight to avoid a license suspension! When we go to court, we are successful at getting charges reduced or dismissed entirely. In many cases, we can convince the court to not suspend your license, even when normally it would be an automatic suspension.
If you are convicted of a traffic offense (moving violation) you will be assigned Demerit Points that will impact your insurance and can lead to a loss of license. In Virginia, the points are as follows:
0 Demerit Points- Defective Equipment, Non-Moving Violations
3 Demerit Points- Speeding 1-9 mph over the speed limit, Improper Driving, Failure to Yield
4 Demerit Points- Speeding 10-19 mph over the speed limit, Running a Stop Sign
6 Demerit Points- Reckless Driving, Speeding 20+ mph over the speed limit, Driving While Suspended, Eluding
The more demerit points you have, the worse your driving record will be. This can make it harder to get a job (especially if it involves driving during work), increases your insurance, and possibly lead to a license suspension if you get too many demerit points. Our fight is to get you no points whenever possible.
Insurance companies calculate your premium based on your driving history and whether they consider you a risky driver to insure. Moving violations can lead to loss of safe driver discounts and increased premiums, and in some circumstances cancellation of your policy. What happens with your insurance is between you and your insurance provider so we cannot tell you exactly what will happen. We can tell you the lesser the charge the lesser change of it affecting your insurance.
Yes! In many cases, the courts are willing to reduce cases to non-moving violations, which in Virginia is a traffic violation that carries zero points.
Every state has its own points system, so you may have different consequences depending on your home state. 44 States are part of the Interstate Compact where they will report results of moving violations to other states. Each state then assigns its own consequences. Those can be worse than Virginia does.
For example, if you are convicted of Reckless Speed in Virginia and you have licensed in North Carolina, Virginia will report the results to North Carolina. North Carolina will suspend your driver’s license even if it was not suspended in Virginia.
In Virginia, if you are traveling over 80 miles per hour or more than 20 miles per hour over the speed limit, that is considered reckless driving. Also, if you were in the accident you may be charged with reckless driving, even if you just ran off the road in the rain. And remember, reckless driving in Virginia is a criminal charge. You can be fined up to $2,500 and receive a jail sentence of up to 12 months for reckless driving.
The courts have the authority to send you to jail for some speeding violations, in particular reckless speed. The time in jail will depend on your charged speed and driving record. We have had great success in helping those charged with reckless speed avoiding jail.
You will only have a criminal record if you are convicted of reckless driving, not straight speed. We are often successful and getting reckless driving charges reduced or dismissed. Every case is different, but we have a lengthy track record of success.
A conviction of reckless driving will result in a misdemeanor conviction, which you will have to report to those who manage security clearances. It could result in a suspension or revocation of your clearance. Which in turn, if you are a contractor, could result in loss of employment.
Also, if you are on good behavior or probation you will likely be violated.
We believe you. Unfortunately, it does not change the fact that the officer believed you were speeding. That’s not a defense.
IT DEPENDS. For speeding charges, we can appear on your behalf and represent you. For reckless driving, that will depend on the jurisdiction and your specific charge. Our team can advise you on the best course of action. No one wants to come to court for no reason. We understand that you may live a long distance away and will do all we can to handle the manner without you having to return to Virginia.
Every area has its own judges who have their own tendencies. Part of our job as defense attorneys is to be familiar with each judge and jurisdiction so we can get the best possible result.
No lawyer can guarantee you an outcome in court. It’s a violation of our code of ethics. What we can do is tell you the most likely outcome and what we can do to get you the best possible outcome. WE CAN GUARANTEE WE WILL FIGHT FOR YOU AND GET YOU THE BEST RESULT.
Some things you may want to do before a court to give us a better chance of getting your charge reduced:
Speak with your lawyer at Randall, Page & Bruch, P.C. first before doing any of these things – we are familiar with the judges and what they like to see people do before a court. Inexperienced lawyers may suggest something to you that is time-consuming and expensive that will not impact the outcome.
Our lawyers are experienced and familiar with the cities and counties where we practice. We know what the courts tend to do and can give you specific advice tailored to that jurisdiction. We also get results. Judges and police officers know that we are serious and dedicated. We fight to get the best outcome possible for you. Our lawyers have a military background, former police officer background, former prosecutors experience, and vast experience as defense attorneys. WE SIMPLY KNOW HOW THINGS WORK!
