Traffic Violations
Did You Receive A Traffic Ticket?
There are many ways to get a traffic ticket in Virginia. If you are in this unfortunate situation, you have a choice to fight your ticket alone or hire a lawyer to assist you. Some traffic laws in Virginia are not so common knowledge, and if you are in violation of one of them, you may be facing fines, points on your license, a license suspension or even jail time. In addition, multiple traffic violation convictions may lead to losing your license for an extended period of time among other consequences. If driving privileges are important to you, it’s in your best interest to consult with an experienced traffic violation attorney.
At Williams Stone, PC, we fight all types of traffic violations throughout Northern Virginia and understand how important it is to protect your driving privileges and your driving record. Fill out our online form to request a FREE consultation with one of our attorneys.
How Williams Stone, PC, Can Help You
Traffic violations come in several variations. From not wearing your seat belt to reckless driving, you need a Virginia attorney who is experienced in handling traffic cases and knows how to fight for your rights. We can assist with:
- Aggravated speeding
- Driving on a suspended or revoked license
- Driving without insurance
- Failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident
- Fleeing and eluding
- General traffic tickets
- Hit and run or leaving the scene of an accident
- Improper lane usage
- Reckless driving
- Running a red light
- Texting while driving
- Tickets in construction zones
- Violation of not wearing your seat belt
What To Know About Reckless Driving
There’s no doubt that police officers in Virginia continue to concentrate on citing speeding, aggressive driving, failing to signal and improper lane change offenders on the highways of Virginia. But did you know that you may be facing more than just a simple traffic violation in some situations? For example, if you were driving in 75 in a 55 mph zone, you can and will most likely be ticketed for reckless driving. This type of violation is not simply another traffic ticket. You are now facing criminal charges, a Class 1 misdemeanor to be exact. You are potentially facing jail time along with a fine of up to $2,500. Not only will your insurance skyrocket, but you will have a permanent criminal record if you don’t do something about it! Your security clearance is at risk and applying for jobs in the future becomes a nuisance as you’ll need to indicate that you have a criminal record.
Failing to respond to a reckless driving charge will come with even more consequences. From additional fines and penalties to license suspension, it’s not in your best interest to simply avoid this ticket. Don’t wait to get proper representation and defend your driving privileges. Contact Williams Stone, PC, today.
Traffic Ticket Fines And Costs
Chances are if you’re reading this, you have a ticket of some kind. If you look at your traffic ticket, you’ll most likely see a fine amount requiring you to pay the fine or contest the ticket by a certain deadline. If you fail to pay or contest as stated, you may be issued a warrant for your arrest.
Here’s where you have options:
If you pay the ticket:
- Points will go on your driving record
- Your auto insurance will likely increase
- You may have to take a driving class to help reduce points
If you fight the ticket:
- You will have the option to contest the ticket in court
- You will have the option to have us defend you
If found not guilty:
- Charges will be dropped, but may still have to pay a small court fee
- Your auto insurance stays the same
- No points will go on your driving record
- You won’t have to take a driving class
- Your record goes unscathed
If found not guilty of a greater charge:
- Your security clearance stays intact
- Applying for jobs remains simple
Talk to our attorneys to see what the best option may be for your particular situation.
Commercial Drivers And Traffic Violation Penalties
If convicted of certain traffic offenses while operating a commercial vehicle, the DMV could disqualify you from driving a commercial vehicle. If convicted of a major violation, such as driving while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs or refusing to take a BAC test may result in up to a one-year disqualification of your CDL privileges. This can potentially be extended up to three years if you are transporting hazardous materials. A second CDL conviction will result in a lifetime disqualification of your CDL.
Major violations include:
- Being under the influence of alcohol according to Virginia law
- Being under the influence of a controlled substance
- Having an alcohol concentration of .04 or more while operating a CMV
- Refusing to take a BAC
- Leaving the scene of an accident
- Using a commercial vehicle to commit a felony
- Causing a fatality through negligent driving
CDL-Specific Violations
Outside of the violations listed above, there are certain requirements that apply to those with a CDL. Most of these are set at the federal level and include:
- Having an oversized load
- Failing to keep a logbook
- Towing a trailer and speeding
- Driving where not permitted/grade restrictions
- Having more than one CDL from multiple states
When Should I Consider Hiring An Attorney?
With Williams Stone, PC, there are options. Proper defense of a traffic violation ticket provides a way for you to explain what happened in court and with the proper legal assistance, you may be able to make a strong case for yourself and avoid any unfavorable consequences.
If you have been issued a traffic citation in Virginia and before you decide to just “pay it,” contact our law firm in Northern Virginia today to discuss your situation. Se habla español.