The "Battle Plan" for Reckless Driving Speeding in Virginia
"Reckless Driving Speeding" (Virginia Code §46.2-862) is More than Just a Glorified Speeding Ticket. It is a serious and potentially permanent Criminal Charge. The incredibly harsh penalties and collateral consequences that a conviction of reckless driving speeding carries in Virginia led attorney Bob Battle to write a consumer report titled "The Shocking Truth About Reckless Driving Speeding in Virginia."
Anyone who has driven on the interstate highways in Virginia recently may feel that Virginia should change its state motto from "Virginia is for Lovers" to "Virginia is for Speed Traps!" Law-enforcement officials are making no bones about their crackdown on drunk driving, speeding, and reckless driving in Hanover County, Greensville County, Caroline County and Dinwiddie County, VA. Motorists that believe they did nothing to endanger themselves or other drivers may still find themselves facing Reckless Driving Speeding charges. For example, a motorist driving 75 mph in a 55 mph zone or 86 mph in a 70 mph zone can and will be ticketed for “Reckless Driving Speeding.” Reckless Driving Speeding is not merely a traffic infraction. It is a criminal offense- a Class One Misdemeanor- the most serious class of misdemeanor in Virginia with maximum penalties of one year in jail, $2,500 fine, and a 6-month suspension of your driver’s license. Not only will your insurance go through the roof, but you will have a permanent criminal record! Security clearances could be lost, and on every job application that you fill out for the rest of your life, you will have to indicate that you have a criminal record.
Reckless Driving Attorney Bob Battle Featured in Baltimore Sun, CBS-6 News and WTOP Radio
Bob Battle’s aggressive defense of Reckless Driving Speeding charges has been featured in many news stories.Bob Battle's consumer guide "The Shocking Truth about Reckless Driving Speeding in Virginia" was featured in a recent article by columnist Michael Dresser in the Baltimore Sun titled "Speeding costs you more in Virginia than in Maryland." Battle and his book were also featured on CBS6 News in Richmond and WTOP Radio in Virginia, Maryland and DC. As Mr. Dresser points out:
"Now Battle is a lawyer who specializes in getting out-of-staters off the hook for reckless driving, so naturally he urges people to hire an attorney when facing such charges. Vested interest aside, that's probably good advice. Prosecutors don't like to cut bargains with nonlawyers."
- Fact: The average amount of jail time for someone convicted of speeding over 95 mph in most of Virginia is greater than the average amount of jail time given to someone convicted of a first offense felony drug possession, felony shoplifting, felony embezzlement, felony grand theft auto or DUI with a BAC that is less than twice the legal amount! That's right, the speeder is treated more harshly in Virginia than drug addicts, thieves, and drunks!
- Fact: If you are caught doing above 85 mph on the highways of Virginia, you can and will be charged with Reckless Driving. As has been stated, this is not merely a traffic infraction. It is a criminal offense- a class one misdemeanor- the most serious class of misdemeanor in Virginia! Once convicted, you will have a permanent criminal record.
- Fact: Virginia Reckless Driving Speeding lawyers Bob Battle and his "of counsel" lawyer Claude Whitehead have defended thousands of Virginia and out-of-state motorists on their Reckless Driving Speeding tickets, usually without their clients having to come to court.
Jurisdictions vary widely in the penalties they impose for Reckless Driving/Speeding convictions. At speeds above 85 mph, some courts begin suspending the driver’s operator’s license. At speeds above 90 mph, some courts begin imposing jail sentences in addition to the operator’s license suspension.
Bob Battle Law’s Guarantee for Reckless Driving Speeding Defendants!
Bob Battle Law is the only law firm in Virginia to offer a guarantee that could be worth thousands of dollars in free legal representation. Under Virginia law, if you are convicted of Reckless Driving Speeding in the General District Court, you have a right to appeal and get a new trial in the Circuit Court. Bob Battle Law guarantees that, if you wish to appeal your case, he will represent you on appeal to the Circuit Court for free!
There is No Substitute for Experience!
Helping Virginia and Out-of-State Motorists Charged On I-95, I-85, I-295 and I-64 Avoid Reckless Driving Convictions
There are many technical defenses to defending speeding cases. Bob Battle has gained a reputation among other attorneys for developing new and creative arguments to attempt to keep the results of the accused driver’s speed out of evidence for moving radar cases, stationary radar cases, VASCAR cases and even cases where the officer "paced" the other vehicle. The officer is required to bring proof of proper calibration to court. Are you aware that the calibration must be performed within six months of the date you are charged? Are you aware that, if the officer brings a copy of the calibration, that it must be "double certified?" Are you aware that the officer’s radar device must be on a list of approved equipment published by the International Association of Chiefs of Police? Of course not! These are more examples of why you should hire an experienced attorney to help you with this serious offense. Bob teams up with former prosecutor Claude Whitehead, who also has handled thousands of Reckless Driving Speeding cases to offer top-notch defense to those charged with Reckless Driving Speeding.
When the punishment does not fit the crime, as is typically the case under Virginia’s traffic laws, consulting an experienced lawyer is critical. For more than 30 years, attorney Bob Battle has helped drivers that are residents of Virginia or residents of other states who are passing through the state on business or pleasure to escape the harsh and permanent consequences of a Reckless Driving/Speeding conviction. In terms of pure number of cases, Bob Battle Law handles more Reckless Driving/Speeding cases than any other type of case. If you believe you are being treated unfairly under Virginia’s traffic laws, contact Bob Battle today. As Bob Battle states in his Consumer Guide, “If the lawyer doesn’t state prominently that they are a former prosecutor, it is probably because they are not!”
Hiring a lawyer may mean you do not have to appear in court
The only "good news" if you are charged with a Reckless Driving/Speeding case is, if you have hired a lawyer, you probably will not need to appear in court even though the ticket you are given has a box checked that says you must appear in court. Bob Battle & Claude Whitehead have successfully represented thoousands of drivers from states other than Virginia without them having to go through the expense of physically being in court on their court date. Usually, anyone doing below 90 mph on the interstate highway will not be required to appear in court if they are represented by a lawyer.
Virginia's jurisdictions are also relentless in their pursuit of speeders. The counties along I-95, I-85 and I-64 are notorious speed traps. The traffic court dockets are always overflowing in Hopewell, Caroline County, Hanover County, Henrico County, Chesterfield County, Dinwiddie County, New Kent County, Sussex County, Greensville County and Emporia. In fact, over the 4th of July weekend 2014, more than 2,600 motorists were charged with Reckless Driving- the vast majority of these cases merely Reckless Driving/Speeding charges. Recent Virginia budgets have estimated collecting over $100 MILLION in Traffic Fines! Plus, with state and local collections way down due to COVID-19, expect that increased "policing for profit" of the highways looking for speeders will occur statewide.
We all know that this type of quota-driven “enforcement” does very little to solve the problem of speeding among drivers.When the punishment does not fit the crime, as is typically the case under Virginia’s traffic laws, an experienced attorney may be needed. For more than 35 years, attorney Bob Battle has helped drivers that are residents of Virginia or residents of other states who are passing through the state on business or pleasure to escape the harsh and permanent consequences of a Reckless Driving/Speeding conviction. In terms of pure number of cases, Bob Battle Law handles more Reckless Driving/Speeding cases than any other type of case. If you believe you are being treated unfairly under Virginia’s traffic laws, contact Bob Battle today. (Scroll to the top of this Page and click on the “CONTACT BOB NOW” button.)
We don’t handle mere Speeding tickets; we represent those charged with Reckless Driving Speeding (Virginia Code §46.2-862)
You probably don't hear many lawyers telling you that you don't need a lawyer, however, if you are charged with the traffic infraction of "Speeding" 14 mph above the speed limit or less, Bob Battle doesn’t recommend that you retain him or any other attorney. (NOTE- I am talking about the traffic infraction "Speeding" NOT "Reckless Driving Speeding" in violation of 46.2-862. Since Virginia changed its maximim speed limit from 65 to 70 mph and still makes any speed above 85 mph chargeable as "Reckless Driving," you could be charged with Reckless Driving Speeding for doing just 16 mph above the speed limit. i.e. 86 in a 70 mph zone.) If convicted of "Speeding" 14mph or less above the posted limit, you are facing a fine of < $100 and even if you are found not guilty of the charge, the court does not reimburse your legal fees.