reckless driving lawyer Brunswick

A reckless driving summons issued in Brunswick is a criminal charge, not a ticket. Va. Code 46.2-862 makes it reckless driving to travel 20 miles per hour or more above the limit, or above 85 miles per hour whatever the limit, and either produces a Class 1 misdemeanor. The case is heard in the General District Court for the county or city where the stop occurred. Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. handles these charges. Call (888) 437-7747.

What This Charge Carries

The charge carries a statutory maximum of 12 months in jail, a fine of up to $2,500, and a licence suspension of up to six months. Those are ceilings rather than expected outcomes, and what a court actually does turns on the recorded speed, the driving record, whether an accident occurred, and how the matter is presented. A conviction under Va. Code 46.2-862 also carries six demerit points and stays on the Virginia driving record for eleven years.

Which Court Hears the Case

Venue follows the place of the stop rather than where the driver lives, so the case is heard in the General District Court for the county or city where the summons was issued. That court sits without a jury, and a defendant convicted there has an appeal of right to the circuit court for a new trial where a jury may be requested.

What to Do Before Your Court Date

Obtain your driving record so you know what the court will see. Where a speed reading is disputed, a speedometer calibration has to be obtained promptly and from a source the court will accept. Completing a driver improvement course before the hearing carries more weight than offering to complete one afterwards. Do not miss the date: a misdemeanor summons is not prepayable, and a failure to appear creates a second problem on top of the first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I just pay it like a ticket?

No. A misdemeanor is not prepayable in the way an infraction is. The charge requires a court disposition, and ignoring the date can lead to a capias being issued.

Can the charge be reduced?

Va. Code 46.2-869 permits the judge to find a defendant not guilty of reckless driving but guilty of improper driving where culpability is slight. That is a traffic infraction with a fine of not more than $500, and only the court can grant it.

What should I bring to the first conversation?

The summons, your court date, your driving record if you have it, and anything the officer gave you. If you hold a commercial driver’s licence or a security clearance, say so at the outset.

About Mr. Sris

Mr. Sris, Owner and Founder of Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C., has practiced since 1997 and is a former prosecutor. He is admitted in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, and New York. His background at George Mason University in accounting and information systems applies to the technical side of a speed case. Mr. Sris and the firm’s Of Counsel attorneys handle Virginia matters together.

Related pages

• Reckless driving by speed in Virginia
• Virginia reckless driving penalties
• Defending a Virginia reckless driving charge
• Virginia reckless driving offenses

Speak With Mr. Sris

Request a consultation. Reach our location at (888) 437-7747. Bring the summons, your court date, and your driving record. Tell us if you are an out-of-state driver.

Last updated: August 25, 2026

This page provides general information about Virginia traffic and criminal law and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Case results depend on a variety of factors unique to each case. Results may vary.

Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C., principal office: 4008 Williamsburg Court, Fairfax, VA 22032. By appointment. Call (888) 437-7747 to schedule.

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