reckless driving lawyer South Riding

A reckless driving charge from South Riding begins with a number on a summons and ends with a criminal record if it is not addressed. The speed reading came from a device that requires calibration and an operator who was trained on it, and both are open to examination. The matter proceeds in Loudoun County General District Court. Law Offices Of SRIS, P.C. handles these cases. Call (888) 437-7747.

What This Charge Carries

The maximum speed limits the relative threshold measures against are set by Va. Code 46.2-870: 70 miles per hour on designated interstate highways, 65 on other interstates and designated arterial highways, 55 where not specifically designated, 35 in business or residence districts, and 25 in school crossing zones during school hours. Which limit applied where the stop occurred is sometimes itself contested.

Which Court Hears the Case

The case is heard at Loudoun County General District Court, 18 East Market Street, Leesburg, VA 20176, serving Loudoun County. That court hears the matter without a jury. A defendant convicted there has an appeal of right to the circuit court for a new trial, and a jury may be requested at that stage. The two-tier structure means the decision whether to resolve the matter below or note an appeal is a strategic one worth making deliberately.

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 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.

Is reckless driving a criminal charge in Virginia?

Yes. Under Va. Code 46.2-852 and Va. Code 46.2-862 it is a Class 1 misdemeanor, not a traffic infraction. A conviction is a criminal conviction and appears on a background check as one.

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.

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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