Fairfax Speeding Ticket Attorney
Virginia takes speeding extremely seriously. According to the Commonwealth of Virginia’s 2018 traffic crash data, nearly 26,000 crashes, 339 fatalities, and a total of 13,346 injuries in the state in 2018 resulted from speeding. Accordingly, law enforcement officials and Virginia prosecutors frequently issue tickets and penalize drivers who are traveling at speeds beyond the maximum posted speed limit. In some cases, speeding can even result in criminal charges and, upon conviction, a misdemeanor criminal record.
If you were charged with a misdemeanor offense for speeding, or if you recently were cited for speeding in Virginia, it is important to hire a Fairfax speeding ticket attorney who can help you to fight the charges or the citation. You may be able to avoid a substantial monetary fine in addition to a criminal conviction. One of the traffic defense lawyers at Simms Showers LLP can speak with you today about your case.
Speeding Tickets in Fairfax, VA
Under Virginia law (Code of Va. § 46.2-870), the maximum speed limit on highways unless otherwise posted is 55 miles per hour. The speed limit is lowered to 45 miles per hour for truck, tractor-trailers, and other large vehicles transporting property. When highway signage indicates that the maximum posted speed limit on a highway is 70 miles per hour, this remains the maximum allowed speed limit in such areas. A number of roads throughout the state also have maximum posted speed limits of 60 miles per hour, which drivers must abide by.
When a motorist, regardless of whether she or he is a Virginia resident, travels at a speed beyond the maximum posted speed limit or otherwise classified speed limit on Virginia roads, that driver can be subject to a speeding ticket. In some cases, a speeding ticket may result in misdemeanor criminal charges.
When a Fairfax Speeding Ticket Becomes a Misdemeanor Offense for Reckless Driving
While other states do not recognize reckless driving as a criminal offense, under Virginia’s reckless driving law (Code of Va. § 46.2-862), traveling at a speed of more than 20 miles per hour beyond the permitted speed limit or beyond 80 miles per hour regardless of the maximum speed limit, a motorist can be charged with reckless driving, which is a misdemeanor offense.
Penalties for a Fairfax, VA Speeding Ticket
Speeding ticket penalties depend on a number of factors, including the type of vehicle in which you were speeding and the area where the speeding occurred. In general, a speeding ticket will result in a fine of $ per every mile traveled beyond the maximum speed limit. That number increases for the following:
- Speeding in a school zone;
- Speeding in a work zone; and
- Speeding in a residential area.
Contact a Fairfax Speeding Ticket Defense Attorney
If you were cited for speeding in Virginia, you may be able to contest the charges. In particular, if you were charged with reckless driving because you were speeding in excess of 20 miles per hour beyond the posted speed limit or more than 80 miles per hour on a highway, you could be facing misdemeanor charges and should have an aggressive defense lawyer on your side. Our Fairfax speeding ticket lawyers can help you to fight the speeding ticket to avoid having a criminal record and points on your driver’s license, not to mention the possibility of a significant monetary fine. Contact Simms Showers LLP to learn more about how we can assist you.
