Friday, February 21, 2014

Reckless Driving In Virginia Beach Lawyers Intoxication

Lawyer - Virginia Reckless Driving

As per Va. Code § 46.2-852, the general rule for reckless driving is defined as, irrespective of the maximum speeds permitted by law, any person who drives a vehicle on any highway recklessly or at a speed or in a manner so as to endanger the life, limb, or property of any person shall be guilty of reckless driving.

Below is a sample case of reckless driving in Virginia as interpreted by a lawyer in our firm.

Have you been charged with Reckless Driving in Virginia and you are wondering what the penalty is in VA? 

Are you concerned about the consequences of being charged with Reckless Driving in Virginia?

For a lot of our clients, a charge of Reckless Driving can result in the loss of their job, their security clearance, etc.

Don’t risk going to court without a lawyer, if you have been charged with a crime of Reckless Driving in Virginia.

If you have been charged with a criminal offense of Reckless Driving in Virginia and you are wondering what the penalty is in VA, contact our law firm for help. 

We have client meeting locations in Fairfax Prince William Richmond Loudoun Virginia Beach Fredericksburg Lynchburg.

Contact our law firm today to speak with a lawyer today about your Criminal Case.  An attorney from our firm will do his best to help you.

We will do our absolute best to help you get the best result possible based on the facts of your case. The lawyers in our law firm have the necessary experience to assist you with this matter.

Jackson v. Commonwealth

Facts:

While defendant sat in the driver's seat of a vehicle stopped at a tollbooth in Virginia Beach, a police officer approached the vehicle, smelled alcohol, and arrested defendant. After defendant, a habitual offender, was convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol, the trial court imposed a felony sentence under Va. Code Ann. § 46.2-357(B)(2) because defendant's drunken driving had allegedly endangered the vehicle's passengers. Accordingly, defendant sought review, claiming nobody had been endangered and as such, the trial court should have imposed a misdemeanor sentence, pursuant to Va. Code Ann. § 46.2-357(B)(1). In reversing, the court held that even though defendant had been negligent in operating the vehicle, defendant's intoxication had not been such that it had elevated defendant's conduct to the level of reckless driving. Thus, the court held the evidence had failed to prove that defendant's drunken driving had endangered others, as required by Va. Code Ann. § 46.2-357(B)(2).

If you are facing a traffic case in Virginia, contact a SRIS Law Group lawyer for help.  You can reach us at 888-437-7747

Holdings:

The Virginia Court made the following holding:

  • One who knowingly drives an automobile on a highway under the influence of intoxicants, in violation of statute, is negligent. No case holds that one driving under the influence of an intoxicant must necessarily be driving recklessly. Thus, while evidence of intoxication is a factor that might bear upon proof of dangerous or reckless driving in a given case, it does not, of itself, prove reckless driving. One may be both drunk and reckless. One may be reckless though not drunk; one may even be a total abstainer, and one may be under the influence of intoxicants and yet drive carefully. Indeed, with knowledge of the condition, a person might, for the time being, drive with extraordinary care. A person under the influence of intoxicants may at times conduct oneself with the utmost care and dignity, and the person might do this to an extent which will manifest that which the person hopes to conceal. A person might tread a line with an exactness which no sober person would feel called upon to attempt.
We have client meeting locations in Fairfax Prince William Richmond Loudoun Virginia Beach Fredericksburg Lynchburg.

An attorney from our firm will do his best to help you.

We will do our absolute best to help you get the best result possible based on the facts of your case. The lawyers in our law firm have the necessary experience to assist you with this matter.

Disclaimer:


These summaries are provided by the SRIS Law Group.  They represent the firm’s unofficial views of the Justices’ opinions.  The original opinions should be consulted for their authoritative content.

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