Common Myths About Reckless Driving in Hampton

Below, a reckless driving attorney in Hampton discusses some of the most prominent myths and misconceptions about reckless driving charges in Hampton, Virginia. If you are facing a reckless driving charge, contact an attorney as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, drivers who are charged with reckless driving in Hampton often do not understand the charges they are facing, the consequences that can result, and other ways it can impact your life.

#1 Reckless Driving in Hampton is a Speeding Ticket

It is common for people to misunderstand the severity of a reckless driving charge and treat it as a speeding ticket. Sometimes potential clients will ask me if I believe that they really need a lawyer because they think the charge isn’t really a big deal and they can save the money if they don’t pay a lawyer and handle it themselves. They ask specifically what the fine is likely to be, so they can gauge whether it’s worth paying an attorney or to just pay the fine.

This is not a valid comparison, because by paying the fine and not fighting the charge, they are also accepting a conviction that will follow them for the rest of their life. Paying an attorney provides them with an opportunity to avoid that permanent sentence.

#2 It’s Worth It To Plead Guilty To Get The Case Over With

Another misconception is that a good option is just to plead guilty so that they can get over with it so that they can move on with their life. There aren’t any consequences to attempting to fight the charge. So really, it makes sense to give yourself at least a chance regardless of how small the offense is, instead of just throwing in the towel and accepting the conviction that will affect your criminal record forever.

#3 Out of State Drivers Can Just Mail In the Fine

In Hampton, and anywhere in Virginia, a reckless driving charge usually becomes an inconvenience to out of state drivers charged there. This is because they will be required to come back to Hampton to appear in court for the charge. This is not easy for everyone to deal with and oftentimes, out of state drivers do not understand how strict this requirement really is.  And then they may end up having a warrant issued for a failure to appear in court. As far as their driver’s license goes, a conviction in Hampton will be forwarded on to driver’s home state. And if the home state decided to do something about the conviction as well, then the driver will also have to answer to that. The various consequences depend on which state the driver is from.