Receiving a Virginia reckless driving charge could be more serious than in many other states. You could end up in jail, with heavy penalties, or with your license revoked–this is because the laws in Virginia are pretty strict, especially those concerning citizen well-being and security.
For this reason, it’s essential to understand what Virginia’s laws are when it comes to speed limits which vary depending on the type of road and surrounding conditions. More specifically, you should be aware of how many miles over the speed limit is reckless driving, what counts as reckless driving, and the penalties and punishments associated with reckless driving.
What Is the Speed Limit in Virginia?
Virginia’s General Assembly sets speed limits in Virginia. The Virginia Department of Transportation has the authority to marginally increase or decrease the speed limits on certain roads due to special circumstances or during certain seasons.
Currently, the average highway speed limit in Virginia is fifty-five miles per hour (MPH) for most major thoroughfares. On any roads numbered 600 or more, trucks need to abide by a forty-five MPH speed limit.
In business or residential areas, the speed limit is usually twenty-five MPH for any cars, motorcycles, school buses, and other vehicles passing through.
How Fast Is Reckless Driving in Virginia?
According to the laws in Virginia, drivers will be charged with reckless driving if their speed limit is twenty MPH above the speed limit. This means that if a car is going at a speed of about forty-five MPH in a residential area posted with a limit of twenty-five MPH, or is driving seventy-five MPH on a highway in a fifty-five MPH zone, the driver will be penalized or punished for reckless driving.
Heavy trucks have to be even more careful. If the police catch you driving at eight-five MPH in any area in Virginia, you’ll definitely get charged with driving recklessly.
What Else Counts as Reckless Driving?
You now know how fast driving over the speed limit is classified as reckless driving, but that’s not all that falls under this category in Virginia. A driver can also be charged for reckless driving if they do any of the following:
- Drive a vehicle with improper or faulty brakes
- Drive in a manner that endangers life or property
- Overtake vehicles in the same direction or drives in the opposite direction of a one-way road
- Pass a stopped yellow school bus
- Fail to give signals when turning, slowing down, or stopping
- Fail to yield the right-of-way upon seeing a pedestrian or vehicles with government indicators
- Drive on a road or highway that’s not open to the public
- Drive in the parking lot of an industrial establishment where the driver is risking damage to life and property
- Engage in a racing activity on a highway, driveway of a recreational or public facility, or a business property without the owner’s consent
- Cause death or serious physical injury to a passenger or a pedestrian during a permitted racing event
- Repeat an unlawful driving activity during a penalty period
Penalties and Punishments for Reckless Driving
The penalty for reckless driving depends on the seriousness of the offense. Here’s a quick glimpse of what the penalties and punishments could look like:
- If there’s damage to property or life, the court may suspend your license for one year.
- If there’s a serious physical injury or death, the court may suspend your license for two years or more.
Engaging in unlawful racing activities may cause the suspension of your driving license for six months or more; however, the court cannot suspend your license for more than two years. On the other hand, minor offenses for improper driving (such as exceeding speed limits) usually receive a fine of approximately $500.
Wondering if reckless driving is a felony in Virginia? The highest penalty for reckless driving in Virginia is $2,500 or jail time. For example, in a Class 6 felony offense, the guilty individual could be imprisoned for twenty years.
Frequently Asked Questions
When it comes to driving in Virginia, it’s good to know the answers to some commonly asked questions.
What Is the Highest Speed Limit in Virginia?
The highest speed limit in Virginia is seventy MPH on certain highways and under certain circumstances. Usually, there will be large boards alongside roads to remind you of the maximum speed limit permitted for that particular area or route.
Will I Be Charged for Going a Few MPH Over the Limit?
A police officer can issue a penalty or a ticket if you cross even one MPH above the speed limit, but this rarely happens in practice. It’s when you exceed the speed limit by twenty MPH that you land yourself in serious legal trouble.
When it comes to driving in Virginia (or any other state, for that matter), it’s best to pay attention to posted speed limits and use some common sense if driving conditions are affected by weather, construction, or traffic.
Wondering how long reckless driving stays on your record? Check out our latest post.