Traffic Ticket Lawyer
A traffic ticket can create more problems than most drivers expect. What looks like a simple citation can put points on your driving record, raise insurance premiums, increase court costs, and in some cases lead to license suspensions or even a criminal charge.
That is why it is important to understand exactly what you are facing before you decide how to respond. Attorney Bob Keefer, of the Keefer Law Firm, has over 40 years of experience defending traffic tickets in Virginia. Contact us for a free consultation.
Common Traffic Ticket Cases in Virginia
A Virginia traffic lawyer may handle many different kinds of traffic violation cases, including:
- Speeding tickets
- Reckless driving
- Distracted driving
- Red light violations
- Improper lane change
- Driving with a suspended license
Some of these matters are true infractions. Others are much more serious.
Speeding Tickets
Many Virginia speeding charges are traffic infractions, but that does not mean they are harmless. Virginia’s prepayment fine schedule generally includes a fine of $6 per mile over the speed limit where prepayment is permitted.
The statute also says that a driver going more than 80 mph but less than 86 mph on a highway with a 65 mph maximum speed limit is subject to an additional $100 fine. In certain signed residential districts, speeding may incur an additional $200 penalty in addition to other penalties provided by law.
Reckless Driving
Virginia is stricter than many states regarding reckless driving. Under Virginia Code § 46.2-862, a person is guilty of reckless driving by speed if they drive 20 mph or more above the applicable speed limit or in excess of 85 mph regardless of the speed limit.
Reckless driving is not just another traffic ticket. It is a Class 1 misdemeanor, which means a charged driver is looking at to up to 12 months in jail and up to $2,500 in fines. A reckless driving conviction is also a 6-point DMV violation and commonly remains on the driver’s record for 11 years.
Driving on a Suspended License
A suspended license charge can also carry serious consequences. Virginia Code § 46.2-301 makes driving while your license, permit, or privilege is suspended or revoked a Class 1 misdemeanor.
On conviction, the court must suspend the person’s license or privilege to drive for the same period it had previously been suspended or revoked, and if the prior suspension was not for a definite time, the court may impose an additional suspension of up to 90 days.
Traffic Ticket Penalties
Depending on the charges, a traffic offense can be an infraction or a criminal offense. In many situations, a driver can either prepay the ticket, which is usually treated as an admission of guilt, or appear in Virginia traffic court to contest the charge.
If the court enters a conviction, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles may add demerit points to the driver’s record, and the conviction may also affect insurance costs and driving privileges.
In Virginia, a traffic infraction is usually a Class 4 misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $250. More serious offenses, including some forms of reckless driving, may be charged as misdemeanors and can carry much steeper fines, possible jail time, and a suspended driver’s license.
Demerit Points
Virginia generally assigns 3, 4, or 6 demerit points depending on the severity of the offense. According to the DMV, traffic violations are penalized as follows:
- 3-point violations include offenses such as speeding 1–9 mph over the limit, improper driving, improper turn, and failure to obey a highway sign. Many of these convictions stay on a driver’s record for 3 to 5 years, depending on the offense.
- 4-point violations include speeding 10-19 mph above the posted limit, following too closely, improper passing, and failing to yield. These speeding convictions generally stay on the DMV record for 5 years.
- 6-point violations include reckless driving, driving on a suspended license, and other more serious offenses. Many reckless driving convictions remain on the DMV record for 11 years.
That means a traffic violation can affect you in more than one way at the same time: a fine, points on your traffic record, possible license suspensions, and insurance consequences.
Do You Need a Traffic Ticket Attorney in Virginia?
Not every case requires the same strategy, but there are many situations where working with a traffic ticket attorney makes sense. You may want help if:
- The charge carries Demerit points
- You already have prior convictions on your driving record
- You hold a CDL or depend on your driver’s license for work
- The offense involves reckless driving
- You are accused of driving while your license is suspended
- The case requires Court Appearances
- You are an out-of-state or out-of-state driver facing Virginia traffic court
Even if the police officer issued what appears to be a routine citation, the legal impact may be much greater than expected. A lawyer can review the summons, the basis for the stop, the officer’s observations, and whether the charge matches the facts and the applicable traffic laws.
How Keefer Law Firm Can Help
When you hire Keefer Law Firm, the goal is not just to react to the traffic citation. It is to look at the whole picture. That includes the charge itself, the possible fine, the DMV point consequences, the effect on your driving record, and the risk to your license.
Our office can help by:
- Reviewing the summons and court date
- Explaining the specific Virginia penalties tied to the charge
- Evaluating whether the ticket is a traffic infraction or a criminal offense
- Identifying issues involving the stop, speed reading, or observations by the police officer
- Preparing for traffic court
- Working to reduce the impact on your driver’s license and record
- Helping you pursue a favorable result based on the facts of your case
For many drivers, the biggest concern is protecting their ability to drive. For others, it is reducing long-term damage to insurance premiums, employment prospects, or exposure to a criminal record in misdemeanor cases.
Traffic Ticket FAQs
Is a Traffic Ticket just a fine in Virginia?
Not always. Many Virginia traffic citations are infractions punishable by a fine of up to $250 unless another statute sets a different penalty. But some offenses, especially reckless driving and driving while license suspended, are misdemeanors that can carry jail exposure, higher fines, and license consequences.
How many Demerit points can a Traffic Ticket add?
Virginia DMV generally assigns 3, 4, or 6 demerit points depending on the offense. Less serious violations may be 3-point offenses, common speeding convictions can be 4-point offenses, and more serious charges like reckless driving and driving on a suspended license are often 6-point offenses.
How long does a Traffic Ticket stay on your driving record in Virginia?
That depends on the conviction. Some convictions remain on the DMV record for 3 years, others for 5 years, and serious charges, such as many reckless driving convictions, can remain for 11 years. DMV demerit points themselves remain active for two years from the offense date.
Contact an Experienced Traffic Ticket Lawyer from Keefer Law Firm
If you have been charged with a traffic violation in Virginia, do not assume the case is too minor to matter. The right response depends on the charge, your prior driving record, and the risk to your driver’s license. Keefer Law Firm can review your case, explain the likely penalties, and help you decide how to move forward.
When You Need a Traffic Lawyer,
Keefer Law Firm Can Help.
- Attorney Keefer is one of the few people in Virginia to call himself a NHTSA Certified Field Sobriety Instructor.
- He has completed the DOT Certified Breath Technician course on the EC/IR II, Virginia’s breath tester for evidence.
- He was a founding member of the DUI Defense Lawyers Association and is a member of the National College for DUI Defense.
- Attorney Keefer has more than 40 years of experience providing legal representation throughout Virginia.
- Our office contains the Alco-Sensor III, which is also used by law enforcement for preliminary breath testing.
- We offer free consultations for traffic offense and DUI cases.