Mecklenburg Speeding Ticket Lawyer
Within the scope of traffic offenses, speeding tickets are the most commonly issued traffic offense in Mecklenburg County. Whether you wish to fight a speeding ticket or need skilled criminal defense against a reckless driving charge, a qualified Mecklenburg traffic lawyer can provide assistance. Mecklenburg speeding ticket attorneys possess the local experience to handle even the most complicated traffic matters.
About Speeding in Mecklenburg
Perhaps the most common of all traffic offenses, speeding warrants a civil traffic citation in many states but can lead to a Class I misdemeanor charge in Mecklenburg, Virginia. Speeds exceeding 20 miles per hour above the posted limit and speeds in excess of 80 miles per hour regardless of the posted limit are charged as reckless driving by speed. A conviction of reckless driving carries legal and administrative penalties that can restrict your rights, hamper your freedoms, and hinder personal and professional opportunities.
Some of the most common locations that a person might be caught speeding at include Highway 58, the Town of South Hill, and Interstate 85. A person should be paying particular attention to school zones, particularly the school zones in front of Park View High School which is on Highway 58. It can be a speed trap but they patrol that frequently and the interstate would be on the lookout for work zones and anything 80 or above.
What to Expect From a Ticket
A person should expect to speak with an officer to be issued a summons that lists their information, their personal information, their driver’s license information, the officer’s name, their court date, whether or not they would be able to address the matter over the phone, whether or not they need to appear in the court where the courthouse is; that is something that they want to pursue or is required to appear for.
The most commonly reckless driving charges are issued as a summons on the side of the road. There are some exceptions where a person has to be taken before a magistrate and most notably, if a person is at a certain speed, a hundred or higher, or if they refuse to sign their summons for reckless driving even at a very low-level speed then they will take them before a magistrate to ensure their appearance in court. If an individual wants to confess the charge, they need to show up for court. Any time that they want to confess the charge on their own or if they have not hired an attorney, and want time from the court to do so, they need to show up to court and request that in some cases. Every court is different and at that point, a person needs to show up and request another continuance, in person, if that is something they need.
If an individual wants to confess to the charge, they need to show up for court. Any time that they want to confess the charge on their own or if they have not hired an attorney, and want time from the court to do so, they need to show up to court and request that in some cases. Every court is different and at that point, a person needs to show up and request another continuance, in person, if that is something they need.
Mecklenburg Speeding Charges
A Mecklenburg speed-related reckless driving charge is more than a mere traffic ticket. It carries heavy penalties and the criminal record created by conviction can continue to affect an individual’s life negatively long after their sentence is completed. By thoroughly evaluating a case, uncovering evidence in support of the driver, and thoroughly examining every angle for the driver’s defense, a skilled Mecklenburg speeding ticket lawyer can help an individual avoid unnecessary consequences of conviction or minimize the impact the criminal charge has on someone’s life.
Different speeding offenses in Mecklenburg range from speeding one mile an hour to nine miles an hour over the speed limit up to the hundreds which is rather a low speed that is going to be an infraction or higher speeds which are going to be misdemeanors.
There are three types of speeding violations that can turn into criminal misdemeanor charges:
- Driving more than 20 miles per hour above the posted speed limit
- Driving more than 80 miles per hour
- Racing or drag racing
Penalties for Speeding
Excessive speed, or reckless driving by speed, carries some of the same legal consequences of other criminal misdemeanors such as petty theft or driving under the influence (DUI). Penalties may include a jail term of up to one year, a maximum fine of $2,500, a six-month suspension of someone’s driver’s license, and administrative penalties including sustaining a criminal conviction on your record. For many people, the biggest hurdle created by a reckless driving conviction is the lingering criminal record. Law abiding citizens can be plagued by a criminal record that, in the public eye, groups them with more serious criminals for the simple act of speeding. With the help of a qualified Mecklenburg speeding ticket lawyer, someone can fight this criminal charge and work to minimize their chances of conviction.
Contacting an Attorney
For Virginians and out of state drivers whose Mecklenburg traffic ticket is actually a notice of a criminal reckless driving charge, a Mecklenburg speeding ticket lawyer will be prepared to handle your case. A qualified lawyer can review the facts of your case and let you know the types of strategies they might use should you decide to move forward.
An attorney can help beginning with determining whether or the driver or an attorney has to appear in court and whether handling it prior to court is an option. Speeding ticket lawyers can let a person know what number of points they are facing in Virginia, they can let them know what the costs and fines would be, what the likely or frequent regular outcomes are of this type of charge in the Mecklenburg General District Court, and based on individual circumstances of each case, if a person has a good case for defense or to have the case lowered.