Bristol VA – Washington Co – Smyth Co – Wythe Co
The State Police love to issue speeding tickets to motorists traveling the stretch of Interstate 81 from the City of Bristol, Virginia on the state line with Tennessee, up through Washington County and Smyth County. Many motorists assume that they have been issued a mere traffic citation that they can pay when they return home. However, if the motorist was ticketed for going a mere 11 miles over the 70 mph speed limit, the driver is in for a nasty surprise.
Speeding Can Mean Reckless Driving
Going 16 miles or more over a 70 mph speed limit in Virginia will result in a charge for reckless driving — a criminal misdemeanor on par with a DUI. The consequences of a reckless driving conviction can be severe. Click here for a discussion of those consequences and how as an experienced reckless driving attorney I will fight to reduce or dismiss your reckless driving charge.
What if I Was Charged with Driving 85 MPH?
If you were charged with going 85 mph or less, then you are more fortunate — you were charged with a mere traffic offence. While this charge is not as severe as a reckless driving charge, I can also work to get your charge reduced or dismissed.
Where are Reckless Driving Cases Heard?
In Virginia, reckless driving tickets are adjudicated in General District Court. While the City of Bristol, Washington County, and Smyth County each have their own general district court, the three jurisdictions form Virginia’s 28th Judicial District.
Why is this important?
The same two judges hear all of the cases in the three general district courts. Those two judges are the Honorable Blake McKinney and the Honorable Eric Thiesson. They follow the same policies and practices in dealing with reckless driving tickets regardless of which of the three courts the charge is adjudicated in.
In Most Cases, My Clients do Not Need to Appear at Court
Unless you hire a lawyer, if you were charged with reckless driving you are required to attend the trial of your charge. Even if you are an out-of-state driver, simply ignoring the ticket and failing to show up at the hearing can have dire consequences.
A bench warrant for arrest could be issued, which be added to a national database. If you’re later stopped by the police, you could be jailed.
Let Me Help You
I can appear in court on your behalf, and my firm accepts credit cards for the payment of legal fees. I offer a free consultation, so please feel free to call me to learn about how I can help.
Do not go it alone or even worse, ignore your ticket. Take action now and get immediate anxiety relief.
Client Review
“I grew up in a family of lawyers so I’ve always been really selective with counsel. Mark Hurt and team exceeded my high standards by a mile. They stayed in touch with me and kept me abreast of any updates or changes in my case. I would (and will) recommend the Law Offices of Mark Hurt for any of your legal needs, especially in regards to traffic/moving violations or reckless driving charges. I was thrilled with the outcome and I’m convinced they put their best effort into my case. I can’t say enough about the service and representation they provided. Thanks to the Team at Mark Hurt!”
Clifton Bray
Client Review
We hired Mr. Hurt to help settle a worker’s comp injury case for my husband. Mark, Bart, and Mary worked tirelessly to resolve his case and reach a settlement we were pleased with. They were always available to answer questions and returned calls in a timely manner.
K F
