Virginia has some of the nation’s toughest traffic laws, and a charge of reckless driving may result in considerable penalties if it winds up leading to a conviction. Convictions for reckless driving remain on your record for far longer than a standard speeding ticket, and they may haunt you financially and otherwise for years to come.
Per the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, most reckless driving convictions remain on your driving record for the same amount of time.
Convictions that stay on your record for 11 years
Most reckless driving convictions stay on your record for 11 years. This includes general misdemeanor and felony reckless driving charges as well as those associated with driving more than 20 mph over the posted limit or more than 85 mph. It also includes reckless driving charges relating to road racing, passing emergency vehicles or school buses, passing on the crests of hills or passing at an active railroad crossing, among other examples.
Implications of a conviction staying on your record for 11 years
Having a reckless driving conviction on your record for 11 years often means 11 years of increased insurance premiums. While this hurts your wallet, it also means you keep the points accrued with your conviction for 11 years. Once you reach a certain number of points within a certain timeframe, your license undergoes an automatic suspension.
A reckless driving charge has the potential to lead to serious criminal and financial repercussions. In some cases, drivers facing certain charges may be able to defend themselves against these charges or have them reduced to lesser offenses.