"General" Reckless driving (school, costs, bus)

[traumadoc]

i was issued a reckless driving charge, but not for speeding. I stopped at the intersection to a highway onramp and backed up because it was HOV time, and thought i should avoid the risk of getting pulled over. bam, i get pulled over by a cop behind me, and gives me this general reckless driving charge. i never caused an accident, and the only other car to come close to me was the cop car.

1. is anybody familiar with this charge/usual outcomes (i've read most of the threads that i could find about reckless speeding/results, but i couldn't find any that note other scenarios

2. i've read about online courses, what do these involve/do they make a difference?

thanks

[jaywallace]

Originally Posted by traumadoc

i was issued a reckless driving charge, but not for speeding. I stopped at the intersection to a highway onramp and backed up because it was HOV time, and thought i should avoid the risk of getting pulled over. bam, i get pulled over by a cop behind me, and gives me this general reckless driving charge. i never caused an accident, and the only other car to come close to me was the cop car.

1. is anybody familiar with this charge/usual outcomes (i've read most of the threads that i could find about reckless speeding/results, but i couldn't find any that note other scenarios

2. i've read about online courses, what do these involve/do they make a difference?

thanks

I'm very familiar with the Va code section. If i were you i would show up to the court date and ask for the reckless to be dropped to "improper driving" and ask if you could take a driving improvement course. If you have a halfway decent record the judge will allow you to take an online course and you can get it dropped after completion. You will need to pay court costs and the cost of the class, that's about it. It's better than the 6points you would get for reckless.

[Waterboy526]

Originally Posted by nitrovic

I'm very familiar with the Va code section. If i were you i would show up to the court date and ask for the reckless to be dropped to "improper driving" and ask if you could take a driving improvement course. If you have a halfway decent record the judge will allow you to take an online course and you can get it dropped after completion. You will need to pay court costs and the cost of the class, that's about it. It's better than the 6points you would get for reckless.

I was an LE officer in VA. 98% of the time they will drop it to improper and then you just take the safety course and everything should be good to go. You'll still have to pay court costs and the cost of the ticket, but you really don't want a RD charge on your record.

[seldomseen]

Backing up on a highway is a major no-go!! However, it may be worth going to court to have the charges reduced.

[car54]

Just a note to all you harried commuters....blowing by a school bus that is loading/unloading kids is also reckless driving.

Be careful, if a bus driver reports that certain spots have a lot of bus light runners.....FCPD motorcycle officers will shadow the bus while it does it's routes. You won't see them 'til it's toooooooooo late!