Speeding Ticket Attorney in Fairfax

Fairfax Traffic Defense Since 1982, Including Reckless Driving by Speed

A speeding citation can look straightforward until you read the charge on the summons carefully. Depending on the speed alleged, what appears to be a routine traffic fine may carry demerit points, higher insurance premiums, or criminal exposure under Virginia law. At Lawrence, Smith & Gardner, we handle speeding ticket matters in Fairfax and bring the same collaborative case review to a traffic citation that we apply to every criminal defense matter we take on.

If you’ve received a Fairfax County speeding citation, contact us before you decide how to respond. Call (703) 382-5840 to schedule a free consultation.

When a Speeding Ticket Becomes a Criminal Charge

Virginia Code section 46.2-862 is the statute that converts a speeding infraction into a reckless driving by speed charge. A driver traveling 20 mph or more over the posted speed limit, or at any speed above 85 mph regardless of the posted limit, can be charged with reckless driving rather than an ordinary infraction. That distinction matters because reckless driving in Virginia is a Class 1 misdemeanor, carrying up to 12 months in jail, a fine of up to $2,500, and potential license suspension.

A reckless driving charge can’t be prepaid and requires a mandatory court appearance. The Virginia Uniform Summons issued at the traffic stop doesn’t always make this distinction obvious, which is why reviewing the charge before taking any action matters.

Virginia Demerit Points & the Cost of Prepaying

Virginia’s demerit point system assigns points based on how far over the limit you were traveling: 3 points for 1 to 9 mph over, 4 points for 10 to 19 mph over, and 6 points for 20 mph or more over the posted limit. Those points stay on your driving record for two years from the date of the offense. A reckless driving conviction can remain visible on your record for up to 11 years.

Prepaying a speeding ticket resolves the case as a conviction. It’s treated as a guilty plea, which places demerit points on your record immediately and can trigger a rate increase from your insurer. Under Virginia Code section 46.2-492, accumulating 12 demerit points within 12 months or 18 points within 24 months can require completing a driver improvement clinic and may result in license suspension. If you’re already carrying points, the consequences of a new conviction compound quickly.

Why Fairfax Drivers Choose Lawrence, Smith & Gardner

Cases at our firm are handled by at least two attorneys working together alongside support staff. For a speeding ticket matter, that team approach means a second set of eyes on the charge as written, the alleged speed, and the specific facts of the stop before any decision is made about how to proceed. We’ve practiced in Virginia’s state and federal courts since 1982, and that experience with how Fairfax County cases move through the system shapes how we review every citation we take on.

We combine the resources of a larger defense practice with the attention a smaller firm gives each client. Our record includes dismissals, reduced charges, and not-guilty verdicts. Whether those outcomes are available in any particular case depends on the facts, but our goal is to pursue every legitimate avenue the evidence supports.