Reckless Driving | Virginia Criminal Defense Lawyer

Archive | reckless driving RSS feed for this section

New Legislation Could Increase Penalties, Severity of Texting While Driving

The House and Senate both voted last week to make driving while texting a primary offense with increased fines. The House bill, HB 1907 passed 94-4 Tuesday while the Senate Bill 1222 passed the Senate 24-15 also on Tuesday.

Currently, drivers may not be pulled over only for texting while driving. They could be penalized if they were pulled over for another offense and a first offense only carries a $20 fine for a first offense and a $50 fine for a subsequent offense.

With the new legislation officers would be allowed to pull a driver over who was seen texting while driving, even if they were not committing another offense. Fines would also be increased to $250 for a first offense and $500 for a subsequent offense. Additionally, anyone found guilty of texting while driving in addition to reckless driving will automatically face a minimum fine of $500.

These were not the first attempts at passing legislation to ban texting while driving in Virginia. All past attempts to pass new measures have previously failed in this and past legislative sessions.

Now the House will consider Senate Bill 1222 and the Senate will consider House Bill 1907.

According to the National Safety Ad Council, a texting driver is 23 times more likely to get into a crash than a non-texting driver and an estimated one million people chat and text while driving daily. The average text takes a driver’s eyes off the road for nearly five seconds. When driving at 55 mph, a driver will drive the length of a football field.

If you are facing any criminal charges for reckless driving, driving under the influence or any type of driving offenses, it is important to discuss your case with an experienced Virginia criminal defense attorney. Call today for your free, confidential consultation.

Comments { 0 }

Howard Co. Officer Struck By Drunk Driver

By Patrick Anderson on March 3, 2012 in drinking and driving, DUI, DWI, reckless driving

A Howard County police officer was struck by a woman allegedly driving under the influence Friday night, near Ellicott City.

According to reports, 45-year-old Sung Ok Jang was driving a Kia Sorento when she hit the officer’s Dodge Charger just before midnight on Route 40 at Route 29. The officer’s vehicle had its lights on because he had pulled over another motorist. The Charger then hit the BMW that was stopped in front of the vehicle.

The 23-year veteran of the force, Terrance Sheppard was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries after the accident. The other motorist was uninjured in the incident.

Jang was also uninjured and was arrested at the scene. She has been charged with driving under the influence.

If you are facing any type of driving under the influence charges, you need an experienced and aggressive Virginia criminal defense attorney by your side to defend your freedoms. Contact our office today for a free, initial case evaluation.

Comments { 0 }

Chesterfield Co. Teen Will Split Sentence Between Prison, Detention Center

By Patrick Anderson on December 31, 2011 in DUI, DWI, involuntary manslaughter, reckless driving

A Chesterfield County teen, who was found guilty of aggravated involuntary manslaughter in the drunk driving accident that left two men dead, will begin serving a six-year term in a juvenile detention center.

Jose F. Martinez was convicted of killing the two men when he caused a crashed as he drove the wrong-way while he was drunk in March. Martinez had a blood-alcohol content of between 0.12 and 0.19 at the time of the crash, where he drove a GMC Yukon the wrong way through a toll plaza on Powhite Parkway, striking a BMW and killing 32-year-old Sammer W. Ballout and 29-year-old Imad H. Elawar.

Martinez was 17 at the time of the crash, which occurred in the early morning hours of March 19.

He was convicted in October and sentenced in December, but the judge allowed the prosecutors and defense attorneys time to review the sentence, allowing Martinez to split where he served his time. He will serve time in the juvenile detention center until he turns 21, when he will be transferred to a prison, where he can finish his sentence.

If you are facing criminal charges in connection with a DUI or DWI, you need an aggressive, experience Virginia DUI attorney who believes in you and will fight for your rights. Contact the Law Offices of Patrick N. Anderson and Associates today and find out how we can assist you.

Comments { 0 }

FAA Chief Resigns After DUI Charge

By Patrick Anderson on December 6, 2011 in drinking and driving, DUI, DWI, reckless driving

The Federal Aviation Administration chief resigned today after he was arrested on charges of drunk driving.

Randy Babbitt, 65, was arrested Saturday night in Fairfax City, Va. about 10:30 p.m. The officer reported Babbitt was driving on the wrong side of the road at the time of the arrest and Babbitt is charged with a DUI.

Babbitt had served half of a five-year term as head of the FAA. According to reports, the Deputy FAA Administrator, Michael Huerta, will serve as administrator.

According to reports, the FAA was unaware of the arrest until midday Monday and had initially placed Babbitt on a leave of absence after being made aware of the charges.

If you are facing DUI charges, you need an aggressive Virginia DUI attorney who will fight for you and your rights. Don’t hesitate – call the Law Offices of Patrick N. Anderson and Associates today and find out how we can help you

Comments { 0 }

Speed Possible Factor In Crash That Killed Two Teens

By Patrick Anderson on November 29, 2011 in reckless driving

Two teens were killed and three more were injured in a single car accident Friday evening in Howard County.

According to reports, 18-year-old Dale Kirk Audet II of Lithicum was driving a Pontiac GT on Lawyer’s Hill Road when he apparently lost control, crossed the eastbound lanes and hit a tree.

Two of the passengers were killed and the driver and two other passengers were injured and taken to the Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore. The two men killed were not wearing their seat belt at the time of the crash.

Officials said they believe speed was a factor in the crash and the incident is still under investigation.

If you or your loved one is facing criminal charges in connection with a serious car accident, contact your Virginia reckless driving attorneys at the Law Offices of Patrick N. Anderson and Associates. You need someone who is fighting for you and your rights. Contact us today for your free, initial consultation.

Comments { 0 }

Woman Killed In Hit-And-Run on Route 3

By Patrick Anderson on November 14, 2011 in hit and run, reckless driving

A woman was killed in a hit-and-run in Prince George’s County early Sunday morning.

According to reports, a 911 call was received about 12:30 a.m. reporting a woman walking on the road. Minutes later, 911 calls were received reporting a pedestrian had been hit in the northbound lanes of Route 3, just south of Route 450.

Police found the unidentified body of a woman, believed to be in her late 20s, in the right lane. She was hit by at least one car, officials said.

According to an article on WBALtv.com, the man, believed to be the driver, turned himself into police after hearing news reports of the crash. He has not been charged in the crash. The area where the woman was hit was a turn lane and not considered a safe place for pedestrians.

If you or a loved one is facing reckless driving charges or other types of criminal charges, we may be able to help you. Contact the Law Offices of Patrick N. Anderson and Associates today for a free case evaluation.

Comments { 0 }