Legal Question in Traffic Law in Virginia

Re: wreckless driving

"Irrespective of the maximum speed limits permitted by law, any person who drives a motor vehicle on any highway at any speed or in any manner so as to endanger the life, limb, or property of any person shall be guilty of reckless driving." Va Code Sec. 46.2-852

The above quoted statute is the so-called general rule for reckless driving in the Commonwealth. This is then followed in the Code by a dozen or so other violations which may also qualify as reckless driving which include such things as operating a motor vehicle with faulty brakes, passing a stopped school bus with warning signs exhibited, driving in excess of 80 mph or more than 20 mph over the posted speed limit or, God forbid, racing on the highways of the Commonwealth, or even worse, racing "two abreast", etc.

And, a more sobering consideration is the fact that reckless driving is not merely a traffic infraction but is in fact a bonified class 1 misdemeanor, a crime, in other words which can stay on one's record for years with continuing multifarious adverse consequences if one happens to be convicted of this particular offense.