Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.
That’s part of what people are told when they are arrested. It warns people about incriminating themselves in a criminal prosecution.
But maybe we should all remember this:
Anything you post online can come back to bite you in court.
A police officer is […]

My Southern California criminal defense colleagues wrote a great article that discusses license suspension due to charges other than DUI.
The general point of the article applies here in Virginia as well: your license can be suspended for many different charges. It’s a real threat.
One of the most common non-DUI offenses to incur suspension of your […]

There is always some confusion in DUI and DWI cases about breath tests. In Virginia, just by driving you are deemed to have given your implied consent to take a breath test, but that breath test is the machine back at the police station.
Preliminary breath test at the scene
The police carry with them what they […]

I saw the above sign in Firehouse Subs a few weeks ago. Such a simple message, but crucial for any business.
As your lawyer, I strive to do my absolute best every day. All the fancy business cards in the world cannot make up for poor service.
You deserve better.
The single most important part of […]

Lawyers are in court a lot. We get to hear many funny and odd comments. Here’s one of my latest ones from the Fredericksburg General District Court: “You’re innocent until proven guilty.”
The funny thing is that someone said this in civil court.
A debtor had shown up for court and was found guilty because […]

If you’re charged with reckless driving in Virginia, you could be facing jail time. Reckless driving is a class 1 misdemeanor in Virginia. This means that you could be sentenced to jail for up to 12 months.
But are you really facing jail time in your case?
This question is virtually impossible to answer in […]

When you’re in traffic court as often as I am, you see a lot of things. Many people just don’t understand that they’re in court in front of a judge who has considerable power. For that reason alone, you should consider how you dress and behave while in Virginia traffic court.
Virginia is a […]

Virginia traffic defense lawyer explains the importance of your driving record and why it is vital in successfully defending your traffic case.

Not necessarily.
Your Summons says that you must appear in the designated court. You even have to sign the Summons, saying that you understand that your appearance is mandatory. This is because reckless driving is a serious criminal offense, not just a minor traffic infraction like speeding.
However, Virginia allows you to hire an attorney […]

Did you know that a charge of reckless driving in Virginia could be dismissed if the officer doesn’t appear in court?
Last week I was in Stafford County General District Court (the traffic court), and the judge called several defendants’ names. She then said that the ticketing officer did not come to court. The […]