Do I Have to Appear in Traffic Court?
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 who can attend court on your behalf. Hiring a traffic attorney gives you options. After discussing it with your attorney, you can choose whether or not you want to appear in court.
If you live outside the Commonwealth of Virginia or just away from the area where you received your reckless driving ticket, hiring an attorney makes sense simply so you don’t have to return for your court date.
But if you want to testify at your trial, you will need to personally appear. Even though your lawyer can’t tell your story to the judge, he can enter a plea for you, question the ticketing officer, check the officer’s calibration records, present evidence on your behalf, and argue your case.
Before you decide that you must appear in traffic court on your reckless driving charge, call me to discuss your options. You might be able to save some time and trouble.
