Did you know a person can be convicted of drunk driving when the engine in the car he or she is in is not even running? Driving under the influence and driving while intoxicated are criminal charges described in Virginia Code § 18.2-266. These terms are a little misleading because the law prohibits operating a [...]
Texting while driving has been a traffic offense since July 1, 2009. The reason is obvious. It is dangerous. The Virginia law is contained in §46.2-1078.1 of the Code of Virginia. The text of this statute is set out below. The penalty for violating this law is $20 for a first offense and $50 for [...]
A few weeks ago I blogged about the differences between reckless driving, speeding, and other traffic offenses. I said in that blog that there are several types of reckless driving charges and you cannot always identify the charge as reckless driving on the ticket. Below I have listed the charges that Virginia has included as [...]
Reckless driving is not a traffic offense in Virginia. It is a criminal offense. It is a Class 1 Misdemeanor which means that a conviction could result in a jail sentence. The range of punishment for reckless driving is up to a maximum of 12 months in jail and up to a maximum fine of [...]
It was a year ago in January that I wrote about the Hernandez case and how judges will sometimes take a criminal charge under advisement and later dismiss the charge after the defendant has completed some conditions that were placed upon him. This is sometimes done even when a defendant has pled guilty to the [...]
Collecting past-due child support is a big problem in this state and nation. The Division of Child Support Enforcement in Virginia has attorneys who regularly appear in courts to hold deadbeat dads and mothers accountable. Courts can and sometimes do put in jail those men and sometimes women who do not pay their child support [...]
You are driving down the highway in excess of the posted speed limit and you fail to see the patrol car hidden behind the trees until it is too late. The lights come on and the next thing you know you are pulled over on the side of the road. So what’s next? First, remember [...]
It is a good thing to occasionally get away from the day to day routine, to begin anew and to look at things from a different point of view, or at least, more closely. The beginning of a new year is a logical time for such an exercise. For 2012 I plan to do my [...]
Yesterday on the front page of the Roanoke Times was an article on jail ministry in the Roanoke Valley. There was a picture of Dan Netting who is the full-time pastor of First Christian Church Disciples of Christ in Salem and a part time minister for the Roanoke County and regional jails. I have heard [...]
This is the season when we consider all the many things for which we are thankful. We are of course thankful for family and friends. We are also thankful for our clients, not only for allowing us the privilege of serving them, but also for referring others for us to serve. With so many in [...]