Categories: DWI/DUI, Reckless And Traffic Court
DWI/DUI, Reckless And Traffic Court
Jeffrey Romanick on DWI | Fairfax Virginia | Gross, Romanick, Dean & DeSimone, P.C.
How to Defend Reckless Driving in Virginia | Fairfax, Virginia | Gross, Romanick, Dean & DeSimone, P.C.
Jeffrey Romanick, Principal, and lawyer of the Fairfax Law Firm Gross & Romanick, P.C., discusses representation on the charge of Reckless Driving focusing on Speeding and the Northern Virginia Courts.
Reckless Driving in Virginia is a criminal charge. In Virginia, if you drive in excess of 20mph over the speed limit or over 80mph regardless of the speed limit, you can be charged with Reckless Driving.
The charge is a Class 1 Misdemeanor with potential for jail time, license suspension, and very high fines. A conviction will impact future insurance premiums and may show up in an employment background check. A conviction may have to be disclosed on a college application. A conviction can also affect your ability to obtain and retain a security clearance from the federal government.
My law firm successfully defends clients charged with reckless driving. My name is Jeffrey Romanick. I manage the criminal practice at the Fairfax based law firm, Gross & Romanick. I have over 20 years of criminal defense experience. I stay up to date on what works and doesn’t work inside the State and Federal Courtrooms of Northern Virginia.
There are three keys to mounting a successful defense to a Reckless charge: Knowledge of the Law, Preparation, and Attorney Experience coupled with Reputation.
First, Knowledge of the Law. To successfully defend Reckless Driving, knowledge of all elements of the charge is required. Knowing what the prosecution must present to prove its case is essential. The burden of proof is on the Commonwealth, not the Defendant. Like any other criminal case, to be found guilty there must be proof beyond a reasonable doubt. You do not have to prove your innocence; you only have to cast doubt on the accuracy and sufficiency of the evidence.
Casting doubt is achieved through the second key to success: Preparation. There is no substitution for being prepared to respond to the evidence offered by the Commonwealth. In Northern Virginia, there are three methods of law enforcement uses to measure speed: Pace, Laser, and Radar. For each method, there is back up to support the accuracy of the instruments used. This is frequently referred to as The calibrations. A good defense must start with knowing and understanding the method used against you. Only then can one prepare to attack the method. The successful defense will challenge the authenticity and accuracy of the calibrations. Additional preparation requires speaking directly with the charging officer at the courthouse on the day of court. The key is to determine how well prepared the officer is to proceed on that day. The discussion must address the device used, what documentation is present in the courtroom that will be used against you, and an understanding of how the officer tracked the vehicle and identified you as the driver.
Preparation also requires getting the client ready for court. The Defendant must understand what will happen at the courthouse. In addition, the Defendant must be placed in a position to achieve the best results possible given all of the facts and circumstances. Preparation requires knowledge of the client’s driving record, educational background, work experience, and involvement in the community. My law firm always recommends attendance at a live driver improvement school that offers a class Specifically on Reckless Driving. The Defendant should obtain a speedometer accuracy test for the vehicle he or she was driving that can be presented at court if it is helpful.
Knowledge and Preparation are just part of the equation for success. The final key is to have on your side an experienced lawyer with a reputation for being ready, willing, and able to take a case to trial.
I am a known face and name to the prosecutors and judges of Northern Virginia. I have a strong reputation for being an effective trial lawyer. My experience and reputation permit me to negotiate fair and effective plea bargains and to fight against injustice at trial when it is necessary. At Gross & Romanick, we have a meaningful book of results to share with our clients. The book reinforces the level of experience we have and often provides comfort when a client can compare a result achieved in the past to their current situation.
I take pride in my work representing clients as they navigate through the criminal justice system. I enjoy helping my clients and their families get through what is often the most difficult time they have ever faced.
Call us at 703-273-1400 or send an e-mail to info@grddlaw.com.
Reckless driving lawyer Fairfax, Virginia
Gross, Romanick, Dean & DeSimone, P.C.
3975 University Drive
Suite 410
Fairfax, Virginia 22030
How to Defend DWI in Virginia | Fairfax, Virginia | Gross, Romanick, Dean & DeSimone, P.C.
Jeffrey Romanick, Principal and lawyer of the Fairfax Law Firm Gross, Romanick, Dean & DeSimone, P.C., discusses the charge of DWI and the process of defending and preparing for Court in Northern Virginia.
If you have been charged with drunk driving, a knowledgeable, experienced lawyer will engage in three tasks to help you. First the lawyer will analyze the legal case; next, the lawyer will prepare you for your day in Court; and, third, the lawyer will fight for you at the Courthouse.
A lawyer’s first task is to analyze the legal case. Not everyone charged with drunk driving is convicted of drunk driving. To achieve this result, a lawyer must determine what legal defenses are available. At Gross & Romanick, where I manage the criminal practice, our lawyers ask the questions which allow the Commonwealth’s case to be disassembled at each stage. We investigate the initial contact made by the police, analyze the officer’s decision to make the arrest and review the procedures followed before, during and after the arrest.
From my 20 years of criminal defense experience, I have concluded that determining whether constitutional rights have been violated is an important key to success in a DWI case. Did the police stop the driver without reasonable articulable suspicion that a violation of law took place? Was the decision by the officer to make the arrest done without probable cause? If the police did something wrong, it needs to be uncovered. If proper procedures were not followed or if the police violated the defendant’s Miranda or other rights, the charge may be subject to attack or a door may be opened for a successful plea bargain with a prosecutor. Whether a blood or breath test is administered or if it is a refusal case, proper advisement by the police is required by statute.
The breath machines and lab tests are not infallible. A diligent lawyer will gather information about the breath machine to determine whether it malfunctioned before or after the client was tested. A review must be made to determine whether there would be any benefit to hiring an expert witness, such as a toxicologist. Analyzing the legal case is just the first step toward a successful defense of the charge. The lawyer must also properly prepare you for your day in Court. You should receive a full explanation of the procedures and what to expect when you arrive at the
Courthouse. You should know what time to arrive, where to sit, what to say and what not to say if your name is called. You deserve to be put in the best position to achieve the best possible results given all of the facts and circumstances of your case.
The lawyer will advise you if there is a benefit to enrolling in an alcohol education or treatment program. The effective lawyer will obtain documents and information from you to present you in the best light possible and to demonstrate that you are a good citizen and not a threat or danger to the community.
Finally, a lawyer’s job is to be on your side the day of court. The lawyer will be your advocate and fight for you. The lawyer, who performs a thorough analysis of the legal case and has properly prepared you for your day in court, will provide you the best chance for a successful plea bargain with the prosecutor. And, if necessary, that lawyer will be ready, willing and able to successfully defend you at a trial before a judge or jury. A substantial portion of my practice is dedicated to defending individuals charged with drunk driving. The lawyers at Gross & Romanick have built a strong reputation in Northern Virginia for being effective trial lawyers. This allows us to negotiate fair and effective plea bargains and to fight against injustice at trial when it is necessary.
Call us at 703-273-1400 or send an e-mail to info@grddlaw.com.
Gross, Romanick, Dean & DeSimone, P.C.
3975 University Drive
Suite 410
Fairfax, Virginia 22030
How Do You Defend a High BAC Charge? | Fairfax, Virginia | Gross, Romanick, Dean & DeSimone, P.C.
GRDD Law Partner Ash Dean discusses how to defend against a high BAC (Blood Alcohol Content) Charge in Northern Virginia.
Reckless Driving in Virginia is a criminal charge. In Virginia, if you drive in excess of 20 mph over the speed limit or over 80 mph regardless of the speed limit, you can be charged with Reckless Driving.
The charge is a Class 1 Misdemeanor with potential for jail time, license suspension, and very high fines. A conviction will impact future insurance premiums, and may show up in an employment background check. A conviction may have to be disclosed on a college application. A conviction can also affect your ability to obtain and retain a security clearance from the federal government.
My law firm successfully defends clients charged with reckless driving. My name is Jeffrey Romanick. I manage the criminal practice at the Fairfax based law firm, Gross & Romanick. I have over 20 years of criminal defense experience. I stay up to date on what works and doesn’t work inside the State and Federal Courtrooms of Northern Virginia.
There are three keys to mounting a successful defense to a Reckless charge: Knowledge of the Law, Preparation, and Attorney Experience coupled with Reputation.
First, Knowledge of the Law. To successfully defend Reckless Driving, knowledge of all elements of the charge is required. Knowing what the prosecution must present to prove its case is essential. The burden of proof is on the Commonwealth, not the Defendant. Like any other criminal case, to be found guilty there must be proof beyond a reasonable doubt. You do not have to prove your innocence; you only have to cast doubt on the accuracy and sufficiency of the evidence.
Casting doubt is achieved through the second key to success: Preparation. There is no substitution for being prepared to respond to the evidence offered by the Commonwealth. In Northern Virginia there are three methods law enforcement uses to measure speed: Pace, Laser, and Radar. For each method, there is back up to support the accuracy of the instruments used. This is frequently referred to as the calibrations. A good defense must start with knowing and understanding the method used against you. Only then can one prepare to attack the method. The successful defense will challenge the authenticity and accuracy of the calibrations. Additional preparation requires speaking directly with the charging officer at the courthouse on the day of court. The key is to determine how well prepared the officer is to proceed on that day. The discussion must address the device used, what documentation is present in the courtroom that will be used against you, and an understanding of how the officer tracked the vehicle and identified you as the driver.
Preparation also requires getting the client ready for court. The Defendant must understand what will happen at the courthouse. In addition, the Defendant must be placed in a position to achieve the best results possible given all of the facts and circumstances. Preparation requires knowledge of the client’s driving record, educational background, work experience, and involvement in the community. My law firm always recommends attendance at a live driver improvement school that offers a class specifically on Reckless Driving. The Defendant should obtain a speedometer accuracy test for the vehicle he or she was driving that can be presented at court if it is helpful.
Knowledge and Preparation are just part of the equation for success. The final key is to have on your side an experienced lawyer with a reputation for being ready, willing, and able to take a case to trial.
I am a known face and name to the prosecutors and judges of Northern Virginia. I have a strong reputation for being an effective trial lawyer. My experience and reputation permit me to negotiate fair and effective plea bargains and to fight against injustice at trial when it is necessary. At Gross & Romanick, we have a meaningful book of results to share with our clients. The book reinforces the level of experience we have and often provides comfort when a client can compare a result achieved in the past to their current situation.
I take pride in my work representing clients as they navigate through the criminal justice system. I enjoy helping my clients and their families get through what is often the most difficult time they have ever faced.
If you receive a DWI in Northern Virginia, please contact us at 703-273-1400 or info@grddlaw.com.
Gross, Romanick, Dean & DeSimone, P.C.
3975 University Drive
Suite 410
Fairfax, Virginia 22030