Q: Reckless driving failure to maintain control ticket in Middlesex, VA. What should I do before/expect from JDR court?
I'm 16 and got my license like 3 weeks ago. Was following a cousin down a road i didnt know, speeding ~10/15 over limit and took a turn too fast and crashed. No one was hurt, car was totaled, and sherriffs said they wouldn't have written me up for it but had to call a state trooper (i think it was a state road) who wrote me the ticket. I was very polite, i have a clean record other than this, get good grades volunteer, etc. Going to JDR court wednesday before thanksgiving. Sherriffs suggested doing defensive driving training before going to court- but I cant take a completely online course bc im under 20, and I can't take a classroom course bc COVID, and I can't check with the court because Im doing it voluntarily to show I'm trying to be proactive. Should I just skip it, or ask the court?? Will this affect my college apps? My mom is an employment lawyer, would she know enough about this to help? Judge is Holly B. Smith. And finally how should I plead??
A: You should have a lawyer represent you to help get it dismissed. Driving school goes both ways. Some judges get mad if you do it before and some don't want the reason as voluntary. A lawyer who goes to that particular court will know the local rules. A good lawyer will know there is a workaround to the driving school issue you're having with the age issue and online issue...
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