According to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, certain driving offenses incur points on your license. If you accrue a certain number of points over a specific period of time, you can lose your driving privileges.
This is the case with certain reckless driving offenses. In fact, many serious offenses remain on a driver’s record for more than a decade. Here is what Virginia motorists need to know about the point system, reckless driving, and driving records.
Types of reckless driving offenses
There are many types of reckless driving offenses, and the length of time offenses remain on record depends on their severity. The majority of the offenses remain on record for a total of 11 years. This includes:
- Racing
- Speeding violations over 85 mph
- Passing an ambulance or other emergency vehicle
- Driving too fast for weather conditions
- Driving with an obstructed view of the road
- Failing to signal properly
- Improper control of a vehicle (i.e. driving with faulty brakes)
Motorists can receive a misdemeanor or felony charge depending on the situation surrounding the reckless driving offense.
Other types of violations and their impact on your record
Offenses related to driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol also stay on record for a period of 11 years. This includes driving while intoxicated, refusing a blood or breath test, driving with a suspended license due to a previous DUI offense, and involuntary manslaughter offenses that involved inebriation.
For commercial drivers, many offenses stay on record permanently. Operating a commercial vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of .04% or greater, operating a commercial vehicle under the influence of drugs, or operating a commercial vehicle without the proper license will remain on record indefinitely.
Safe driving can spare a serious accident, but it also ensures a clean driving record. Drivers should follow all traffic rules and remain courteous towards others, for their own benefit.