Adult child charged with felony reckless driving - lawyers need your input here

[Anonymous]

My adult son has some significant special needs - always had since birth. Many doctor visits later, we get a dx of ADHD, sensory processing disorder, social anxiety, and PDD. At age 19, he was found to have a brain injury also but we have no idea how he got that. He has no memory of what could have caused that either. After much therapy over the many years, he's doing better...but not better enough to stay out of trouble. He still has the need for high stimuli and thats why he enjoys driving fast. He's a great college student now (GPA 3.5), he started his own side business, and he has a part time job in addition to these. He's never touched alcohol or drugs, ever. This we know for a fact. But he was speeding excessively (over 40 mph above speed limit) and now risks going to jail. I'm pretty sure his mental health issues and neurological issues will mean nothing to the judge. Since the charge, he has voluntarily given up his car, given up driving, take ubers everywhere or gets rides from friends and family. I'm afraid this will harm his future ability to get jobs and to get acceptance into a Master's program. Lawyers, what do you think he can do to help make a case for probation instead of jail time? If he pleads guilty, which I think he should, how will it affect him in life?

[Anonymous]

To be clear, you need to get him an attorney to work on a deal.

[Anonymous]

You need to consult a traffic offense lawyer on your jurisdiction (and I’m a lawyer telling you that). You can probably get a consiktstion for free. In some states, you are allowed to indicate in your drivers license that you are autistic, etc. I think VA is one or used to be one. But since you didn’t do that, that’s a strike against you. 40 above the speed limit is a serious charge. In DC and VA only 20 above is reckless. Please consult an experienced lawyer. I recommend Peter DePaolis in Fairfax,VA but if you are in another state he can tell you whom to see in DC,MD, etc. Good luck

[Anonymous]

OP - Your son is a public danger. Do you need to see someone killed in a horrible accident to understand that his reckless behavior needs to be penalized?

[Anonymous]

He should not be driving.

[Anonymous]

The courts will plea it down get a lawyer

[Anonymous]

My husband had this happen once 20+ years ago- got stopped driving past a construction zone at night when no one was working - 20 miles over the speed limit. We hired a lawyer and he pleaded it down to a fine.

[Anonymous]

Where are you located? Montgomery County has a mental health court that might be a good fit. You might be able to Google it and get the program handbook. Successful completion can result in no criminal record.

Get a lawyer ASAP.

[Anonymous]

I certainly don’t wish ill on your son, like jeopardizing employment opportunities, but I hope he’s never allowed to drive again if he can’t control these impulses. He will kill someone if he keeps driving like this.

[Anonymous]

Get a lawyer, get him off the road

[Anonymous]

OP you realize your son could have killed himself and others at that speed? I would stay out of it and make him pay his own lawyer.

[Anonymous]

He needs a lawyer. That lawyer will probably have him take the driving safety class that he would be ordered to take from the judge. You want to do it upfront before you end up in court. My DH’s nephew had a reckless driving charge and that is what the lawyer had him do. I believe the charges were dismissed.

[Anonymous]

Hire a lawyer and get him psychological help. I have no direct experience in this area but wonder why he was driving at all given how you describe him. Disabilities don’t excuse putting others at risk. My kids have different profiles but my goal was always to make them accountable since I wanted them to function as independent adults. That means I expect them to follow the same rules/laws as everyone else. It’s possible that agreeing to surrender his license will be helpful. Just saying he isn’t driving probably won’t fly.

[Anonymous]

I am really sorry about your son and hope he is treated with compassion.

He needs to not drive for the safety of others. Your post kind of leads me to believe you do not understand to believe this. PLEASE take it seriously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP - Your son is a public danger. Do you need to see someone killed in a horrible accident to understand that his reckless behavior needs to be penalized?

This. All I hear is a bunch of excuses OP. At least he was smart enough to give up driving.