Virginia Reckless Driving Speed: 20 Over or Over 85 MPH

Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte

The Virginia reckless driving speed line is 20 mph or more over the posted limit, or over 85 mph on any road, under Code § 46.2-862. Going 15 over is not reckless driving by speed, though reckless driving can still be charged for driving that endangers others. Reckless driving is a Class 1 misdemeanor, while ordinary speeding is a traffic infraction.

Key Facts

Two speed tests: 20 mph or more over the limit, or over 85 mph. See the speed line.
15 over: below the 20 mph test, and a 4-point speeding offense. See 15 over.
The charge: reckless driving is a Class 1 misdemeanor, up to 12 months and $2,500. See infraction or misdemeanor.
What changes: 6 points, 11 years on the DMV record, and no prepaying. See what changes.
License: a court may suspend it for up to 6 months, or order the Intelligent Speed Assistance Program. See the license.

The Virginia Reckless Driving Speed Line

Code § 46.2-862 holds the rule. A driver is guilty of reckless driving who drives “at a speed of 20 miles per hour or more in excess of the applicable maximum speed limit.” The same law adds a second test: driving “in excess of 85 miles per hour regardless of the applicable maximum speed limit.”

So there are two separate tests. Meeting either one is enough:

The 20 mph test depends on the posted limit.
The 85 mph test ignores the posted limit.

For the wider picture of fines, points and options, see the Virginia speeding ticket guide.

Test One: 20 MPH or More Over the Limit

This test moves with the posted limit. “20 or more” includes exactly 20 over. On a 55 mph road, 75 mph meets it.

This table shows the first whole-number speed that meets the line at common limits. The math is simple subtraction.

Posted limit	First speed that meets the line	Which test it meets
25 mph	45 mph	20 mph test
35 mph	55 mph	20 mph test
45 mph	65 mph	20 mph test
55 mph	75 mph	20 mph test
65 mph	85 mph	20 mph test
70 mph	86 mph	85 mph test

On a slow road, the 20 mph test comes first. Low limits mean a lower speed can cross the line.

Test Two: Over 85 MPH on Any Road

The second test is a fixed speed. Any speed above 85 mph meets it, whatever the sign says.

Note the wording: “in excess of 85.” That means faster than 85, not 85 itself. On a 70 mph road, 86 mph is only 16 over. It still meets the line, because it is over 85.

On a 65 mph road, 85 mph meets the line a different way. It is exactly 20 over, so the 20 mph test applies.

Is 15 Over Reckless Driving in VA?

Not by speed alone. Fifteen over is below the 20 mph test. It meets the speed rule only if the speed is also over 85.

A 15-over conviction is speeding. DMV’s four-point violations list shows “Speeding 15-19 mph” at 4 points, kept on the record 5 years.

There is one more rule to know. Code § 46.2-852 makes it reckless driving to drive “at a speed or in a manner so as to endanger the life, limb, or property of any person.” That general rule does not depend on a number.

Steps to check a speed against the Virginia reckless driving line, from the posted limit to the two tests

Other Kinds of Reckless Driving

Speed is only one path. Article 7 of Chapter 8 of the Code lists other reckless driving offenses. Among them:

Not under control, or faulty brakes.
Passing at the crest of a grade or on a curve.
Passing a stopped school bus.
Failing to give proper signals.
Driving too fast for conditions.
Racing.

DMV’s six-point violations list shows these reckless driving entries at 11 years each. This guide covers the speed line. For penalties in depth, see reckless driving and the clinic.

Infraction or Class 1 Misdemeanor

A reckless driving charge changes the kind of offense. Plain speeding is a traffic infraction. Code § 18.2-8 says traffic infractions are “not deemed to be criminal in nature.”

Reckless driving is a crime. Code § 46.2-868 says every person convicted of reckless driving “is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.”

Code § 18.2-11 sets the range for a Class 1 misdemeanor. It is up to 12 months in jail, a fine up to $2,500, or both. Our guide on misdemeanor or infraction explains the difference.

What Changes When You Cross the Line

Here is what moves when speeding becomes reckless driving:

Points: 3 for 1 to 9 over and 4 for 10 to 19 over. Reckless driving is 6, under Code § 46.2-492.
Record: speeding stays 5 years on the DMV record. Reckless driving by speed stays 11 years.
Prepaying: speeding can be prepaid if listed as prepayable. Reckless driving cannot, under Code § 16.1-69.40:1.
The fine: a prepaid speeding fine is $6 per mph over. Reckless driving can bring a fine up to $2,500.

The 2-year point clock, counted from the offense date, is the same in both cases. The record time is not.

DMV’s six-point list also shows a plain “Speeding 20 mph or more above the posted speed limit” entry, kept 5 years. The officer writes the charge, and the court decides how the case ends.

What the Court Can Do to Your License

A reckless driving conviction can affect the license directly. Under Code § 46.2-392, a court may suspend the license for up to 6 months.

Code § 46.2-393 lets the court order the Intelligent Speed Assistance Program instead. Over 100 mph, the court must order one of these two.

Points can also add up to DMV action. For a driver 18 or older, 12 points in 12 months means a required clinic.

So does 18 in 24. See what 20 over means for the 20-over case.

The Line in School Crossing and Work Zones

The 20 mph test uses the limit that applies where you were. Under Code § 46.2-873, a school crossing zone has a 25 mph limit between its signs while they are in use. So 45 mph in that zone is 20 over.

A work zone uses its posted limit in the same way. These zones also carry their own fines and per-mph rates. Our guide to school zone and work zone tickets covers them.

Drivers With Extra Rules at the Line

Two groups face more than the general rules.

CDL holders: reckless driving, and speeding 15 or more over, are “serious traffic violations.” Two within 3 years mean a 60-day disqualification, and three mean 120 days. A ticket in a personal car counts only if it leads to a suspension, revocation or cancellation. See CDL speeding tickets.

Young drivers: a driver aged 18 or 19 with any demerit-point conviction must take a clinic. Under 18, DMV acts by the number of convictions. The first means a clinic, the second a 90-day suspension, and the third a revocation for 1 year or until 18, whichever is longer.

How Long It Follows You

The record time is the longest change. DMV keeps reckless driving by speed 11 years. A suspension or revocation can keep convictions on the record even longer.

DMV sells a personal driving record that looks back 11 years. An employment record looks back 7 years and needs your signed release. Our guide on how long a speeding ticket stays on your record compares the time frames.

Speeding compared with reckless driving by speed in Virginia: offense type, points, record years, prepaying and fines

Where the Driver Improvement Clinic Fits

The Driver Improvement Clinic (DIC) is an 8-hour course that costs no more than $100. It does not change a charge or a conviction.

An eligible clinic can earn 5 safe driving points, once every 24 months. Code § 46.2-498 calls this subtracting five demerit points from your total. If a court orders the clinic, the court decides whether you get points.

Facts to Know Before a Court Date

Because reckless driving cannot be prepaid, the case goes through the court on your summons. A few rules from the Code apply there:

A court may order a clinic. Under Code § 46.2-505, a court may require a driver found guilty to attend one.
The court decides on points. For a court-ordered clinic, DMV awards safe driving points only if the court says so.
Orders must be followed. Not finishing a court-ordered clinic may be punished as contempt of court.

We do not give legal strategy. For advice on your own case, talk to a Virginia attorney.

What We Checked on the Official Pages

On the Code pages we checked on October 27, 2026, § 46.2-862 still set both tests: 20 or more over, or over 85. Its history line ended in 2020.

The prepayment law had a 2026 update, and it still left reckless driving off the prepay list. DMV’s six-point list showed each reckless driving entry at 11 years.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Each item comes from the Code or DMV’s lists:

Using 80 as the line. The law says over 85, or 20 or more over.
Treating 85 as over 85. It is not, but on a 65 road it is 20 over.
Thinking 15 over is always safe. Driving that endangers others can still be reckless driving.
Expecting to prepay. Reckless driving cannot be prepaid.
Assuming the record clears in 5 years. Reckless driving stays 11.
Forgetting low limits. On a 25 mph road, 45 mph meets the line.

How Requirements Can Vary

Virginia’s point rules, safe driving points and DMV clinic orders come from the Code of Virginia and DMV rules, and they apply statewide. What you must do still depends on whether you take the clinic by choice, because of a DMV notice, or under a court order. A court order sets its own deadline and proof steps.

Laws, fees and court practice can change. Check your DMV notice, your court order and the Virginia DMV website for current rules before you enroll or file anything.

Frequently Asked Questions

What speed is reckless driving in Virginia?

Driving 20 mph or more over the posted limit, or over 85 mph on any road. Both tests come from Code § 46.2-862.

Is 15 over reckless driving in VA?

Not by speed alone, unless the speed is also over 85. A 15-over conviction is speeding with 4 points. Reckless driving can still be charged under Code § 46.2-852 for driving that endangers others.

Is 86 in a 70 reckless driving?

Yes, it meets the speed line. It is only 16 over, but it is over 85 mph.

Is 20 over always reckless driving?

Twenty or more over meets the reckless line in Code § 46.2-862. DMV’s list also has a plain speeding entry for 20 or more over, kept 5 years. The court decides how a case ends.

Is reckless driving a crime in Virginia?

Yes. It is a Class 1 misdemeanor, with up to 12 months in jail and a fine up to $2,500. Ordinary speeding is a traffic infraction, not a crime.

How many points is reckless driving?

Six points, counted for 2 years from the offense date. DMV keeps the reckless driving conviction on the record 11 years.

Can I prepay a reckless driving ticket?

No. Code § 16.1-69.40:1 leaves reckless driving off the prepay list, so the case goes through court. Ask the court or a Virginia attorney about your own case.

Conclusion

The Virginia reckless driving speed line has two tests: 20 mph or more over the limit, or over 85 mph on any road. Crossing it turns an infraction into a Class 1 misdemeanor with 6 points and 11 years on the DMV record.

If you want to lower your point total later, you can take the Virginia Driver Improvement Course online. If a court ordered your clinic, ask the court first whether it accepts an online course.

Sources

Billy Forte is the owner of Driving Logic, a state-approved driver improvement course provider serving Virginia and other U.S. states.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Virginia DMV rules, court orders, fines and penalties depend on your notice, summons, court and case facts, and they can change. Use official Virginia DMV and court sources, and consult a qualified Virginia attorney for advice about your own case.