What is the RADEP
Course?
The RADEP curriculum is for drivers typically charged with non-alcohol related reckless and or aggressive driving offenses. RADEP is a unique two day, in-person 12 hour driver education and training seminar consisting of two parts. The first session ( part 1) is a traditional 8-hour Virginia DMV driver improvement class. The second session (part 2) is a 4-hour National Safety Council course which focuses on reckless driving, aggressive driving, road rage and anger management. You must complete (part 1) the eight (8) hour Driver Improvement Course before your can attend (part 2), the 4 hour segment of the course.
The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) driver improvement program is an 8 hour in-person or on-line instructional program.
The course covers a wide range of subject matter including traffic rules, highway safety, effective defensive driving techniques, distracted driving, impaired driving, aggressive driving, and DMV guidelines. Students must pass a multiple-choice final exam with a minimum score of 80. Upon course completion, the student will be issued an original certificate of completion. This original certificate must then be returned to the Court by the student.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Most students prefer to attend the classroom course, however, Driver’s under the age of 20 are NOT eligible for the on-line option per DMV guidelines.
Additionally, completing a Virginia DMV approved on-line driver improvement program may NOT
be accepted by your Court. It is the responsibility of the student to determine if your court accepts online courses.
*This 8-hour segment is a prerequisite to participate in the 4-hour Reckless Aggressive session.
The National Safety Council's 4 hour course, Attitudinal Dynamics of Driving , is recommended for drivers with multiple traffic violations and for those with poor driving behaviors who need a incentive for positive changes. This course has been designed specifically for court referred drivers and drivers who exhibit continuing patterns of risky and overly aggressive driving behaviors.
Part 2, the 4-hour segment, of the 12 hour "Reckless Aggressive Driver Course"
addresses the many causes of reckless driving, the psychological components of aggressive and reckless driving, as well as offers techniques to avoid situations which promote dangerous driving behavior and gives specific methods that help students implement the skills learned in the driver improvement program.
The objective of this 4 hour course is to engages students in relearning road rules along with exercises to help them understand the connection between choices and consequences. Then it helps them develop a plan to change their driving choices and behaviors.
Driver Improvement : 8 Hour Course (Part 1)
The basic 8-hour driver improvement course is available to individuals who have been:
- mandated to attend by the Virginia DMV as a result of an accumulation of points
- referred by a court for a traffic violation
- voluntarily attend to receive positive points on their driving record
The 8-hour Driver Improvement Program is based on the DMV approved driver improvement curriculum. The course is a cutting edge program designed to provide individuals with the latest knowledge and skills necessary to operate a motor vehicle in a manner conducive to public safety. Whether the is a newly licensed driver, or an experienced driver with many years of experience, everyone will benefit from the material presented in this course.
RADEP : 4 Hour Course ( Part 2)
The Reckless Aggressive Driver Education Program (RADEP)
is a 12-hour in-person driver improvement program specifically for defendant motorists typically charged with non-alcohol related reckless and/or aggressive driving offenses. The course is structured to accommodate court and state government traffic programs, as well as assisting organizations with post-incident driver training needs. This course places significant emphasis on making a commitment to change one’s driving behaviors.
The program is presented in one 8-hour Driver Improvement segment (Part 1)
and one 4-hour Attitudinal Dynamics of Driving segment (Part 2). Part 1 is an 8-hour segment based on the American Automobile Association's Virginia DMV approved driver improvement curriculum. Part 1, the 8-hour segment is a prerequisite to participate in the 4-hour Reckless Aggressive segment.
Part 2 is a unique 4-hour behavioral focused session that addresses the many causes of reckless or aggressive driving and focuses on methods used to avoid situations which encourage dangerous driving behavior.
How it Works
Many Virginia Traffic Courts require defendant motorists charged with non-alcohol related reckless and or aggressive driving offenses to complete a 12 hour driver education training course. This 12 hour Virginia driving education training curriculum
is commonly referred to as "RADEP." RADEP is an acronym for Reckless/Aggressive Driver Education Program. The entire RADEP course is 12 hours. This is can however be a bit confusing. The Virginia Reckless Aggressive Driver Education Program course is really only 4 hours. The remaining 8 hours are the standard Virginia driver improvement course. This 8-hour segment is a prerequisite to participate in the 4-hour Reckless Aggressive session.
So if a judge orders RADEP ,
or aggressive driving, they are usually requiring BOTH the standard 8 hour driver improvement course PLUS
the 4 hour aggressive driving course. Each RADEP provider
will provide access to complete both courses.
When choosing a reckless aggressive driver education program course, there are important considerations. First and foremost, you need to make sure that you can enroll in and finish the required classes in a timely manner to comply with any court orders.
Reckless driving is considered as a major traffic violation in Virginia due to its nature of causing potential harm.
In Virginia, reckless driving is a Class 1 misdemeanor. In Virginia, a Class 1 misdemeanor is the misdemeanor with the most severe potential punishment. A person convicted of a Class 1 misdemeanor may be sent to jail for not more than twelve months and/or fined not more than $2,500. Additonally the maximum license suspension allowed by Virginia statute for a conviction of reckless driving is six months.
Any person charged with reckless driving in Virginia should take the charge seriously because reckless driving is a crime. In some cases, criminal convictions may detrimentally affect a person’s ability to obtain employment or obtain a promotion in their current job.
Potential Penalties for Reckless Driving in Virginia
Potential Penalties for Reckless Driving in Virginia
1. Fines: A reckless driving ticket in Virginia can be penalized by court up to $2500 excluding the court’s fee.
2. Demerit points: For reckless driving ticket maximum 6 demerit points are allotted to the licensee.
3. Suspension of driving license: The license of the reckless driver can be suspended for a maximum period of 6 months.
4. Imprisonment: Reckless driving ticket can even lead you to imprisonment. A reckless driving offender can cause a maximum of 6 months of jail time.
5. Loss of job: If you are charged with imprisonment there are chances that you might lose your job due to the jail time.
6. Hiked insurance premium: The car insurance companies maintain all the records of their customers. So if demerit points are awarded against your driving license you will be facing hike in insurance premiums.
7. Criminal offense record: Having a record of a criminal offense is a huge deal. Nobody would want to get a criminal offense label for reckless driving.
8. Dependency on public transport: If your license is suspended for reckless driving charges you will be facing a lot of difficulty in your daily life.
We Recommend Consulting An Attorney Before Court
Completing a Virginia Defensive Driving Course
can and will often have a positive impact your speeding or reckless driving ticket. However, what if you appear in front of a judge who requires an in-person classroom course, but you did the online course and now the judge will not accept your certificate of completion. You could disqualify yourself because some judges will only allow you to complete driver improvement training once every five years.
There are many different reason codes for attending a Virginia Reckless Aggressive Driver Education (RADEP)
course or Virginia DMV Driver Improvement Clinic. Another common way to reduce your chances for a favorable outcome in court for your speeding ticket is if you put the wrong reason code. If you put the WRONG code it can "HURT" your case.
You really need to know the requirements of the specific court you will be attending.
Reckless Aggressive Driver Education Program & Improvement Course
Choose The Best Course Option For Your
8 Hour Driver Improvement Course
4 Hour Reckless Aggressive Course
12 Hour RADEP Course
Contact Us
We’d love to hear from you. Call us now at 757-235-4994
or send a message using the form below we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.