How many DUI / DWI and Reckless Driving cases are filed in Virginia?

In 2023-2024, 60,761 DUI / DWI cases and 107,510 Reckless Driving cases were filed across Virginia courts. Visit VirginiaCourtFile.com for jurisdiction-specific data.

DUI / DWI vs Reckless Driving in Virginia — Stats

Q: What is the difference between DUI / DWI and Reckless Driving in Virginia?

Based on 168,271 public court records from 2023-2024, DUI / DWI has a 11.7% average dismissal rate while Reckless Driving has a 19.6% average dismissal rate across Virginia courts.

Statistics from public court records for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. These are different charges with different legal elements — consult a licensed Virginia attorney for guidance on your specific situation.

According to 168,271 public court records from 2023–2024, DUI / DWI cases across 123 Virginia jurisdictions have an average dismissal rate of 11.7% and conviction rate of 86.8%, while Reckless Driving cases across 125 jurisdictions have an average dismissal rate of 19.6% and conviction rate of 78.9%.

DUI / DWI

60,761

Total Cases

123

Jurisdictions

Dismissal Rate 11.7%

Conviction Rate 86.8%

vs

Reckless Driving

107,510

Total Cases

125

Jurisdictions

Dismissal Rate 19.6%

Conviction Rate 78.9%

Top Jurisdictions Comparison

How the highest-volume courts handle each charge.

DUI / DWI — Top Courts

Jurisdiction	Cases	Dismissal	Conviction
Fairfax County	4,578	16.1%	82.3%
Virginia Beach	4,457	4.6%	94.8%
Prince William County	3,712	24.0%	74.1%
Chesterfield County	3,468	10.4%	88.7%
Henrico County	2,365	9.8%	88.6%

Reckless Driving — Top Courts

Jurisdiction	Cases	Dismissal	Conviction
Virginia Beach	9,265	9.6%	90.1%
Brunswick County	6,894	1.7%	98.2%
Loudoun County	4,080	5.7%	93.9%
Hampton	3,695	14.6%	82.0%
Rockingham County	3,390	8.5%	90.9%

Source: Virginia public court records, 2023–2024 — VirginiaCourtFile.com

What the Data Shows

DUI / DWI and Reckless Driving are distinct charges with different legal elements, but defendants sometimes face questions about how they compare. Based on 168,271 public court records from 2023–2024:

Volume: Reckless Driving is more commonly charged (107,510 cases) than DUI / DWI (60,761 cases)
Dismissals: Reckless Driving has a higher average dismissal rate (19.6%) compared to DUI / DWI (11.7%)
Variation: Both charges show significant variation in outcomes across Virginia jurisdictions — the court where a case is heard matters

These statistics reflect aggregate patterns across Virginia courts and do not predict individual case outcomes. The legal elements, potential consequences, and defense considerations differ between these charges. Consult a licensed Virginia attorney for guidance on your specific situation.

Common Questions

DUI / DWI and Reckless Driving are separate charges with different legal definitions and elements. Our data shows they have different outcome patterns: DUI / DWI has a 11.7% average dismissal rate while Reckless Driving has a 19.6% average dismissal rate. For information about the legal distinctions, consult a licensed Virginia attorney or the Code of Virginia.

Reckless Driving has a higher average dismissal rate (19.6%) compared to DUI / DWI (11.7%), based on 2023–2024 Virginia court records. However, dismissal rates vary significantly by jurisdiction. Visit the individual charge pages for court-specific data.

In 2023–2024, 60,761 DUI / DWI cases were filed across 123 jurisdictions, and 107,510 Reckless Driving cases were filed across 125 jurisdictions. View the full data on our DUI / DWI and Reckless Driving pages.