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

In 2025, 22,867 DUI / DWI cases and 35,429 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 58,296 public court records from 2025, DUI / DWI has a 12.3% average dismissal rate while Reckless Driving has a 22.5% 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 58,296 public court records from 2025, DUI / DWI cases across 113 Virginia jurisdictions have an average dismissal rate of 12.3% and conviction rate of 86.0%, while Reckless Driving cases across 124 jurisdictions have an average dismissal rate of 22.5% and conviction rate of 75.8%.

DUI / DWI

22,867

Total Cases

113

Jurisdictions

Dismissal Rate 12.3%

Conviction Rate 86.0%

vs

Reckless Driving

35,429

Total Cases

124

Jurisdictions

Dismissal Rate 22.5%

Conviction Rate 75.8%

Top Jurisdictions Comparison

How the highest-volume courts handle each charge.

DUI / DWI — Top Courts

Jurisdiction	Cases	Dismissal	Conviction
Fairfax County	2,027	15.4%	83.1%
Virginia Beach	1,555	4.8%	94.2%
Chesterfield County	1,300	11.7%	87.7%
Prince William County	1,140	23.0%	74.0%
Henrico County	966	13.0%	86.2%

Reckless Driving — Top Courts

Jurisdiction	Cases	Dismissal	Conviction
Virginia Beach	3,164	9.9%	89.7%
Brunswick County	1,901	1.0%	99.0%
Loudoun County	1,691	6.5%	93.2%
Richmond City	1,690	60.2%	39.1%
Rockingham County	1,350	9.5%	89.7%

Source: Virginia public court records, 2025 — 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 58,296 public court records from 2025:

Volume: Reckless Driving is more commonly charged (35,429 cases) than DUI / DWI (22,867 cases)
Dismissals: Reckless Driving has a higher average dismissal rate (22.5%) compared to DUI / DWI (12.3%)
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 12.3% average dismissal rate while Reckless Driving has a 22.5% 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 (22.5%) compared to DUI / DWI (12.3%), based on 2025 Virginia court records. However, dismissal rates vary significantly by jurisdiction. Visit the individual charge pages for court-specific data.

In 2025, 22,867 DUI / DWI cases were filed across 113 jurisdictions, and 35,429 Reckless Driving cases were filed across 124 jurisdictions. View the full data on our DUI / DWI and Reckless Driving pages.