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

In 2025, 23,250 DUI / DWI cases and 101,152 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 124,402 public court records from 2025, DUI / DWI has a 11.9% average dismissal rate while Reckless Driving has a 18.5% 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 124,402 public court records from 2025, DUI / DWI cases across 113 Virginia jurisdictions have an average dismissal rate of 11.9% and conviction rate of 86.4%, while Reckless Driving cases across 125 jurisdictions have an average dismissal rate of 18.5% and conviction rate of 80.4%.

DUI / DWI

23,250

Total Cases

113

Jurisdictions

Dismissal Rate 11.9%

Conviction Rate 86.4%

vs

Reckless Driving

101,152

Total Cases

125

Jurisdictions

Dismissal Rate 18.5%

Conviction Rate 80.4%

Top Jurisdictions Comparison

How the highest-volume courts handle each charge.

DUI / DWI — Top Courts

Jurisdiction	Cases	Dismissal	Conviction
Fairfax County	2,106	15.7%	82.7%
Virginia Beach	1,606	5.5%	93.6%
Chesterfield County	1,281	10.5%	88.3%
Prince William County	1,254	23.7%	73.1%
Henrico County	934	9.8%	89.8%

Reckless Driving — Top Courts

Jurisdiction	Cases	Dismissal	Conviction
Fairfax County	7,442	9.2%	90.3%
Henrico County	4,371	36.2%	62.2%
Virginia Beach	4,349	11.1%	88.4%
Richmond City	4,197	63.1%	36.1%
Prince William County	3,596	25.6%	73.6%

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 124,402 public court records from 2025:

Volume: Reckless Driving is more commonly charged (101,152 cases) than DUI / DWI (23,250 cases)
Dismissals: Reckless Driving has a higher average dismissal rate (18.5%) compared to DUI / DWI (11.9%)
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 11.9% average dismissal rate while Reckless Driving has a 18.5% 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 (18.5%) compared to DUI / DWI (11.9%), based on 2025 Virginia court records. However, dismissal rates vary significantly by jurisdiction. Visit the individual charge pages for court-specific data.

In 2025, 23,250 DUI / DWI cases were filed across 113 jurisdictions, and 101,152 Reckless Driving cases were filed across 125 jurisdictions. View the full data on our DUI / DWI and Reckless Driving pages.