Hit and Run Penalties in Virginia
February 10, 2019 by Jean Humbrecht
Hit and Run Felonies in Virginia Can be Punished with up to 10 Years in Prison
Hit and Run penalties in Virginia include jail or prison, fines, DMV demerit points, and driver’s license suspension or revocation. Both drivers and passengers can be convicted of a Hit and Run in Virginia for failing to report any car accident resulting in property damage, injury or death.
This post lists the Hit and Run penalties in Virginia for both drivers and passengers. For more general information on Hit and Run charges in Virginia, click here. For more information on Hit and Run charges in Virginia involving unoccupied property, click here. For more information on Hit and Run charges in Virginia involving occupied property, click here. For more information on Hit and Run charges in Virginia resulting in injury or death, click here.
Hit and Run Penalties in Virginia: Unoccupied Property
Hit and Run penalties in Virginia involving unoccupied property depend on the extent of property damage and whether the person charged was the driver or a passenger.
Damage Less Than $250, Driver: If the accident resulted in less than $250 in damage to unoccupied property, the offense is a Class 4 misdemeanor, punished with a fine up to $250 and 3 DMV Demerit points.
Damage Less Than $500, Driver: If the Hit and Run resulted in more than $250 in damage to unoccupied property, the driver will be charged with a Class 1 misdemeanor and punished with up to 12 months in jail, a fine up to $2,500, and 3 DMV demerit points.
Damage More Than $500, Driver: If the Hit and Run resulted in more than $500 in damage to unoccupied property, the driver will be charged with a Class 1 misdemeanor. However, in addition to a possible jail sentence and high fines, the offender’s driver’s license can be suspended for up to 6 months and the DMV will add 4 demerit points to the offender’s record.
Passenger Liability: A passenger convicted of failing to report an accident involving unoccupied property will be charged with a Class 4 misdemeanor if the property damage was less than $250. If the Hit and Run resulted in more than $250 in property damage, he will be charged with a Class 1 misdemeanor. This offense is punished with up to 12 months in jail and a fine up to $2,500. If the property damage exceeded $500, the passenger’s driver’s license can even be suspended for up to 6 months.
Hit and Run Penalties in Virginia: Occupied Property
Hit and Run penalties in Virginia for accidents involving damage to occupied property depend on the amount of property damage. If a driver leaves the scene of an accident resulting in damage to occupied property, he can be charged with a misdemeanor or a felony.
Damage Less Than $1,000, Driver: If the Hit and Run involving occupied property resulted in less than $1,000 in property damage, the driver will be charged with a Class 1 misdemeanor. This offense is punished with up to 12 months in jail, a fine up to $2,500, and 4 DMV demerit points. If the property damage exceeded $500, the driver’s license can be suspended for up to 6 months.
Damage More Than $1,000, Driver: If the damage to the occupied property exceeded $1,000, the driver will be charged with a Class 5 felony. This offense is punished with up to 10 years in prison, a fine up to $2,500, and the DMV will assess 6 demerit points. Additionally, the offender’s driver’s license will be revoked for one year.
Passenger Liability: A passenger convicted of failing to report an accident resulting in damage to occupied property will be charged with a Class 1 misdemeanor and can be punished with up to 12 months in jail and a fine up to $2,500. If the damage exceeded $500, his driver’s license can be suspended up to 6 months.
A Hit and Run Resulting in Injury or Death is a Felony in Virginia
Hit and Run Penalties in Virginia: Injury or Death
Hit and Run penalties in Virginia resulting from an accident in which someone is killed or injured are very serious. In addition to being a convicted felon, the offender faces up to 10 years in prison.
Hit and Run Involving Injury or Death, Driver: A driver convicted of a Hit and Run resulting in injury or death will be convicted of a Class 5 felony. He faces up to 10 years in prison, a fine up to $2,500, and the DMV will assess 6 demerit points. Additionally, his driver’s license will be revoked for one year.
Passenger Liability: A passenger convicted of failing to report an accident resulting in injury or death will be convicted of a Class 6 felony and can be punished with up to 5 years in prison and a fine up to $2,500. His driver’s license will also be revoked for one year.
Hit and Run Penalties in Virginia: Multiple Offenses
Hit and Run penalties in Virginia increase if the offender has been previously convicted of a Hit and Run multiple times. If an offender is convicted a fourth time of a Hit and Run resulting in damage to occupied property exceeding $1,000, injury or death or failing to report a Hit and Run as a passenger resulting in more than $1,000 in damage to occupied property, injury or death, his driver’s license will be revoked for 5 years.
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