Virginia now prohibits livestreaming while driving, but that does not automatically make you guilty of reckless driving. The state treats livestreaming and reckless driving as separate offenses. Whether you can face a reckless-driving charge depends on how you drove. Here’s what you need to know.
What does Virginia prohibit?
Virginia law prohibits you from starting or interacting with a livestream while driving a moving vehicle on a highway. You also cannot use an electronic device to start or keep a livestream running while you drive.
A first violation can result in a fine of up to $500. Later violations can lead to a license suspension. The law makes an exception for livestreaming used to report an emergency or a crime.
When can livestreaming become reckless driving?
Livestreaming can lead to a reckless-driving charge if your driving also meets Virginia’s reckless-driving standard. Virginia law considers it reckless driving to drive recklessly or in a way that endangers life, limb or property.
The livestream itself does not prove reckless driving. What matters is what happened behind the wheel. If using the livestream causes you to lose control, cross lanes or endanger someone, those facts could support a reckless-driving charge.
Get help with a traffic charge
If you are facing a charge, make sure you understand exactly what you have been charged with and what penalties you could face. An attorney can look at the details of the incident and explain what those facts could mean for your case. That can be especially important when the same incident could lead to more than one charge.
