What should I do before my court date?

Read your summons

Confirm the charge, court, date and time.

Verify your case

Virginia's courts publish online case information for General District Court traffic and criminal cases.

Check your driving record

Your driving history can be relevant in a traffic case. Consider reviewing your record before court so you know what it contains.

Consider whether a driver course is appropriate

Driver-improvement or RADEP courses may be required, recommended, or completed voluntarily depending on the circumstances. If a court or attorney has specifically instructed you to complete a particular course, follow those instructions.

Consider a speedometer calibration in a speed case

Virginia law allows a qualifying sworn speedometer-calibration report to be considered in a prosecution for exceeding the speed limit. A calibration is not necessarily useful in every case.

Gather relevant materials

Depending on the case, a person may want to have relevant documents available, such as driving-record information, course completion documentation, a qualifying speedometer calibration, appropriate mitigation material, and anything an attorney has instructed the person to bring.

Know where you are going

Confirm the courthouse address and the correct building before your date.

Plan to arrive early

Security screening, parking, finding the correct courtroom, and local check-in procedures all take time. Procedures differ among Virginia courts.