Virginia does not require you to show up for court as long as you intend to pay the speeding ticket. If you want to fight the speeding ticket, you or a representative must appear in court. A Northern Virginia traffic ticket lawyer can appear in court to fight the ticket for you. Other traffic violations might require court appearances in Virginia. For example, reckless driving constitutes a misdemeanor. A misdemeanor is a criminal charge that can lead to jail time and a criminal record. For criminal traffic violations, you will be required to appear in court. Sometimes, even for criminal traffic offenses, the court might allow a traffic ticket attorney to make the court appearance for you.