So. . .got pulled over for speeding in VA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get a lawyer. You can lose your license or even get jail time for a reckless. I own a sports car and all the people in this area know to avoid a lead foot in VA -- 15-over is a reckless charge, unlike MD where it's 30 over.

I got a reckless about 15 years ago and lost my license for a month when I showed up in court, representing myself.

But I was going 13 over.

Anything over 80MPH is considered reckless driving in VA

[Anonymous]

Good (that you got pulled over). Far too many drivers exceed the speed limit in VA and cause accidents. I cheer on the police or highway patrol every time I see them pull over someone like you who thinks they are more important than anyone else on the road. I only wish there were more cops out there lying in wait, especially on the HOT lanes where I've seen truckers go 100 MPH. I'm glad you were pulled over - signed a driver who has always driven the speed limit or slightly over, has never received a speeding ticket or any other ticket in 30 years of driving and has never caused an accident or harmed anyone. I'm the kind of driver you want out there on the road when your children are driving. I don't create problems for other drivers.

[Anonymous]

I had something similar happen in North Carolina several years ago. I was driving from Florida to DC and got stopped for going over 20 miles over the limit (I think - this was nearly ten years ago). The ticket required that I appear in person (since it was over 20 mph over). I called the clerk's office and explained that it would be a tremendous burden to drive back to NC for this court appearance. They reduced the charge while I was on the phone and I sent a check. That was it. I'm not sure if something like that would work in your case, but it might not hurt to call and check if there is anything that they can do for you.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Cops have always had discretion to do whatever they want at a traffic stop. I was stopped over 5 years ago in Rockbridge County (out on I-81, sounds like same area as OP asking for rec's in Lexington/Rockbridge) and clocked at 79 in a 65. I was definitely going over 80, because I had my cruise control set over 80. So either the cop *used his discretion* or I successfully braked a bit before he clocked me (more unlikely).
!

Your speedometer overestimated your speed as do most car speedometers. The reason is that they are allowed to be a few mph over and still pass, but if they underestimate by even the tiniest bit, they are not in compliance with regulations. So basically all speedometers overestimate. If you want your real speed, use GPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good (that you got pulled over). Far too many drivers exceed the speed limit in VA and cause accidents. I cheer on the police or highway patrol every time I see them pull over someone like you who thinks they are more important than anyone else on the road. I only wish there were more cops out there lying in wait, especially on the HOT lanes where I've seen truckers go 100 MPH. I'm glad you were pulled over - signed a driver who has always driven the speed limit or slightly over, has never received a speeding ticket or any other ticket in 30 years of driving and has never caused an accident or harmed anyone. I'm the kind of driver you want out there on the road when your children are driving. I don't create problems for other drivers.

Actually most car accidents occur in city driving and at low speeds, but I agree with you about highway speeding. The problem is when you do have an accident, it is easy for it to end up really badly for all parties involved. Physics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Cops have always had discretion to do whatever they want at a traffic stop. I was stopped over 5 years ago in Rockbridge County (out on I-81, sounds like same area as OP asking for rec's in Lexington/Rockbridge) and clocked at 79 in a 65. I was definitely going over 80, because I had my cruise control set over 80. So either the cop *used his discretion* or I successfully braked a bit before he clocked me (more unlikely).
!

Your speedometer overestimated your speed as do most car speedometers. The reason is that they are allowed to be a few mph over and still pass, but if they underestimate by even the tiniest bit, they are not in compliance with regulations. So basically all speedometers overestimate. If you want your real speed, use GPS.

Actually, my speedometer was exactly accurate, since I was using my GPS at the time and it also showed my speed. And matched.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And why is my name and address public record??

Do you know what the term "public record" means?

[Anonymous]

I saw a woman cuffed and taken to jail for 92mph in Fairfax county. She has a lawyer. You weren't going 92, but the risks are too high to go without an attorney.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I saw a woman cuffed and taken to jail for 92mph in Fairfax county. She has a lawyer. You weren't going 92, but the risks are too high to go without an attorney.

I'm sick, and my writing shows it. The woman was in front of a judge and had an attorney, the judge sent her to jail.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I saw a woman cuffed and taken to jail for 92mph in Fairfax county. She has a lawyer. You weren't going 92, but the risks are too high to go without an attorney.

I'm sick, and my writing shows it. The woman was in front of a judge and had an attorney, the judge sent her to jail.

Jesus. I live in Atlanta now and 85-95 on the highway is the norm or you'll get run over! You really do have to be insane to speed in VA though with all the undercover cops.

[Anonymous]

OP, you keep trying to defend your speed, but it's really immaterial whether VA speeding laws are well-written or not. Fact is, they are what they are. If you don't like them, try to lobby VA citizens to join your cause and vote to change them, but 'but those speeding laws are dumb' is not a great defense in court. Get a local lawyer, hopefully get the charge reduced and pay a steep fine and treat it as a very costly lesson not to speed in VA.

[Anonymous]

There was a post like this a few months ago and similar responses of everyone freaking out.

OP- I promise you it will be ok. Google the lawyers from the letters that you receive and call the one that has the best reviews.

You won't go to jail or lose your license. It will be negotiated down to a simple speeding violation.

This is nothing more than a money making scheme for the police, county and court system.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:And for the jerks on here, it is far more dangerous to go way slower than the flow of traffic rather than with it, which was what I was doing.

So you are always on a mission to prove something when driving? Guess what, it's not the case for everyone and most people use cars to get from point A to point B, their driving has nothing to do with you at all.

So then it's ignorance? They are just stupidly driving along in the left lane? THEY should get pulled over. Not someone going with the flow of traffic.

They are no more ignorant than you are: you are both breaking the law. I think there was a thread recently by a woman who went too slow and was pulled over and ticketed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was going 83mph so because it was over 80 and considered "reckless driving" I now have to appear in court. At a court house about 3.5-4 hours from here. Ugh. Has anyone gone through this? What's the best course of action? Apparently this is considered a criminal offense and will go on my record, and possibly getting me jail time?? It's been a week and I've gotten at least four letters from area (middle of nowhere VA) law firms who specialize in traffic violations. WTF? Is this some sort of racket? How did they even get my info. This whole situation seems unreal and kind of shady

Unreal and shady? Hardly. You are an ahole who puts others in danger due to your irresponsibly. There isn't a whole lot I like about VA, but I absolutely LOVE how they hold irresponsible drivers accountable for their behavior.

Enjoy your jail time. Let us know if orange truly is the new black.

[Anonymous]

Don't get a lawyer. Go to court and listen to the pattern of how the speeding cases go. That is what I did, I heard about 5 or 6 before I was called. I pleaded guilty, and since I had a good driving record they allowed me to take traffic class on-line. Easy Peasy and cheap. You will still have to pay court costs (about $90.00 most courts) and the $75 or whatever for the online class, but it is not a big deal. You go into a UPS store to take the test so that it can be proctored and it's over in 30 minutes.

Don't bother to get a lawyer, they can't do anything for you that the judge won't offer you any way.