Virginia Reckless Driving Ticket
12-02-2010, 01:42 PM
#31
I would call the prosecutor and see what you can do by talking to them. I'll bet if you plead guilty to a large speeding ticket they will be happy to have the money and close the case. Whether you get a lawyer or not, if you get out of this for any less than $500 consider yourself lucky. Just hope you can keep the reckless off your record.
12-02-2010, 01:50 PM
#32
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
I would call the prosecutor and see what you can do by talking to them. I'll bet if you plead guilty to a large speeding ticket they will be happy to have the money and close the case. Whether you get a lawyer or not, if you get out of this for any less than $500 consider yourself lucky. Just hope you can keep the reckless off your record.
Clearly you misunderstood my post... I already went to court... I was just posting the results...
12-02-2010, 02:04 PM
#33
Well here it is:
I the NY Driver cited for 95/65 on I-64 in Alleghany County, VA pleaded GUILTY to the charges...
I spoke with a lawyer weeks before my court date, and was told there is nothing he could do about the Misdemeanor... He may be able to get a slightly lower fine, reduced suspension time, and he could appear on my behalf. But it was a flat fee of $750...
No Thanks, I will represent myself!
- I received a Misdemeanor for Reckless Driving
- $350 + $81 = $431 fine
- Operator License Suspension Time: 30 Days (I can't drive in VA for 30 days)
- No Jailtime
Honestly, I am happy with this outcome, because in my research I saw similar cases receive Jailtime, $1000+ Fines, and 6+ month suspensions...
Being a NY Driver helped (points, and suspensions do not transfer): If I was actually a VA resident, I would have received a Longer Suspension (lose of license), Higher Fine, and the VA DMV would have charged me surcharge fee of $1,050...!
Similar cases that day:
*A female WV resident with a 87/65 received a $350 + $116 = $466 fine, and a 30 day suspension
*A male MO resident with a 95/65 received a $750 + $116 = $866 fine, and a 60 day suspension (Guilty by Absentia)
My research showed: Cases over 100mph saw huge fines, lose of license, and jailtime frequently... 
<---- Jail
If interested please visit:
Virginia Court Case Information -This website shows all VA Court cases, Defendant Name, Officer Name, Lawyer Name, Charge, Verdict, Fine, Jailtime, Suspension, ect....
( http://epwsgdp1.courts.state.va.us/g...anding=landing )
Speeding in VA is frowned upon... Save it for the Track!
The above information is a record of my experience; I am not a criminal, I do not break laws, and my plea of guilty was entered only to avoid wasting the time of our court system, as well as my own...
Feel free to respond with Comments, or Questions!
Cheers!
-P
I the NY Driver cited for 95/65 on I-64 in Alleghany County, VA pleaded GUILTY to the charges...
I spoke with a lawyer weeks before my court date, and was told there is nothing he could do about the Misdemeanor... He may be able to get a slightly lower fine, reduced suspension time, and he could appear on my behalf. But it was a flat fee of $750...
No Thanks, I will represent myself!
- I received a Misdemeanor for Reckless Driving
- $350 + $81 = $431 fine
- Operator License Suspension Time: 30 Days (I can't drive in VA for 30 days)
- No Jailtime
Honestly, I am happy with this outcome, because in my research I saw similar cases receive Jailtime, $1000+ Fines, and 6+ month suspensions...
Being a NY Driver helped (points, and suspensions do not transfer): If I was actually a VA resident, I would have received a Longer Suspension (lose of license), Higher Fine, and the VA DMV would have charged me surcharge fee of $1,050...!
Similar cases that day:
*A female WV resident with a 87/65 received a $350 + $116 = $466 fine, and a 30 day suspension
*A male MO resident with a 95/65 received a $750 + $116 = $866 fine, and a 60 day suspension (Guilty by Absentia)
My research showed: Cases over 100mph saw huge fines, lose of license, and jailtime frequently... <---- JailIf interested please visit:
Virginia Court Case Information -This website shows all VA Court cases, Defendant Name, Officer Name, Lawyer Name, Charge, Verdict, Fine, Jailtime, Suspension, ect....
( http://epwsgdp1.courts.state.va.us/g...anding=landing )
Speeding in VA is frowned upon... Save it for the Track!The above information is a record of my experience; I am not a criminal, I do not break laws, and my plea of guilty was entered only to avoid wasting the time of our court system, as well as my own...
Feel free to respond with Comments, or Questions!
Cheers!
-P
12-02-2010, 02:54 PM
#34
I wonder how the insurance companies keep track of it for rate increases. If they go off of points in your home state you might get lucky and they will not find out about it.
12-02-2010, 03:05 PM
#35
I have no idea but I think it just depends on the company. I have received almost enough speeding tickets to loose my license and my insurance price has never increased. Embarrassed to admit having that many but its true I have never heard anything from my insurance company so I assume some do not check very often.
12-02-2010, 03:27 PM
#37
12-02-2010, 03:54 PM
#40
Rennlist Member
After that the rest of us simply plead guilty and asked for the mercy of the court.......
12-02-2010, 03:55 PM
#41
A 17 year old doing 110 in a 55? Even if I was the judge it probably would not go well for him. If it was on some backroad and he was alone I might only take his license for 6 months or a year. If he had other teens in the car and was in traffic, I would take it untill he is 21.
12-02-2010, 03:59 PM
#42
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Your friend is (for lack of a better term) is Screwed.... He will:
* Be selling his BMW
* Definitely lose his license for atleast a year
* Definitely be paying well over $2,000 (Fine, Lawyer, DMV Fees)
* Definitely get dropped from his insurance company, or his rates will be extremely high (but he wont have be able to drive anyway)
* and there is a very large possibility of jail time.... Not Joking...
The county he was pulled over in will greatly affect the extent of his punishment... A populated county; like in NOVA will be a lot more harsh...
This is certainly a time for a lawyer...
Check out the court cases in the county he was pulled over in: Search by Date, and look for similiar speeds... This will give you an idea, as wells as maybe a possible lawyer to use...
Virginia Court Case Information -This website shows all VA Court cases, Defendant Name, Officer Name, Lawyer Name, Charge, Verdict, Fine, Jailtime, Suspension, ect....
( http://epwsgdp1.courts.state.va.us/g...anding=landing )
*Public Transportation can be fun too...
12-02-2010, 04:05 PM
#43
Rennlist Member
..........Virginia Court Case Information -This website shows all VA Court cases, Defendant Name, Officer Name, Lawyer Name, Charge, Verdict, Fine, Jailtime, Suspension, ect....
( http://epwsgdp1.courts.state.va.us/g...anding=landing )...
( http://epwsgdp1.courts.state.va.us/g...anding=landing )...
12-02-2010, 04:57 PM
#44
Three Wheelin'
I bought my car in north DC and drove it back to Austin through VA. I made sure I never went more than 5-7 over the whole way through...and didn't use my radar detector...heard horror stories.
The thing is - it's easy to get up to 80-90 in these cars and on those big open stretches...it's so tempting. I waited until i had a spot betwen knoxville and nashville...all downhill...metal divider in the middle...to open her up for the first time (simulated, of course).
I've gotten a couple tickets driving between Austin and Houston in my truck in the 80 range (in a 65 or 70mph zone)...no issues in TX...pay a couple hundred dollar fine and be done with it (or do defensive driving).
The thing is - it's easy to get up to 80-90 in these cars and on those big open stretches...it's so tempting. I waited until i had a spot betwen knoxville and nashville...all downhill...metal divider in the middle...to open her up for the first time (simulated, of course).
I've gotten a couple tickets driving between Austin and Houston in my truck in the 80 range (in a 65 or 70mph zone)...no issues in TX...pay a couple hundred dollar fine and be done with it (or do defensive driving).
12-02-2010, 05:48 PM
#45
Rennlist Member
I can't speak for tickets in VA, but I've certainly found that, in NY, pleading not guilty to speeding tickets and then going to court and plea-bargaining to plead guilty to a lesser charge is the way to go.
Some tips...
Do:
-Dress nice - like it or not, you need to make a good first impression - on paper, you're just some schmuck speeding in a Porsche
-Be polite to the DA/cop you're plea-bargaining with - tell them that, if at all possible, you're looking to reduce the points (severity) of the violation
-Be polite to the judge
-Be prepared to pay on the spot
Don't:
-Try to make excuses (e.g. speedometer broken, throttle stuck, MPH sign not visible, late for class, etc.)
-Try to insinuate you don't deserve the ticket
-Fight with the DA or cop - they're "offering" you a "deal" - you either take it or don't
Remember:
-It's not about whether or not you actually broke a law, it's about dealing with a bureaucratic system
-It's about money - to most towns, this is a major source of revenue
-You don't get both a reduced sentence and a reduced fine - if you want to pay as little as possible, offer to go to jail - if you want 1 or 2 points instead of 4, pay up
Some tips...
Do:
-Dress nice - like it or not, you need to make a good first impression - on paper, you're just some schmuck speeding in a Porsche
-Be polite to the DA/cop you're plea-bargaining with - tell them that, if at all possible, you're looking to reduce the points (severity) of the violation
-Be polite to the judge
-Be prepared to pay on the spot
Don't:
-Try to make excuses (e.g. speedometer broken, throttle stuck, MPH sign not visible, late for class, etc.)
-Try to insinuate you don't deserve the ticket
-Fight with the DA or cop - they're "offering" you a "deal" - you either take it or don't
Remember:
-It's not about whether or not you actually broke a law, it's about dealing with a bureaucratic system
-It's about money - to most towns, this is a major source of revenue
-You don't get both a reduced sentence and a reduced fine - if you want to pay as little as possible, offer to go to jail - if you want 1 or 2 points instead of 4, pay up
Last edited by Van; 12-02-2010 at 06:03 PM.