Okay so im a moron

Okay everyone makes mistakes; I seem to have made a huge one. I got a speeding ticket in Hanover Virginia which is about thirty minutes north of Richmond. I was busted for going 84 in a 65 yes yes yes I know im stupid. I’m not trying to get out of the ticket I would like to pay the fine as I did do wrong. The problem is that a reckless driving:

Reckless driving is a Class 1 misdemeanor - in the same classification as a DWI charge.

I tried to pay the fine but they said I couldn’t because anything over 80 was reckless driving and I have to go to court, so now im freaking out since I thought I could pay the fine (yes did I mention im a moron sometimes?) And the court date is this Friday!

Now im freaking out because they take reckless driving here is serious. Can I call the courts tomorrow and ask for an extension on my court case to get the proper lawyer? If they say no can I go to the judge and ask for an extension?

[Aaron_J]

Unless you left part of the story out then all you are going to do Friday is enter a plea (guilty/not-guilty) If you plea not-guilty a trial date will be assigned and you will have time to seek counsel.

The odds are good that you will be given a chance to make a deal without a lawyer. The da's office doesn't want to take this to trial any more than you do.

Again, you are just entering a plea Friday. There will be no trial.

no thats the whole story

Damn Jason. That sux

Damn! In VA failure to use signals is reckless driving?? Are they nuts?

Failure to use turn signals is reckless driving. Speeding cars lose the right of way at intersections, 46.2-823. In recent years some judges have started sending people to jail for driving 90+ on an Interstate.

http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp...0+cod+46.2-862

§ 46.2-862. Exceeding speed limit.

A person shall be guilty of reckless driving who drives a motor vehicle on the highways in the Commonwealth (i) at a speed of twenty miles per hour or more in excess of the applicable maximum speed limit where the applicable speed limit is thirty miles per hour or less, (ii) at a speed of sixty miles per hour or more where the applicable maximum speed limit is thirty-five miles per hour, (iii) at a speed of twenty miles per hour or more in excess of the applicable maximum speed limits where the applicable maximum speed limit is forty miles per hour or more, or (iv) in excess of eighty miles per hour regardless of the applicable maximum speed limit.

Do you have access to legal advice?


Here 90+ is reckless. I just got popped during xmas in Sacto doing 87 in 65. Cost me 220$ plus 30$ for traffic school which I'm waiting to do...

[Aaron_J]

Don't worry about Friday then.

Also, expect them to make an offer when you enter your not-guilty plea. (either plea to a lesser charge or if you are really lucky, plea to a non-moving violation)

I have been in a lot of traffic courts and I am very good at this.

edit, unfortunately I am not very good at not getting caught.

[John Prophet]

how many speeding tickets do you have??

If you have an ok record just go face the music..lawyer?? u dont need a lawyer..this is still just a simple speeding ticket..what u will need is some cash, lol.

I had a reckless driving ticket about 30 miles SOUTH of richmond, lol...of course i live on the bottom border of Va so I had to drive all the way up there to go to court, lol.

I hadnt had a ticket so the officer said "I pulled his record and he is a "plus 5" (or whatever, from accumulated 'good' points.

The judge simply said "let's take it out of reckless driving for you"..so he reduced it to whatver is the speed below reckless....I still payed the same FINE as reckless, lol..which was like $185 total.

You dont even need a lawyer for this..that would be super overkill....there will be 30 other peeps there with the SAME reckless driving thing...the judge wont be spending much time on 'em...just tell him you had been on the highway a while and fell into traffic and lost track of your speed etc.....the ones who try to argue are the ones who end up with the worst fines etc

just go take your medicine, get it over with.

Aaron, where were you when I paid my ticket

[Aaron_J]

Originally posted by Socalgal
Aaron, where were you when I paid my ticket

Probably in court.

LOL very goooood

Jason, I don't know VA laws but if they're like CA, don't let it hit your insurance. If you can get traffic school to avoid the points on your insurance, jump on it.

Good Luck!

i had two tickets that were maybe 10 mphs over the speed limit on the same damn road i dont drive on that road anymore

John Prophet i didnt know you were in Va, they say northern judges are more strict

http://vatrafficlaw.com/reckless.html

i guess reading this site scared the hell out of me