Reckless driving

[Lintyfresh85]

Just got my first ticket today.

Was booked going 56/35. In Va. that's reckless driving which also happens to be a class 1 misdemeanor (same level as a DUI). Right now I'm looking at a possible fine of 2,500, 6 points on my license and a permanent criminal record.

For the OS attorneys out there, how do I plea this down to 19 over? I was very polite, its my first ticket, and the road switched from 35/45 when you cross over county lines.

[Jgainsey]

Re: Reckless driving

Note to self: Do not speed in Virginia.


That's a bummer man.

I got my first and only speeding ticket about 6 years back when I was 17. I was doing 55/30, and it was in a construction area(yes, workers were present *sigh*). My license was suspended for a few weeks up until the court date, but I ended up getting off pretty easy, 700 dollars later, through a pre-trial diversion program. That was the first major offense on my record, so I was able to qualify. Maybe if you're lucky Va. will have something similar to this.

Best of luck to ya... You may want to call a few lawyers to see if you can find one who will give you some kind of free consultation. I know there are plenty of firms in my town that will give free advice for basic situations like yours.

[JohnnytheSkin]

Re: Reckless driving

Pay the fine and don't complain...and next time, you'll know better.

The whole concept of "plea 'x' down" is a bunch of crap to me. You weren't paying attention to the signs (unless there WEREN'T any signs, in which you have a case) and have only your self to blame.

Hopefully your longstanding record outweighs this issue and you're rates won't go up that much.

[ProjectRipCity]

Re: Reckless driving

Pay the fine and don't complain...and next time, you'll know better.

The whole concept of "plea 'x' down" is a bunch of crap to me. You weren't paying attention to the signs (unless there WEREN'T any signs, in which you have a case) and have only your self to blame.

Hopefully your longstanding record outweighs this issue and you're rates won't go up that much.

Unfortunately I agree. I wish they handed warnings (If you had a good record in the past)

[chicubsfan20]

Re: Reckless driving

Just got my first ticket today.

Was booked going 56/35. In Va. that's reckless driving which also happens to be a class 1 misdemeanor (same level as a DUI). Right now I'm looking at a possible fine of 2,500, 6 points on my license and a permanent criminal record.

For the OS attorneys out there, how do I plea this down to 19 over? I was very polite, its my first ticket, and the road switched from 35/45 when you cross over county lines.

I would say you, if you can't get it dropped to 19 over, try and ask for a expungment of some type. Say you'll pay the fines in x amount of months times, and ask if done with no other tickets/convictions if you may receive and expungment clearing your record.

[Gotmadskillzson]

Re: Reckless driving

So you were going almost twice the speed limit ?

Just be glad your license wasn't suspended. In some cities and states doing twice the speed limit is an automatic 3 to 6 month suspension.

We just had 3 state troopers hit over the weekend from people speeding in my state.

[Husker_OS]

Re: Reckless driving

So in VA it's not up to officer on the reckless driving?


In Alabama, it's up to the officer to decide if it's going to be cited as reckless driving. I've gotten 2 speeding tickets given to me(neither of which ever amounted to a thing other than a phone call having to be made). One of them was technically speeding, but it was 6 over the limit(76 in a 70). The other was for going 59 in a 25. It was a four-lane highway approaching my high school. The speed limit a mile from the school is 55 then it drops in 10 MPH increments over the course of the last mile. It's a hot spot for speeding tickets.

Anyway, I got pulled over. The cop comes up to my window and does the routine. He told me that normally he'd write the person up for reckless driving(25 over is considered reckless in AL I think). But since I had a clean record and he caught me as I was slowing down, he only wrote a normal citation, it was just 59 in a 25. He was pretty cool about it.

[Watson]

Re: Reckless driving

Yea, it's up to the cops in LA as well. I've got caught running 80 in a 65 but I was rushing home to catch the 2nd half of the Super Bowl so the cop just told me to slow up and gave me a warning.

[TheGamingChef]

Re: Reckless driving

Well obviously your best course of action is simply to show up for court. A few years ago driving home from college for Thanksgiving I was picked up for 76 in a 55. I literally had *no* money and prayed for a miracle. When I showed up for the court date, the officer who issued the ticket did not. There was no evidence presented against me and I was found not guilty - no fine. I'm not sure if it's different in Virginia, but I would assume that if it is purely a criminal charge, you could have the same luck. (Some states blend criminal and civil charges in traffic violations.)

[ProjectRipCity]

Re: Reckless driving

IMO you should only get a criminal record if you are drinking or driving...Or you do not pull over.

"Yeah I have a criminal record...I was going 20 over the speed limit"

Really?

[Aggies7]

Re: Reckless driving

I am a police officer and usually never charge reckless driving. I would suggest coming to court and pleading guilty with an explaination if that is even possible. I work in Maryland so I wouldnt know VA traffic law Hope that was somewhat helpful.

[Buckeyes_Doc]

Re: Reckless driving

IMO you should only get a criminal record if you are drinking or driving...Or you do not pull over.

"Yeah I have a criminal record...I was going 20 over the speed limit"

Really?

What if your going 30,40,50, etc over the speed limit?

In high school this kid got busted doing over 70 in a 25 mph zone on a residential street. Another guy was doing like 110 on interstate 75. I think the speed limit is 55.

[matt8204]

Re: Reckless driving

You may be able to plead down if you are a first-time offender, but my advice is to heed the lesson and not speed anymore. I always try to stay within five miles of the posted limit, even though a cop could probably pull you over even if you're 1 MPH over. I've never had any moving violations, but I have been pulled over once for having a headlight out. It was embarassing and I promised myself that it wouldn't happen again. Throwing money away on preventable traffic violations is something I don't want to do.

[deaduck]

Re: Reckless driving

Where'd you get the ticket?

If it was Emporia (NEVER speed in Emporia), you're screwed.

Other places in VA, depending on the judge, they'll drop it down for a first offense and put you on a probation. If you stay clean in that time frame, it stays dropped...get pinched and it's added on to the new ticket.

Always show up for court if you can. If the officer doesn't make it they can/have dropped the ticket completely.

And this probably goes without saying but...dress appropriately.

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: Reckless driving

VA is the LAST place you'd wanna get caught for speeding, especially around Alexandria/Fairfax/Loudoun County.