DeliveryDriver
Junior Member
Like I said in the title this is in the state of Virginia.
I got 3 tickets. Reckless driving by speed 77 in a 50(misdemeanor), attempt to elude(misdomeanor), and unsafe lane change. Basically, I want to know if I can go into court without a lawyer, explain to the judge that the eluding was a misunderstanding(officer will probably help me out with that one), then continue the reckless driving and unsafe lane change to another date so I can have a lawyer present for that. Reason I'm doing this cause I'm almost positive the officer will work with me on dropping the eluding. But I don't want to pay the lawyer $ for both the eluding and reckless tickets(he charges per traffic ticket). He's a family friend so he's not charging extra for the unsafe lane change. I would ask him but have a feeling he's gonna tell me I can't do that just to make some extra money.
Here is the story of how it went down if it matters.
So I'm driving down a 2 lane each way road. Speed limit is 45(officer wrote down 50). As I'm approaching the intersection about 1/8 a mile away, I see the light is green. Since I'm already late for work and didn't see any police around and no cars infront of me, I sped up to make the light. Stupid, I know.
Anyway, As I go through the intersection, someone pulls out infront of me from the intersecting road. I swing to the left lane to go around them then come back into the right lane. Maybe 1 second later, a car pulls out of the shopping center into my lane. I slammed on my brakes, after realizing I couldn't stop in time, I went to the left lane, went around them, then went infront of them, then into the right turning lane to make a right turn. Light was red, tried to stop for that and still couldn't stop so I proceeded through the light.
After making the right turn, I proceeded at the 25mph speed limit. Went maybe 50 ft, look back and there is an cop behind me with his lights on. So I'm like damn, he probably saw all of that. Anyway, I pull passed the turn to go behind the restaurant I work at and stop infront of some houses in a safe spot next to the curb. He comes out, yells at me to turn my car off. I told him it was off already. He asked again(maybe he couldn't hear my car). I told him again I turned it off already. He then told me to put my keys on top of the roof. I was very respectful and told him they are in my pocket, I'm reaching in to get them(its a push start so I leave my keys in my pocket).
As he's is walking up, he asks if I have my hands on the steering wheel. I said yea, what's wrong? You have nothing to worry about man. He then told me I got his adrenaline rushing cause I was trying to run from him. I was like what? I was just trying to avoid those people pulling out infront of me, then I had to make my turn. I had no clue you were behind me. He said well it looked like you were running. Then he asked for my license. I was like ok. He said ill be right back.
Now when he was in his car, 2 other officers showed up. My record right now is -12 points. I did try to run from the police once before (2years ago). That got dropped and I was charged with reckless. That was the 3rd reckless I was charged with. Since then, I have only had one ticket and it was running a red light(long story short, truck was infront of me and I couldn't see the light. Officer told the judge the light was red before I entered the intersection. game over for me).
So he came back, said he reviewed the tape and said it looked like I was running so he had to charge me with eluding but only a misdomeanor. And he got me with mobile radar at 77 in a 50. He must of been on the opposite side of the road and made a uturn. I didnt see lights or anything. Anyway, your opinion is greatly appreciated. Just want to see if I can continue my reckless driving ticket after I get the eluding dropped.
I got 3 tickets. Reckless driving by speed 77 in a 50(misdemeanor), attempt to elude(misdomeanor), and unsafe lane change. Basically, I want to know if I can go into court without a lawyer, explain to the judge that the eluding was a misunderstanding(officer will probably help me out with that one), then continue the reckless driving and unsafe lane change to another date so I can have a lawyer present for that. Reason I'm doing this cause I'm almost positive the officer will work with me on dropping the eluding. But I don't want to pay the lawyer $ for both the eluding and reckless tickets(he charges per traffic ticket). He's a family friend so he's not charging extra for the unsafe lane change. I would ask him but have a feeling he's gonna tell me I can't do that just to make some extra money.
Here is the story of how it went down if it matters.
So I'm driving down a 2 lane each way road. Speed limit is 45(officer wrote down 50). As I'm approaching the intersection about 1/8 a mile away, I see the light is green. Since I'm already late for work and didn't see any police around and no cars infront of me, I sped up to make the light. Stupid, I know.
Anyway, As I go through the intersection, someone pulls out infront of me from the intersecting road. I swing to the left lane to go around them then come back into the right lane. Maybe 1 second later, a car pulls out of the shopping center into my lane. I slammed on my brakes, after realizing I couldn't stop in time, I went to the left lane, went around them, then went infront of them, then into the right turning lane to make a right turn. Light was red, tried to stop for that and still couldn't stop so I proceeded through the light.
After making the right turn, I proceeded at the 25mph speed limit. Went maybe 50 ft, look back and there is an cop behind me with his lights on. So I'm like damn, he probably saw all of that. Anyway, I pull passed the turn to go behind the restaurant I work at and stop infront of some houses in a safe spot next to the curb. He comes out, yells at me to turn my car off. I told him it was off already. He asked again(maybe he couldn't hear my car). I told him again I turned it off already. He then told me to put my keys on top of the roof. I was very respectful and told him they are in my pocket, I'm reaching in to get them(its a push start so I leave my keys in my pocket).
As he's is walking up, he asks if I have my hands on the steering wheel. I said yea, what's wrong? You have nothing to worry about man. He then told me I got his adrenaline rushing cause I was trying to run from him. I was like what? I was just trying to avoid those people pulling out infront of me, then I had to make my turn. I had no clue you were behind me. He said well it looked like you were running. Then he asked for my license. I was like ok. He said ill be right back.
Now when he was in his car, 2 other officers showed up. My record right now is -12 points. I did try to run from the police once before (2years ago). That got dropped and I was charged with reckless. That was the 3rd reckless I was charged with. Since then, I have only had one ticket and it was running a red light(long story short, truck was infront of me and I couldn't see the light. Officer told the judge the light was red before I entered the intersection. game over for me).
So he came back, said he reviewed the tape and said it looked like I was running so he had to charge me with eluding but only a misdomeanor. And he got me with mobile radar at 77 in a 50. He must of been on the opposite side of the road and made a uturn. I didnt see lights or anything. Anyway, your opinion is greatly appreciated. Just want to see if I can continue my reckless driving ticket after I get the eluding dropped.
