Reckless Driving in VA

[scpivo21]

What is the name of your state? Virginia

OK, so my friend got caught going 84 in a 65 on I-81 in Shenandoah County, VA. Is there any advice you could give my friend to "limit the damage" this is going to do to his driving record and pocketbook?

Also, he is a TN resident, 20 yo, with a clean driving record, if that changes matters.

 

[racer72]

Hire an attorney if he want to contest the citation.

 

[Happy Trails]

What is the name of your state? Virginia

OK, so my friend got caught going 84 in a 65 on I-81 in Shenandoah County, VA. Is there any advice you could give my friend to "limit the damage" this is going to do to his driving record and pocketbook?

Also, he is a TN resident, 20 yo, with a clean driving record, if that changes matters.

I agree with Racer72. Hire an attorney if he chooses to fight it.

§ 46.2-852. Reckless driving; general rule.
Irrespective of the maximum speeds permitted by law, any person who drives a vehicle on any highway recklessly or at a speed or in a manner so as to endanger the life, limb, or property of any person shall be guilty of reckless driving.

The Judge has a great deal of latitude in sentencing someone to a reckless driving charge. The range of punishment is quite wide. He may be able to have it reduced to improper driving.

http://www.vatrafficlaw.com/reckless.html

 

[prs24]

Hire an attorney even if he doesnt want to contest it. They really can make better deals than you would be able to. I got a 81/55 and my lawyer said the prosecutor would rather the state get your money than your insurance company so they reduced my ticket to 74 which is a normal speeding ticket, no jail time, no suspension. If he was going over 83 (cant remember what you wrote in your post) theres real potential for some small jail time. The best thing to do is look online to find lawyers in the county that you recieved your ticket and hire one of them. They already know the procecutor and judge so they can tell you more realistically what your options are. Unfortunatly VA is not a place where you want to get reckless driving I found out. All in all with a lawyer and higher fine rather than other punishments I paid about 1000 bucks.

 

[maddoggieD]

There is a maximum speed limit in the state (80 mph) quoted in another section of the Code of Virginia on Reckless Driving:

§ 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 ....(iv) in excess of eighty miles per hour regardless of the applicable maximum speed limit.

For R/D 84/65 - you have some leeway. Get a calibration of your speedometer. Get a lawyer to represent you. This is SERIOUS business in Virginia - it's a CRIMINAL CHARGE not a speeding ticket.