Reckless Driving in Virginia

[drunavy]

What is the name of your state? Virginia

Well, this ticket was for three weeks ago now but my court date is not until the 12th of October. The ticket is for Reckless Driving 78/55 in Hanover County, VA. I am in the military and I notified my command of it. What they suggested was to get a lawyer and to get my speedometer calibrated. Being not with a lot of money, I really can't pay for a lawyer or the calibration but at the same time I don't want to have my license suspended for 90 days either. I neither denied or admitted the guilt at the time of the incident but I know that I was going at least 75-80 at times. These would be my questions:

1. Is it worth it to get a lawyer to try to get this dropped to a normal speeding ticket or should I try for that myself?

2. To plea bargin, is it a must for me to get a lawyer because I see that as the best option of getting this dropped to just a speeding ticket?

3. Should I take the defensive driving class that takes points away before the court date to show that I have the initiative to correct this or should I wait for the court to appoint it to me if they even do that?

4. Lastly, what are my other options if any to possibly get this reduced?

Thanks for you time and consideration in this matter.

 

[gmblng]

My experience in Virginia

This was back in 1993, 1994 timeframe so who knows what's happening now.

I was living in Maryland. I was caught doing 88 in a 65 zone on Rt. 66 in Manassas County coming back from Roanoke. From what I've read in the archives it sounds like Va police have nothing better to do than to patrol that highway for speeders. I don't know where Hanover County is (Manassas is nearing to Wash, D.C.) and how "rural" (i.e., conservative judges) it is. . . but this happened when I was 22 and was my first moving violation.

I went to court with my father and without a lawyer. I got up when called, went before the judge and admitted that I was speeding. The cop was there so don't bet on these Virginia cops not showing up and I think the court date was like 2 or 3 months after the citation. THe judge told me he could suspend my license for a year because anything 20 mph over the limit is considered reckless endangerment by speed in Virginia (or was at the time, the law could be more strict now). I started crying because I was so scared. I don't know if that hurt or help, but I think coming right out and admitting that I was speeding and I was - I said this directly - "THANKFUL THAT I DIDN"T KILL ANYONE" helped my case. He gave me 3 points and I had to pay $150 plus court costs. THe points were on my record for 3 years. I don't know if they "transferred" back to Maryland or if it was the luck of God but my insurance never went up (I was with Nationwide at the time).

I don't know if this helps you, but if you have a clean record, and the judges in your area are not fanatical, I'd try it w/o a lawyer. Definitely get a copy of your driving record and take it with you to court if it's clean. I was too young to know to do that, but now I do.

 

[maddoggieD]

Your command is correct. Calibrate your speedometer ASAP. And get a lawyer.

It's a CRIMINAL OFFENCE - and that means your security clearance is in jeopardy as a result. You get convicted (it's a Class ONE misdemeanor in Va), you get a CRIMINAL RECORD.