Got a Speeding Ticket in VA Please help!!

[JVP13]

I also posted this in the Mid-Atlantic regional forum as well, not trying to break any forum guidlines or anything but I'm in a jam and I need some help please. Any help will be appreciated and if you know anything please say something. Thanks!

I'm from Philadelphia, PA and I was on a trip down to the Outer Banks in North Carolina, I was cruising thru Virginia when I got nailed by a Highway Cop with a Laser doing 73 in a 55 zone!!! Messed up pretty bad with this and can not afford the POINTS!! Where I'm from and some of the other places I've lived 99% of the time if you fight it, you usually end up paying a fine and they drop the points, is this the case in Virginia as well??

Also the Citation didn't have a fine amount and I'm clueless on what's gonna happen or how I should go about this. I never got a ticket in a state I didn't live in and this is my first moving violation in almost 10 years. ANY HELP would be GREATLY appreciated. Please help!!!!

Also the cop was a veteran cop and wasn't letting me slide or even helping with giving me a few MPH's less on the citation, I understand he has a job to do but damn. Anyway he gave me a number and said I can call and see if I can take a course, even perhaps online, and he said they may wave the points and I might just pay a fine plus costs. Is this true? He also said that anything over the speed limit is a 4 point ticket in VA? Is this also true, they don't mess around. Anyway HELP ME PLEASE. Thanks guys

[TrevorM3]

in before some moron says you should always follow the speed limit. Hope you get it resolved.

[JVP13]

Hahaha Thanks TrevorM3. I'm usually pretty good with it but honestly wasn't paying attention first time using the cruise control on the car was messing around with it cuz no one was around at all, doing about 8-10 over and accidentally hit the accelerator on the stalk instead of decelerating and the car just started moving. Anyway I was the only car on the road at 4am and I should've known better. Hopefully it works out

[Lorde]

Originally Posted by TrevorM3

in before some moron says you should always follow the speed limit. Hope you get it resolved.

[MysticBlue]

Yes, I would definitely panic.
You could start by doing what the officer already told you... call the number and see what they can do for you.
If you haven't had a moving violation in 10 years then why are you worried about the points?
I get a ticket on average about once every couple of years. I pay it and life goes on. I just figure it's a cost of doing business. A little extra road tax. Don't see what the big deal is.

[mdosu]

wait, either I didn't read it correctly, or I'm missing something. What is the big deal here? First ticket in 10 years, 20 mph over, it's just a monetary fine that's the hardest hit on you at this moment.

Pay the fine, accept the points, don't violate speed laws for a bit, your insurance likely will cut you slack since it's first ticket in 10 years.

So what's the big issue here?

[Longwong]

every state has a defensive driving class you can take online if you have not done so in the last 2 years to waive the ticket. You pay the class fee.

[serranot]

Sandra Drewniak. Great lawyer. Call her.

[skins333]

Was it in Emporia?

I've taken a one day class in VA (long time ago) to get 86 in 65 dropped to I think whatever penalty was for 75 in 65 before. Btw, I thought some states do have reciprocity with points. Just not sure between PA and VA.

[IB M]

Got one in VA near Wytheville on route 77. They just wanted the money. I called them up they took credit card payment to make it easy, again all they want is the cash. Thankfully they never reported a thing to NC. Just call them, be pleasant and pay the fine. That said I am not a lawyer so it maybe every jurisdiction in VA is different. To be 100% sure ask them before u pay the fine and if they report points to PA then I'd advise getting a local VA lawyer to go fight it and get it reduced. Usually for just 200 bucks a local traffic lawyer who knows the local judge can get it reduced to a non moving or non point violation. It is money well spent plus they usually can show in court for u saving a trip for you.

[Jonjt]

Originally Posted by Team Plutonium

I don't think points from another state carry over to yours. Just pay the fine, can't be that bad, you weren't going that fast.

It absolutely can.

Many states have reciprocal agreements that allow DMVs to communicate with each other. For example, if you are an NJ license holder and you get a ticket in another state, that other state may be able to send the violation to NJ. You don't get the points for the infraction on your license but, you will get two points for an out of state moving violation. That violation gets put on your driving record and, you insurance company WILL find out. Insurance companies and DMVs keep different records of moving violations. The DMVs expire after 7 years, I believe. The insurance company's never does. So, this guy received a 4-6 point infraction. Unless he beats the ticket, he'll have a 4-6 point infraction on his VA driving record (with the DMV), some kind of moving violation infraction on his PA license (with the PA DMV) and a 4-6 point infraction on his insurance company's record.




OP, call a law firm that deals with traffic violations and let them handle the case. They may be able to get the case tossed on account of some legal technicality. At the least, they will be able to delay the hearing for a year or two and maybe, the ticketing officer will not be able to show up or will not remember the case well enough to defend himself in court. This is a great reason, if and of itself, to make sure you are polite with every officer. You don't want to be a memorable case.

[Haywood]

Welcome to the worst state to drive in. Only state in the country that doesn't allow radar detectors. (And DC). 20mph over is considered reckless driving, which ridiculously, is the same offense as DUI.

Ok, off my soap box. I've gotten 3 reckless driving tickets. If there is no amount on the ticket, you have to go to court. If there is, you can pay it or still go to court and get a lesser fine. Good luck. And don't speed in VA!

[Jonjt]

Originally Posted by Haywood

Welcome to the worst state to drive in. Only state in the country that doesn't allow radar detectors. (And DC). 20mph over is considered reckless driving, which ridiculously, is the same offense as DUI.

Ok, off my soap box. I've gotten 3 reckless driving tickets. If there is no amount on the ticket, you have to go to court. If there is, you can pay it or still go to court and get a lesser fine. Good luck. And don't speed in VA!

Depending on where you are spending, that could be warranted. 85 in a 65 on the highway is no where near reckless. 60 in a 40 might well be. I'd say that it should be left to the discretion of the ticketing officer but, lots of them are assholes.


I'd say that Ohio is the second worst. Super aggressive troopers patrol the major throughways. Got my first ticket in almost 10 years doing 15 over on a highway, alone.

[The Automotive Enthusiast]

VA Cops are bad. Very bad.

[Haywood]

Originally Posted by Jonjt

Depending on where you are spending, that could be warranted. 85 in a 65 on the highway is no where near reckless. 60 in a 40 might well be. I'd say that it should be left to the discretion of the ticketing officer but, lots of them are assholes.


I'd say that Ohio is the second worst. Super aggressive troopers patrol the major throughways. Got my first ticket in almost 10 years doing 15 over on a highway, alone.

Just to correct you; it is. Regardless of where you are speeding in VA, if you are 20 over, it is reckless driving. Trust me, I know. I've had to get lawyers twice! I moved here in '98. Never had one speeding ticket before I got here.

[Jonjt]

Originally Posted by Haywood

Just to correct you; it is. Regardless of where you are speeding in VA, if you are 20 over, it is reckless driving. Trust me, I know. I've had to get lawyers twice! I moved here in '98. Never had one speeding ticket before I got here.

I don't mean to imply that it's location specific. It mean to say that it should be location specific.

[njdrive]

I got a speeding ticket in Va a few years ago. The trooper claimed I was doing "18" miles an hour over the posted speed limit. The State Troop tried to tag a reckless driving citation onto the speeding ticket.

Within in a few days, I got letters from lawyers who offered to represent me; I'm guessing this will happen to you too. I a lawyer after doing plenty of research. He advised me to take the online driving course and to NEVER speed through Va again. I took the online course ( very common sense stuff), mailed the certificate of completion to the lawyer, he went to court, I paid a lesser fine, no points and never had to go return to Va for court. It's all about the money!!!

Good Luck.

[JVP13]

Originally Posted by njdrive

I got a speeding ticket in Va a few years ago. The trooper claimed I was doing "18" miles an hour over the posted speed limit. The State Troop tried to tag a reckless driving citation onto the speeding ticket.

Within in a few days, I got letters from lawyers who offered to represent me; I'm guessing this will happen to you too. I a lawyer after doing plenty of research. He advised me to take the online driving course and to NEVER speed through Va again. I took the online course ( very common sense stuff), mailed the certificate of completion to the lawyer, he went to court, I paid a lesser fine, no points and never had to go return to Va for court. It's all about the money!!!

Good Luck.

THANK YOU!!!! Can you send me the Lawyers info that you used if you can please. Thanks for the help bro.

[njdrive]

Originally Posted by killadelphiaM3

THANK YOU!!!! Can you send me the Lawyers info that you used if you can please. Thanks for the help bro.

Check your inbox and Good Luck.

[mdosu]

Originally Posted by Jonjt

Depending on where you are spending, that could be warranted. 85 in a 65 on the highway is no where near reckless. 60 in a 40 might well be. I'd say that it should be left to the discretion of the ticketing officer but, lots of them are assholes.


I'd say that Ohio is the second worst. Super aggressive troopers patrol the major throughways. Got my first ticket in almost 10 years doing 15 over on a highway, alone.

ditto on Ohio. The state troopers are really aggressive in their enforcement, I've been pulled over 5 times between ages 16-23, all by state troopers, interestingly only 3 resulted in tickets that added points (paid for 4 + 1 driving class).

[W///]

Originally Posted by Haywood

Welcome to the worst state to drive in. Only state in the country that doesn't allow radar detectors. (And DC). 20mph over is considered reckless driving, which ridiculously, is the same offense as DUI.

Ok, off my soap box. I've gotten 3 reckless driving tickets. If there is no amount on the ticket, you have to go to court. If there is, you can pay it or still go to court and get a lesser fine. Good luck. And don't speed in VA!

Despise driving through VA (I'm actually a VT alumn). Taking the M3 up through there at the end of the month, will definitely be going around speed limit.

[falcon4272]

IDK either.. was it day time or night time.... I got puled over at night going 98 in a 65, I fought it by telling the judge you can tell the difference between tail lights at night time, so I could have been anyone else in the time it took him to catch up... I got out of it. I have escort live now so that wont happen again.