Ok before anyone starts I was speeding. I was visiting a friend and was driving on a toll road at 12 am, I didnt realize the toll plaza was ahead and failed to slow down soon enough. I got clocked by radar doing 69 in a 35. I got a summons to go to court and my charge is wreckless driving by speed. It is a misdemeanor (6 points). My question is has anyone been in a similar situation? What was your course of action (lawyer, no lawyer). What was the out come. Any advice is much appreciated. I don’t want to be like steelcitysix (walking around with a bus pass).
In VA? I don’t think that traffic violations there have any effect on your license here…so you’re license should be fine at least. As far as paying the fine, I don’t know.
My license is suspened in North Caroline, for example. I paid the fine so I wouldn’t have a warrant out for me, but my PA driver’s license is A-OK.
Well keep in mind he wasn’t cited for a “traffic violation.” For whatever reason (I assume because he was almost double the posted limit) his violation resulted in an actual court summons.
If you have an actual summons (that can’t be pled out by paying the fine) and you fail to appear, you will have a warrant issued for your arrest.
Getting suspended for points in another state is different from not answering a summons.
i’ld just go to the hearing, pleed guilty, and tell them the truth, u didnt realize how soon the plaza was coming up and if anything would they drop the speed down to a min. & lose the reckless driving…pay it and move on
your lucky you dont live in virginia or you would be receiving a four figure fine. Just go to the hearing and explain the situation and pay the fine. shouldnt need a lawyer…
better get a lawyer VA will throw you in jail for wreckless and speeding. better hope your record is clean also
they only throw you in jail if you are a virginia resident as stupid as that sounds
i know of a MD guy that did 20 days :dunno:
Thankfully I don’t have any first hand experience with VA traffic laws but from what i understand they are ridiculously harsh down here. I would suggest getting a lawyer because they don’t play here when it comes to traffic tickets.
yeah, i should have clarified, they can throw anyone in jail, but its mainly only virginians. Atleast thats what everyone down here is always complaining about.
True!
one of my girlfriend’s relatives got caught doing 90 something in a 55mph zone heading down to NC for family reunion and got like 14 days in jail
He has a clean record if that helps anyone as far a knowing his situation
What I take from this thread: Virgina sucks.
my dad was caught… similar situation. you have to be careful. as previously stated, it is a misdemeanor so its not like blowing off a regular speeding ticket in some other state.
he got a lawyer as was suggested to him and took some voluntary online course… similar to the written part of your drivers license test. then on his court date he presented that to the judge and was let off. i think this is pretty common in VA and if you contact a lawyer there it is pretty easily handled.
good luck.
They’re transforming moving violations into civil court penalties where they can crank up the fines and penalties and call them misdy’s and even felonious activity in some instances.
Anyone hear of the punishment fitting the crime? This is total BS!!!
Penalties for first-time speedersState Jail time Fines State Jail time Fines
Alabama
Up to 10 days
Up to $100
Montana
$10-$100
Alaska
Up to $300
Nebraska
$10-$200
Arizona
Up to $250
Nevada
Up to 6 mos.
Up to $1,000
Arkansas
Up to 10 days
Up to $100
New Hampshire
Up to $1,000
California
Up to $100
New Jersey
Up to 15 days
$50-$200
Colorado
$15-$100
New Mexico
Up to 90 days
Up to $300
Connecticut
Up to $50
New York
Up to 30 days
$30-$400
Delaware
$20
North Carolina
Up to 60 days
$100-$1,000
Washington, D.C.
$15-$100
North Dakota
$5->$99
Florida
$25-$250
Ohio
Up to $100
Georgia
Up to 12 mos.
Up to $1,000
Oklahoma
5 to 30 days
$10-$200
Hawaii
Up to $200
Oregon
$75-$600
Idaho
Up to $100
Pennsylvania
$35
Illinois
Up to $1,000
Rhode Island
$50
Indiana
Up to $500
South Carolina
Up to 30 days
$15-200
Iowa
Up to 30 days
$50-$100
South Dakota
Up to 30 days
Up to $200
Kansas
Up to $500
Tennessee
Up to 30 days
Up to $50
Kentucky
Up to $100
Texas
$1-$200
Louisiana
Up to 30 days
Up to $175
Utah
Up to 90 days
Up to $750
Maine
$25-$250
Vermont
Up to $175
Maryland
Up to $500
Virginia
Up to $200
Massachusetts
Not less than $50
Washington
Up to $250
Michigan
Up to $100
West Virginia
Up to $100
Minnesota
Up to $200
Wisconsin
$30-$300
Mississippi
Up to 10 days
Up to $100
Wyoming
Up to 30 days
Up to $200
Missouri
Up to 6 mos.
Up to $500