Pulled over in VA...no idea what my fine is
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Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Richmond Va
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I think the "only for VA residents" is correct, I have gotten zero tickets in the past 12 years and then switched cars with my mom for a while (Kentucky plates), and have gotten 2 tickets in the past 2 months.
They definately crack down on out of state. The tickets were failure to use a turn signal and illegal U turn. No warnings or anything............rediculous!!
They definately crack down on out of state. The tickets were failure to use a turn signal and illegal U turn. No warnings or anything............rediculous!!
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Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Baltimore, MD
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Yes everyone, I am going to go to court. I'm not going to bull****, I'm just gonna tell it like it is. I think I only have 1 or 2 points right now, so hopefully they'll just drop the points and make me pay the fine.
Not gonna bother with a lawyer either...I've been to traffic court 4 times for speeding, only one of those I had a lawyer with me and having the lawyer didn't help anymore than I could have done on my own.
Last time I went to court was for a street racing ticket I got in Philly. Told my story, got the points and fine dropped and didn't even have to pay court fees
(although the God's honest truth is that I wasn't street racing haha)
Not gonna bother with a lawyer either...I've been to traffic court 4 times for speeding, only one of those I had a lawyer with me and having the lawyer didn't help anymore than I could have done on my own.
Last time I went to court was for a street racing ticket I got in Philly. Told my story, got the points and fine dropped and didn't even have to pay court fees
(although the God's honest truth is that I wasn't street racing haha)
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Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Rockville, MD
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IIRC MD does not have reciprocity with VA. What VA (depending on who you got the ticket from, county, state or city) does is send the conviction or infraction to MD MVA. It is then up to the MVA to asses points if they want to.
I got a ticket many years ago in Arlington Co. They sent the conviction and I got a point assessed to my license in MD. A friend of mine that same year got a ticket near V-tech from state trooper and it never showed up on his license.
For a speed that high, I would consider an attorney since VA doesn't mess around and you may get the book thrown at you considering the speed.
Hope this helps,
Pete
I got a ticket many years ago in Arlington Co. They sent the conviction and I got a point assessed to my license in MD. A friend of mine that same year got a ticket near V-tech from state trooper and it never showed up on his license.
For a speed that high, I would consider an attorney since VA doesn't mess around and you may get the book thrown at you considering the speed.
Hope this helps,
Pete
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Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Maryland
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Chris (Tonk),
Good news is that you are not obligated to pay the civil penalties which are $3K for reckless, however, as everyone seems to suggest, I would recommend going to court and pleading your case. Be amicable, come with the evidence, but also be prepared for them to throw the book at you as seeing that is what VA does. Take an online driving course (recommend www.trafficschoolonline.com to see if that works), this way it shows that you are doing something about making improvements to your "DRIVING", but you might want to rethink that b/c that could also set you up for an admission of guilt that you were speeding. If you honestly weren't speeding, then, definitely plead that case. Also, if you want, get your speedometer calibrated. I know a guy in Springfield/Alexandria who can do it for you. If you want, I also have a lawyer friend who represents me and was a FFX County Cop, Former Prosecutor in FFX County and still trains the cadettes at the Academy. Let me know.
G/L
Berk
Good news is that you are not obligated to pay the civil penalties which are $3K for reckless, however, as everyone seems to suggest, I would recommend going to court and pleading your case. Be amicable, come with the evidence, but also be prepared for them to throw the book at you as seeing that is what VA does. Take an online driving course (recommend www.trafficschoolonline.com to see if that works), this way it shows that you are doing something about making improvements to your "DRIVING", but you might want to rethink that b/c that could also set you up for an admission of guilt that you were speeding. If you honestly weren't speeding, then, definitely plead that case. Also, if you want, get your speedometer calibrated. I know a guy in Springfield/Alexandria who can do it for you. If you want, I also have a lawyer friend who represents me and was a FFX County Cop, Former Prosecutor in FFX County and still trains the cadettes at the Academy. Let me know.
G/L
Berk
When I went to VT there was a judge there that had his hands severed in a DUI accident and he would absolutely destroy anyone with drinking related offenses. His son was a defense atty and the judge could not hear his cases so he charged 2x as much but you wouldnt have to deal with his father..
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From: Alexandria, VA
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You should also postpone the court date. you can get this done over the phone. I always do this as it adds expense to the system and just generally slows things down. It also improves the possability that the cop will not show.
At the end of the day it is all about the money so make sure they get as little as possible.
At the end of the day it is all about the money so make sure they get as little as possible.
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From: Baltimore, MD
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You should also postpone the court date. you can get this done over the phone. I always do this as it adds expense to the system and just generally slows things down. It also improves the possability that the cop will not show.
At the end of the day it is all about the money so make sure they get as little as possible.
At the end of the day it is all about the money so make sure they get as little as possible.
I wouldn't go to court if he didn't mark it on the ticket. You're out of state, and if it was Prince William or Fairfax County, you're wasting your time. I'd pay it and be glad you aren't an "instate" resident. Some of the NOVA judges are making people pull time for 21+ over. And Lidar got you, so there's not much wiggle room in the minds of most judges...
Va. is an absolute ***** when it comes to tickets. I've lived here all my life, and it's not easy to go without a ticket. And jail time is a reality for speeders here... Makes track days way more affordable to argue for!
Mike
Va. is an absolute ***** when it comes to tickets. I've lived here all my life, and it's not easy to go without a ticket. And jail time is a reality for speeders here... Makes track days way more affordable to argue for!
Mike
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From: Baltimore, MD
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I wouldn't go to court if he didn't mark it on the ticket. You're out of state, and if it was Prince William or Fairfax County, you're wasting your time. I'd pay it and be glad you aren't an "instate" resident. Some of the NOVA judges are making people pull time for 21+ over. And Lidar got you, so there's not much wiggle room in the minds of most judges...
Va. is an absolute ***** when it comes to tickets. I've lived here all my life, and it's not easy to go without a ticket. And jail time is a reality for speeders here... Makes track days way more affordable to argue for!
Mike
Va. is an absolute ***** when it comes to tickets. I've lived here all my life, and it's not easy to go without a ticket. And jail time is a reality for speeders here... Makes track days way more affordable to argue for!
Mike
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From: Alexandria, VA
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If you postpone the court date you can still pay before the next court datedate if you decise not to fight it.
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From: Baltimore, MD
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Well I'd rather not just pay it. My insurance will jump and that's what I'm most worried about. I guess I've just been spoiled by MD and PA courts and always gotten off pretty easy. I've gone to court (without a lawyer) for everything from to 1-point to 5-point tickets and gotten almost all of them reduced to no points and just had to pay the fine.
It seems like most of you are advising that VA is not that easy, I understand that. But I guess if it's the choice of paying for a lawyer to have the points reduced, or just paying the fine....in the long run the amount of money will probably just about even out right?
Bleh....VA sucks I'm never driving there again lol.
It seems like most of you are advising that VA is not that easy, I understand that. But I guess if it's the choice of paying for a lawyer to have the points reduced, or just paying the fine....in the long run the amount of money will probably just about even out right?
Bleh....VA sucks I'm never driving there again lol.
You joke, but my youngest is 20 and we just bought him a new car... His record is so bad that he's now paying $400 per month on a 2008 Toyota Corolla. That's $4800 per year unless he gets insurance under "dad's" policy!
Mike
Mike
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I just got tagged for 75 in a 55 in MD but I am sure I wasnt going that fast. I was switching lanes (minivan in front of me in far left and I was moving to the "slow" lane) and there is no way he could have clocked me since the minivan was blocking his sight the whole way. My friend was behind me doing 65 as well. I asked the officer how he could have gotten me without getting the minivan and his answer was "My aim isnt that bad" to which I asked if I could see the laser reading and he refused. I think I'm going to go to court for it (in MD). How much does insurance usually go up for a violation like that? 