Speeding ticket/Emporia VA

Sorry about the ticket. For future reference, Between exit 45 and the State line in either direction, 81 mph is not a matter of if but, when.

 

The son of a very good friend of mine was in Court yesterday not that far from Richmond for 83 in a 60 Mph. The attorney his father hired made a deal with the prosecutor and the judge approved it. The wreckless driving charge was changed to “Driving With Defective Equipment,” which is not a moving violation. The fine was $250 (DWDE is normally $150) and he has to do 20 hours of community service but the community service is not part of his record. The prosecutor will only make such a deal for a young driver with no prior convictions.

 

IMHO, it is a bit unfair that 81 mph on Interstate 95 in southern most Virginia is automatically a reckless driving charge.
It is one of the few places where the "normal cruising speed" is probably 70 - 75 mph for 90% of the traffic (even though the speed limit is posted as 65 mph). It is just north of the NC broder where the speed limit is 70 mph and typical cruising speed is 75 - 79 mph. I travel that part of I-95 several times of year.

I'm sure that the intent of the 80 mph or more rule was that that amount of speed was clearly "way above" what would be a normal amount of speeding on most VA roads. However, on that remote part of I-95, 81 mph is just a tad above average cruising speed. A much better threshold for reckless driving would have been more than 25% than the average speed of all drivers as measured over a months time by independent mechanical speed sensing equipment. If that were the rule, it would take a speed closer to 95 mph on that wide open stretch of I-95 to be considered "reckless".

Oh well, the police don't make the rules. They just have to enforce the ones on the books.

 

That area is a hotspot...half their revenue must come from speeders.

You may want to think about using a local (Emporia) attorney. They are probably a little tighter with the judges/prosecuters as that area is still relatively "good ole boy".

 

I am very good friends with one of the senior prosecutors in Emporia. Matter of fact, he has been in both my Ferrari and Porsche at various times. He is a car guy who is re building a 911S in his garage. I would offer to go down there, but I am afraid I would get a ticket on the way. WCH, pm me the name of guy you got, and I will let you know if he is in the loop.

 

Atleast half their revenue. Every member of my family has recieved a ticket on that stretch of I-95, even my grandmotherly driving mom. You would think we would have learned by now...., but cruising along with traffic at night you just don't think about it until it is too late. Need to program the GPS to provide an alart that we are in boogey country down there.

As for the Emporia court, as long as you were polite, and are polite full of your "yes your honor"s and you don't have a three page record, the judge will reduce the ticket to 79mph almost automatically as they hate the 80=reckless and will help you out there. You won't even need a lawyer for that. Now if you are rude, or were swerveing between lanes when you were busted all bets are off.

 

Come on Will. Let's drop the pretense. It wasn't your daughter. You just couldn't get the uphill chicane at VIR out of your head.

Dale

 

My dad and my mom as grandparents and my father-in-law as a grandparent while pulling a trailer.

 

Steve is a great guy, he and I are co-counsel on a pending capital murder.

 

excellent. the system at work! way to go wch!

 

See. Virginia isn't so bad. Very driver friendly, don't you think? (as long as you don't mind losing sleep for a few months time, finding & hiring the best lawyer possible, having everything hinge on how good of a mood the judge is in that day, etc.).

 

I drive thru Emporia every other month to go to NC to visit family and there is always at least 2 or 3 Troopers on I95 running radar in that area. Speed trap heaven for sure. Over the 4th July week, I counted 6 in that area on 7-3.

Glad she was able to get it reduced and no points!

Robert

 

sounds like paradise...

 

I have yet to drive through a state where I felt the law was not out to ticket as many folks as they could raise money from. Only thing that leaves VA less friendly than other states would be the radar detector law. Maryland, Jersey, NC and Deleware have jammed me with much larger fines than VA

 

WCH,

Glad to hear the outcome wasn't so bad.

I'm in full agreement, here.

Speaking of VA tickets, whatever happened to Msoltanian's disposition? Anyone know?

CW

 

Speaking of VA tickets, whatever happened to Msoltanian's disposition? Anyone know?




I was waiting for a post in the spotter's thread with someone spotting him being karted off in a sheriff's van from the courthouse to the pokey.

 

...sorry to hear of the trouble your daughter was put through. I find it supremely frustrating that every time i want to drive my car I spend most of it in a state of anxiety worrying about being ambushed by a cop. I just returned from a holiday in Europe. Many enjoyable hours of high speed driving, without a worry of being accosted by a revenue generating life form. I particularly enjoyed my run from Portofino back to Monaco. Two and a bit hours at an average speed of 100...(let's not mention the speeds that helped keep the average in three figures...!). There is a terrible disconnect in the USA between the police and the citizens. A great animosity is created when people are financially hurt conducting their regular daily driving activities. A drive on an empty interstate at 7am on a Sunday should not result in potential criminal charges just because you opened up your Ferrari for a few miles. Although I was driving at very high average speeds on my Europe trip....I lost count of the number of times I was passed by cars going considerably faster than I. It's no wonder that the US can't produce good cars....they don't have the driving regime that demands engineering excellence. In the end, society, the economy and life's enjoyment are lost because of the puritanical attitude towards drivers in the USA.

 

Do they have an internet connection in the Fairfax Adult Detention Center?
Do you think Msoltanian be able to post from there?

 

By the way, you can find virtually any case in Va. and its outcome using this site if you know the person's name. http://www.courts.state.va.us/

 

I hate to start a new thread so I am going to use this one, my friend got pulled over on the way to Classics on the James today about 20 miles south of Fredericksburg on 95. 86 in a 65 and he got the reckless charge. Is it worth getting a lawyer and what will a good one cost? Can I get a few names for him as well? Thanks a lot I would really appreciate it.