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Old 01-10-2012, 10:48 AM
 
4 posts, read 16,966 times
Reputation: 10

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Driving from DC to Orlando in my new car (literally had just bought it). Got pulled over 3hrs into my trip right before the North Carolina border in Sussex County. Officer said I was doing 92 in a 70. I would have pinned it at mid 80s, but okay.

Anyway, the officer was very nice and even laughed at the fact I was driving my new car down to leave with my girlfriend. He checked the little "you can prepay this ticket and avoid court" box, but I called the number and the fine is $460 and I will have a Reckless Driving Misdemeanor on my record.

23/m, no priors whatsoever. I feel like if I go to court with the voluntary online driver improvement course done and my clean record in hand a judge might reduce it. However I just looked at my court date and I have the worst offense of the day. One other guy was doing 91 in a 70, but most others are low 80s.

I am fine with going to court and having to pay/getting a misdemeanor, but I would hate to try for a reduction and end up having to pay more or even going to jail

Anybody have experience in a situation like this?
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Old 01-10-2012, 11:12 AM
 
1,223 posts, read 2,266,053 times
Reputation: 780
Quote:
Originally Posted by sam2k2002 View Post
Driving from DC to Orlando in my new car (literally had just bought it). Got pulled over 3hrs into my trip right before the North Carolina border in Sussex County. Officer said I was doing 92 in a 70. I would have pinned it at mid 80s, but okay.

Anyway, the officer was very nice and even laughed at the fact I was driving my new car down to leave with my girlfriend. He checked the little "you can prepay this ticket and avoid court" box, but I called the number and the fine is $460 and I will have a Reckless Driving Misdemeanor on my record.

23/m, no priors whatsoever. I feel like if I go to court with the voluntary online driver improvement course done and my clean record in hand a judge might reduce it. However I just looked at my court date and I have the worst offense of the day. One other guy was doing 91 in a 70, but most others are low 80s.

I am fine with going to court and having to pay/getting a misdemeanor, but I would hate to try for a reduction and end up having to pay more or even going to jail

Anybody have experience in a situation like this?

Ehhhh, I don't know if it is worth the hassle. This sucks but you can explain a reckless driving misdemeanor to future employers and they will understand. The area that you were caught in is a hot spot for cops so I don't know if fighting would work. I never heard of someone going to jail trying to fight a prepayable ticket, so I don't think that should hold you back if you really want to fight it.
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Old 01-10-2012, 11:37 AM
 
1,295 posts, read 2,509,375 times
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You're young. You made a mistake. Pay the fine. Live and learn.
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Old 01-10-2012, 11:49 AM
 
3,852 posts, read 4,151,806 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sam2k2002 View Post
Anybody have experience in a situation like this?
I've yet to read the Reckless Driving thread in this forum, but given the number of replies there, I'm guessing the answer is "yes."
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Old 01-10-2012, 11:52 AM
 
9,878 posts, read 14,120,619 times
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Not sure what you make, but what is your time worth? You'd be wasting at least 8 hours of your life "fighting" this in court. Add your time to the gas, wear and tear on your car to get to the court and this could get costly. Assume the judge knocks it down to half, you'd still be paying $230 plus about $100 for gas / wear and tear. Is this plus your time worth it?

I'd just write the check and be done with it.....
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Old 01-10-2012, 11:56 AM
 
4 posts, read 16,966 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by spencgr View Post
Not sure what you make, but what is your time worth? You'd be wasting at least 8 hours of your life "fighting" this in court. Add your time to the gas, wear and tear on your car to get to the court and this could get costly. Assume the judge knocks it down to half, you'd still be paying $230 plus about $100 for gas / wear and tear. Is this plus your time worth it?

I'd just write the check and be done with it.....
The money alone isn't worth it, but the chance of avoiding a misdemeanor on top of the fine makes it borderline.
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Old 01-10-2012, 12:27 PM
 
3,852 posts, read 4,151,806 times
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Plus the possible insurance rate hike.
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Old 01-10-2012, 12:29 PM
 
4 posts, read 16,966 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CapsChick View Post
Plus the possible insurance rate hike.
And that puts it over the top.
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Old 01-10-2012, 12:32 PM
 
1,304 posts, read 2,425,783 times
Reputation: 1215
It's not a criminal misdemeanor. You can go court if you want and hope to get it reduced to regular speeding, but that will be tough since you were over 90. The driver improvement course means nothing.

Since you were going so fast and live far away you may want to considering hiring a lawyer to go to court for you. Read the last 15 pages of the reckless driving thread if you want more information.
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Old 01-10-2012, 12:35 PM
 
Location: Virginia-Shenandoah Valley
7,670 posts, read 14,239,065 times
Reputation: 7464
Man this gets old. A reckless driving is NOT a misdemeanor. If you were released on a summons (ticket) then it is a conviction that only goes on your driving record. If you were physically arrested and taken before the magistrate then it's on a warrant and is now a criminal charge. Doesn't sound like yours was.

If you can handle coming back it could be worth it with the chance you might be able to get it reduced to improper driving or speeding. Of course the prosecutor might say no then you take your chances with the judge. Harp on your good record and ask for the chance to plead guilty to one of these charges.
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