Ticket GW Parkway (Reckless) (driving, color, advice)

[boyd888]

Originally Posted by Flamingo13

People respond to such posts with acrimony because they are tired of so many people driving so RECKLESSLY. If somebody is overscheduled, that should be their problem and they shouldn't involve other innocent people on the roads because they are in such a hurry.

It's not even the driving part it's that the reckless driving threads really are pointless spam as they are almost all made by first posters. I don't get why the reckless driving thread is not sticky while the general pointers thread (which has not had a new post in nearly three months) is still there.

[Bigfoot424]

Originally Posted by boyd888

It's not even the driving part it's that the reckless driving threads really are pointless spam as they are almost all made by first posters. I don't get why the reckless driving thread is not sticky while the general pointers thread (which has not had a new post in nearly three months) is still there.

I've asked the same thing and someone explained that each area can only have two stickies. I find this answer a little strange when other similar forums will have anywhere from 4-10 sticky subjects.

[Hanyar]

Reckless driving on GWPwy which is a US National Park means you have to go to the Federal Court in Alexandria.

There would be prosecutors offering same deal to "everyone" (with lawyer or not, but you have one already so just take him with). Most likely you will have to plead guilty to speeding ticket charged in exchange for reckless driving charge to be dropped. They will not reduce the amount of speed charged so you will pay the fine and DMV points based on that (32 over limit).

I would recommend

1. Slow down in the future on GW or anywhere. It does not worth the ticket or accident and the stress of going to court.
2. Order your driving record from DMV and make a copy for prosecutors.
3. Dress nice (suit) and be punctual.
4. You will get the chance to talk in front of the judge. Be contrite (as you should be) and apologize for your act.
5. Pay the fine to get reckless dropped.

The fine will be very expensive ($300-$400) to pay for all VA projects.
It is still much better than being convicted of reckless driving.

[ReblTeen84]

Just an opinion...but I don't think I'd want to be doing 82 on the Parkway in a car unless you're down by the airport. Too many curves and hills farther north. I don't even like going above 70 on my bike, and it handles FAR better in the curves than a car! I CERTAINLY wouldn't be doing 82 in my Jeep on the Parkway.

[FindingZen]

Originally Posted by Bigfoot424

I've asked the same thing and someone explained that each area can only have two stickies. I find this answer a little strange when other similar forums will have anywhere from 4-10 sticky subjects.

The official rule is indeed two sticky threads per forum. Whether that is being enforced in other forums is something beyond this forum's jurisdiction. If three were allowed, then the Official Reckless Driving Thread may have well been the latest addition.

[slim04]

Originally Posted by ReblTeen84

Just an opinion...but I don't think I'd want to be doing 82 on the Parkway in a car unless you're down by the airport. Too many curves and hills farther north. I don't even like going above 70 on my bike, and it handles FAR better in the curves than a car! I CERTAINLY wouldn't be doing 82 in my Jeep on the Parkway.

Are you nuts? The airport is where most of the accidents on the Parkway happen. There are several ramps that have no merge lanes and when other cars go that fast it makes it almost impossible to judge whether you can safely get on the Parkway. If you are at a complete stop at a yield sign, you need a lot of space to get up to speed without getting rear ended by someone driving 80 mph. Even if there are no other cars on the road at midnight, there is still a lot of danger of crashing into someone trying to merge onto the Parkway. Plus, you are talking about a lot of car rentals coming down those ramps where the drivers aren't used to the Parkway, their cars, their mirrors, etc.

Also, near the airport, the Mt. Vernon bike trail is only a few unprotected feet from the Parkway. If you get into an accident there, you have a good chance of killing a biker or walker on that heavily used path.

In addition to all that, there is no safety shoulder or a lot of easy places to pull of the road if you have a problem. So it is super dangerous to go highway speed on the Parkway. Someone used to be killed on that road all the time, that's why the speed limits are so low by the airport. I admit it is annoying and really difficult to restrain yourself from driving fast on the Parkway when it is not busy, but I've just seen way too many accidents or near misses. I'm still shocked that they haven't put in proper merge lanes or a protective fence for the trail.

[ReblTeen84]

I'm thinking more from a road point of view, taking out all the other ways you can get killed or kill someone down there. I have a hard time keeping my speed down on the bike out towards the McLean area, especially with no traffic...just too many good curves - but, I don't need or want the ticket, so I keep it respectable. The airport is a different matter...I'm usually not going much faster than 50 or so down there, though I think i've gotten to 60 with the flow of traffic. I'd rather not have some yahoo coast out into the roadway and bang up my nice shiny car because he's afraid to drive!

[newvadad]

Tickets have come in bunches for me and thankfully I haven't had a "bunch" in almost ten years.

That road usually has some of the worst accidents I can remember and was the scene of a horrific accident a few years ago that was traced back to aggressive driving so they take it pretty seriously but in the end, they just want your money.

[NC211]

Ouch. 32 mph over the posted, with priors on your record? You better make sure that suit looks fantastic. And you better start every answer you speak with the words "sir, yes sir." If I were the judge, knowing you've been warned already with your prior tickets, I'd be staring you square in the eyes, looking for fear of what I am more than capable of doing to you.

[ACWhite]

Originally Posted by vaperson22

3. In all of the circumstances there were no vehicles present, except this one where traffic was moderate at best a car every once and a while.

I have never, ever been on any part of the GW Parkway at a time where this would be an accurate statement. And, I do not think that an officer would have been posted there if cars went by rarely, and the officer might contradict your characterization if you said this to the judge.