Reckless Driving Ticket

[barpaza]

Originally Posted by saganista

Well, that's good. The law is as brutal as it is for a reason, but that reason isn't just to mess people over. The hope is that you'll have learned something from this brush with what the law can do to you, and that seems to be the case, which bodes well for all of us, actually...

The problem is that we turn it all in to a major business. We charge thousands of dollars for a person to go though all this, and the pople that are afected most of the time are not the rich, but the working class or college people.
Force you to take classes and learn and some community work would be so much better than just taking all your money or as much as they can.
I think Police enforcement is a brutal business.

[barpaza]

Originally Posted by seanpecor

I could be wrong but I think some of us are getting a wee extreme with our opinions on this forum. One thing to keep in mind is that Reckless Driving is that it's a general term that applies to going 84 in a 65mph zone, and it also applies to someone in a souped up Celica doing 84 in a 65mph zone AND losing control of and ditching their vehicle before the trooper has a chance to flick their lights on. There aren't official graduated degrees of Reckless Driving so the judge will be keeping this in mind if the kid pleads guilty and makes sensible arguments as to why his speeding should not be characterized as a serial offense. I mean, for goodness' sake, you've got countless examples of involuntary manslaughter charges reduced to reckless driving misdemeanours in Virginia (just google them) so it's a reasonable assumption that you can get a reckless driving charge reduced to a basic speeding charge once you attend a court imposed driving course.

I mean, seriously, doing 84mph on I-81 is an average cruising speed in the passing lane for about 50% of commuters out there. I have a college age member of our extended family in Winchester that got her reckless charge reduced (and she had plenty of speeding priors believe me) and another person on city-data had the charge entirely expunged from his record after taking the course so clearly it's possible.



Sean

I actually agree. I just got a reckless ticket going 68 MPH on 66 when everybody knows that that! is a normal speed for 66
I had been at a bbq whigh my family. I had 3 beers and aftew a few I left. On the way back to my house My roomate, that had been working all day, called me.
He needed a ride from the metro to the house and told me I could use his car and pick em up so that I didn't use my own gas.
I got on 66. I as going65 Mph ON the same lane the whole time. and I got pulled over because he said that I was swinging the car.
I was NOT drunk. I do have some problems driving my friends old car, and that night was very windy.
The cop tested me for alcohol and I got a 0.81 which in my opinion is still 0.8. if you read the DMV manual says that 0.8 is about 3 beers and that three beers should be your limit when you are driving, so that is the exact amount of beer I had that day.
The officer said he was forgiving the DUI ticked but he was gonna give me a reckless driving ticket instead.
I don't know why. I was not driving like a crazy. proof of that is that I was going only 68 MPH>
I never had a DUI nor speeding tickets I am not a drunk and I respect the road very much. I the cop still treated me like any other drunk crazy maniac.
There should be a diference between cases and not treat reckless as on HORROBOL thing that can take you to jail. I don't think I deserve it.
How bad would this be now?
Its all bout money

[CAKASK]

Originally Posted by smalltownusa

I'd say. I'm sure the officer had access to your previous ticket record and you are reckless: speed accounts for more accidents that anything else. You're young and getting speeding tickets repeatedly maybe a reckless charge is just what the doctor ordered...as for your parents, well if you were so worried about them finding out, you'd have stopped driving carelessly about 3 tickets ago...suck it up kiddo, reckless is reckless!

Uh-NO
Speed alone does NOT account for more accidents. . . .

I have had numerous traffic officers agree that slow and bad drivers count -propotionately far more. - Say an elderly person in the passing lane going 50. .people cutting across lanes to get to exit - (hey go one more exit and turn around instead of expecting people travelling at APPROPRIATE speeds from having to duck and cut around you in all directions!)

I see what the kid's may have - if you EVEN spend any time on the road - you can get so peeved that it took you a half hour to go ONE mile that when you finally break free (and no there was NO apparent cause for that) you want to move.

MANY of these roads do not have Appropriate speed limits - they may be placed for PC (politically correct) purposes. When I first came to DC in 2000, I was stunned that you'd be passed at 75 on the Beltway - lately I am more surprised (and thrilled) when it would even be possible to go 70.

[43north87west]

Yes, you have to basically either negotiate right with the court, or get an attorney.

There are attorneys that specialize in so-called "Reckless driving" tickets, which are largely just revenue generators and, for lack of a better descriptive term are "BS". Prince William county is infamous for this. The attorney will charge an arm and a leg, but I'll also tell you, the courts are NOT MOTIVATED to negotiate with out-of-area people. Meaning, you either have to appear, or get an attorney. And if you're guilty, you pay up for it.

Figure $800-$1000, most attorneys will do it all by phone and fax. Just look online for attorneys in that area who handle reckless driving. Not cheap and very unfortunate for you on the whole, but that's the cost of driving "fast" in Virginia.

[emsgoof]

Originally Posted by tantomtoo

What is it with the Bristol police? I was just in Bristol and got pulled over for 55 in a 35. Since then I have heard of several more people who have recently been pulled over for speeding. Some people notmore than 5 miles over the speed limit. I was in 5:00 traffic on a Friday afternoon and was going with the flow of traffic. I wasn't paying any attention to my speed, but I was right along with everyone else in front of me, and beside me. I'm sure I was over 35, but I don't think it was 55. I didn't look at the ticket until after I got home. When I did look at it, I was furious. He has down on the ticket, a completely different make and model car than what I was driving. This is my first ticket. Does anyone think I can get this dropped? I'm thinking with traffic as heavy as what it was, he might have clocked someone driving the make and model he put on the ticket, and when he finally got in the traffic, the car he clocked on radar was already gone. He saw the back of my car and pulled me over. He did get the color right.
Any advice from anyone?

You should be able to get the case thrown out. It cites a vehicle other than yours- It would be like having a ticket for Mr. John Doe when you're Mr. Mike Smith. You can probably call the court and get it tossed, it'd at least be worth a try.

[ropedope]

Originally Posted by Crew Chief

As a truck driver who regularly deals with stunt drivers like you, I hope the court forces you to stay out of the driver's seat for awhile. And I hope you use that time to think about how dangerous your driving is to other highway users. (Actually I wish the judge could force you to spend a day in the passenger's seat of a big truck and see from up there just how dangerous weaving in and out of traffic and passing on the right side is... )

I was recently cited for reckless driving in VA. The officer said I was going 84 in a 65. I will go as far as saying that my driving is anything but reckless. I am very respectfull of all drivers and am always very aware of my surroundings.

However when I pass a trucker (always on the right of course), I make it a point to get by them as quickly as possible. I will make certain first that the trucker knows I am about to pass and then will do so (without hanging in his blind spot). I was once hit by a trucker's tire who had a blow out (on i95) and could have been killed. I have also witnessed my share of jack knifes.

It is my contention that it is sometimes safer to speed up (for an instant or two) to avoid accidents.

Thank you

[kricketdavis]

who was your attorney? i need one for same reason.