How To Avoid Speeding Ticket ? (Richmond, Petersburg: lawyers, purchase, live in)

[NJBoy3]

I plan to start visting Virginia late fall. Fun trips, maybe relocate. Focusing on west / central area. But driving down from New Jersey.

I keep reading about very expensive/complicated speeding tickets in Virginia. Even ran into an old business acquaintance yesterday and heard his horror story. $300 for a lawyer. 12 hour driver ed class.

Want to avoid a ticket. I know "don't speed". But what is speeding in Virginia. If it is a 65 mile an hour zone should I stay at 64. If it is a 25 should I stay at 24.

Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks.

[kww]

Is this a serious thread?

Speeding is anything over the posted number. Feel free to stretch your legs if you want but be prepared for the consequences. Just stay out the left lane on the highway if you don't feel like getting ran off the road.

[LM117]

Originally Posted by NJBoy3

I plan to start visting Virginia late fall. Fun trips, maybe relocate. Focusing on west / central area. But driving down from New Jersey.

I keep reading about very expensive/complicated speeding tickets in Virginia. Even ran into an old business acquaintance yesterday and heard his horror story. $300 for a lawyer. 12 hour driver ed class.

Want to avoid a ticket. I know "don't speed". But what is speeding in Virginia. If it is a 65 mile an hour zone should I stay at 64. If it is a 25 should I stay at 24.

Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks.

Those expensive tickets you're referring to are most likely Reckless Driving charges, which is a Class 1 criminal misdemeanor and not simple speeding charges, hence the need for lawyers.

Reckless Driving is 20mph over the posted speed limit (ex: 75 in a 55) OR 80mph, even if the speed limit is 65-70mph (which is BS IMO).

[Bigfoot424]

Wow. Now I've seen it all. OP. Yes, stay under the speed limit and you'll be fine.

[NJBoy3]

Many thanks for the replies.

So if someone is going 80 in a 70mph zone it would be a reckless driving charge.

Not that I speed but it can be easy to miss a sign when in a new area.

[jobber123rd]

Originally Posted by NJBoy3

Many thanks for the replies.

So if someone is going 80 in a 70mph zone it would be a reckless driving charge.

Not that I speed but it can be easy to miss a sign when in a new area.

The letter of the law is that you're guilty of RD for driving " (i) at a speed of twenty miles per hour or more in excess of the applicable maximum speed limit or (ii) in excess of eighty miles per hour regardless of the applicable maximum speed limit."

In practice, the police have discretion in whether to cite for RD or speeding, but of course the best way to avoid the RD charge is to not do RD speed in the first place (i.e. never go over 80 (or go 20 over the limit) in Virginia).

[Lockdev]

Virginia makes a lot of money off of speeding tickets, so it would be best to respect the posted limits. This is especially true because you'll have out-of-state plates.

I see someone pulled over every single day by staties on I-64 on my way to work. Sometimes I see 2 or even 3 people pulled. There is no other answer besides "don't speed".

[NJBoy3]

Thanks to all. I will keep it under the speed limit.

Probably a good idea to purchase a GPS with speed limit alert.

Looking forward to visiting your fine state.

[homeonthelittlemountain]

Originally Posted by NJBoy3

Many thanks for the replies.

So if someone is going 80 in a 70mph zone it would be a reckless driving charge.

Not that I speed but it can be easy to miss a sign when in a new area.

If you're unsure of the posted speed limit on a highway, drive 55 until you see another sign. On 95, 65 mph is safe in VA until you see a 70 mph sign. Unless you're in northern VA on 95. Part of that is 55 mph.

Be careful. I live in MD but drive through VA to NC to visit family often. Va takes speeding seriously. I see drivers pulled over often on my trips south. I visit family in northern NJ too, at least 4 times a year for the past 36 years. I've never seen the same police presence on the NJ turnpike.

[jobber123rd]

Originally Posted by homeonthelittlemountain

If you're unsure of the posted speed limit on a highway, drive 55 until you see another sign. On 95, 65 mph is safe in VA until you see a 70 mph sign. Unless you're in northern VA on 95. Part of that is 55 mph.

Be careful. I live in MD but drive through VA to NC to visit family often. Va takes speeding seriously. I see drivers pulled over often on my trips south. I visit family in northern NJ too, at least 4 times a year for the past 36 years. I've never seen the same police presence on the NJ turnpike.

There are also two 55 mph zones on I-95 in Central Virginia: one in Colonial Heights and Petersburg, and another in Richmond. Of course, you will miss these if you use I-295 to bypass the urbanized portion of the Richmond metropolitan area.