Not Reckless, Just Driving (Fairfax: 2013, construction, school)

[Leaving4Ca]

Originally Posted by Bigfoot424

For the 100th time NO IT'S NOT. Officers can and do write speeding and not reckless.

SORRY BIGFOOT, I did not know that. Have been told my many many people, including traffic attorneys, here in NOVA that 80 mph. is automatic reckless driving. But why on earth would you need or want to drive 80 mph ANYWHERE here??! I don't get it. So unsafe.

[spencgr]

Originally Posted by Leaving4Ca

Yes! I know that. I am probably one of the slowest drivers out there - get passed all the time.

Which supports the theory that everyone speeds on the Beltway. You, as the slowest, are speeding.

[snatale1]

Originally Posted by WoolSlippers

I got pulled over for going 5-9 mph over the 55 mph limit on 495. It's my first speeding ticket in over 30 years of driving. I like the idea of paying it and being done, but I don't want my insurance rates to increase due to the three points that would go on my DMV record.

Any tips for what to say at court? I know the DMV puts the points on your record, not the judge.

Thanks!

Nothing is going to increase because if you haven't been ticketed in 30yrs then you have +5 points, subtract 3 and your still left with positive points. No negative points equals no insurance surcharge. Either way I'd fight the ticket. If the cop wants to be a nit picky douche and ticket you for less than 10 over drag him into court. Worst that can happen is you wind up where you already are.

[spencgr]

Originally Posted by snatale1

Worst that can happen is you wind up where you already are.

Not really. If you lose, you'll have additional court costs.

[boyd888]

Originally Posted by spencgr

Not really. If you lose, you'll have additional court costs.

Court costs are including in the "convenience fee" of the ticket, usually $62. You pay it whether you go to court or not. Plus any +5 driver on a basic speeding ticket that goes to court will at least get a break on the fine as long they didn't get into with the cop during the stop. Most NOVA counties do not offer driver improvement in lieu of the ticket.

Not sure if you've been to traffic court recently, but most people lose. Pretty much everyone pleads guilty or no contest, and the judge offers some sort of break based on their driving record.

[spencgr]

Originally Posted by boyd888

Not sure if you've been to traffic court recently

Nope, I haven't. I wouldn't waste my time (which is most definitely worth money) to try and save a few bucks. I've been pulled over once in the last ten years. I thanked the officer and quickly mailed a check.

[dazzleman]

5-9 over is a pretty pitiful ticket. If you're going to get nailed, make it worth it by doing at least 15-20 over. That gives better bragging rights.

Are you sure the speed on the ticket wasn't a break from the cop and that you weren't going a lot faster? I got a ticket for 10 over recently but I was really doing 24 over and the cop cut me some slack.

[WoolSlippers]

Thanks so much, everyone. I agree it's a pitiful ticket, and no, that's as fast as I was going that day. There was another car on my right going the same speed, and the cop was changing lanes to be on either side of us, then on my bumper. Then the lights went on and I thought "wow, really?" Sunny day, traffic was light and moving along.

I would definitely pay and let it go, but my insurance company confirmed (after another call I made, hoping the first report was wrong) that they would raise my rates if convicted, so I'll show up in court and see what happens. Neither rep would/could tell me how much the hike would be. Ironically, I've got accident forgiveness with my *great driving record* but a slow-ish speeding ticket is apparently another category of crime. Ugh.

I'll loop back in a few weeks and let you know what happened. Thanks again for the input.

[Bigfoot424]

Originally Posted by Leaving4Ca

SORRY BIGFOOT, I did not know that. Have been told my many many people, including traffic attorneys, here in NOVA that 80 mph. is automatic reckless driving. But why on earth would you need or want to drive 80 mph ANYWHERE here??! I don't get it. So unsafe.

No big deal. I've posted many times to the contrary but I know where you're coming from. If you read the code section many take it literally but officers know they can charge for speeding and it happens all the time. There are plenty of people cited for RD but people are also cited for speeding when at 80 or above depending on where they are.

[Bigfoot424]

Originally Posted by dazzleman

5-9 over is a pretty pitiful ticket. If you're going to get nailed, make it worth it by doing at least 15-20 over. That gives better bragging rights.

Are you sure the speed on the ticket wasn't a break from the cop and that you weren't going a lot faster? I got a ticket for 10 over recently but I was really doing 24 over and the cop cut me some slack.

I was going to post the same thing as this is pretty standard. I pulled many people over for speeding 20 over and wrote it for much less. Of course I don't think the OP is coming back to tell us. Never mind. I see the OP is back.