The key issue -- if this ever were to go to trial (and as I suggest below, your shouldn't let it) -- would be whether you were actually traveling at 80 miles per hour. Were you to plead not guilty the police officer who ticketed you would have to testify at trial and provide proof that the device s/he clocked you on was recently calibrated and accurate, and explain how s/he is sure she was tracking your car vs. another vehicle.
As an out of state resident you probably don't want to have to travel back up to Virginia for a trial, and probably don't want to risk facing jail time were you to be found guilty. And you'd carry a misdemeanor conviction for life. Similarly I assume that the prosecuting attorney would not want to waste a few hours in court and run the risk that the police officer who ticketed you may be unavailable on the trial date, or that risk that someone else who might be needed to prove calibration might to show up. Thus there there may be a terrific opportunity for someone to say "Let's Make a Deal!"
A typical deal would be for you to plead guilty to plain old speeding (say at 79 miles an hour) that does not involve a misdemeanor and pay a fine. Justice would be served, there would be a deterrent effect, and you, the prosecutor and the judge would save time.
The problem is that if you as a layperson were to make the offer, the prosecuting attorney could wonder what you may be trying to hide, and regard it as a sign of weakness. The prosecutor is well aware that if the matter were to go to trial, and you were not represented by an attorney at trial, the odds of you successfully handling your own case and winning are close to zero. So, rather than blow your best shot, I'd suggest retaining a lawyer in the community where the ticket was issued who handles those type of matters. That lawyer likely would be able to work out the deal suggested above.
As an out of state resident you probably don't want to have to travel back up to Virginia for a trial, and probably don't want to risk facing jail time were you to be found guilty. And you'd carry a misdemeanor conviction for life. Similarly I assume that the prosecuting attorney would not want to waste a few hours in court and run the risk that the police officer who ticketed you may be unavailable on the trial date, or that risk that someone else who might be needed to prove calibration might to show up. Thus there there may be a terrific opportunity for someone to say "Let's Make a Deal!"
A typical deal would be for you to plead guilty to plain old speeding (say at 79 miles an hour) that does not involve a misdemeanor and pay a fine. Justice would be served, there would be a deterrent effect, and you, the prosecutor and the judge would save time.
The problem is that if you as a layperson were to make the offer, the prosecuting attorney could wonder what you may be trying to hide, and regard it as a sign of weakness. The prosecutor is well aware that if the matter were to go to trial, and you were not represented by an attorney at trial, the odds of you successfully handling your own case and winning are close to zero. So, rather than blow your best shot, I'd suggest retaining a lawyer in the community where the ticket was issued who handles those type of matters. That lawyer likely would be able to work out the deal suggested above.
