militaryguy
Junior Member
I'm active duty military, based in Northern Virginia but with a NY residency/license. Yesterday I was ticketing going 50 in a 30 zone. The mitigating factors I want to share are:
1. The road I was on was straight and on a downward gradient, and forested on both sides (not residencial or commercial). I had only been on the road for about 1/2 mile prior to being pulled over, and I saw no speed limit sign in that time, though there may have been one (a van in front of me turned off at one point, so I focused on him and not the signage). Any other time I've travelled roads like this, they would have been 45 zones. I asked the officer and he said that someone went 65 through here and hit a concrete barrier at the far an awhile ago, so the speed was being enforced differently now.
2. I really am a concientious driver, never used a cell phone in a car, haven't been without a seat belt in a car for 15+ years, never touch alcohol, I let other drivers merge in front, etc. Had I been aware of the strangely low speed limit on this road, which I had driven on only a couple of times before, I would have gone nowhere near the 20 over.
3. When I saw what I though might be a law enforcement vehicle ahead, I checked my speed and saw it was 49 or 50, so I immediatley braked down to 43. I was in my wife's car which has alot more pep than my little compact, so I tend to be a bit faster driving it. I corrected my speed to what I thought was below the limit. His lights went on after this slowdown, and I pulled over a few dozen yards past his vehicle. I also checked for signs at once I was hi vehicle, but saw none.
My ticket only says speeding 50 in 30 zone, and does not mention reckless driving, though I know 20mph is a threshold for reckless driving here in Virginia. The ticket also identifies $105 charge
My concerns or questions are: When I go to court, in uniform, what should I say so that I can get the charge lower and do I stand a chance of getting a reckless charge even though the ticket does not specifically call one out? Do the factors I share above have an bearing? This will be at the Alexandria Courthouse, by the way. Would it do any good for me to go to the court on an earlier date just to listen and see how the court approaches similar situations? Lastly, how/when will this impact my record given I have a NY and not a VA license? If the traffic officer does not appear in court that day, what will happen?
I'd like to do this w/o a hiring a lawyer.
1. The road I was on was straight and on a downward gradient, and forested on both sides (not residencial or commercial). I had only been on the road for about 1/2 mile prior to being pulled over, and I saw no speed limit sign in that time, though there may have been one (a van in front of me turned off at one point, so I focused on him and not the signage). Any other time I've travelled roads like this, they would have been 45 zones. I asked the officer and he said that someone went 65 through here and hit a concrete barrier at the far an awhile ago, so the speed was being enforced differently now.
2. I really am a concientious driver, never used a cell phone in a car, haven't been without a seat belt in a car for 15+ years, never touch alcohol, I let other drivers merge in front, etc. Had I been aware of the strangely low speed limit on this road, which I had driven on only a couple of times before, I would have gone nowhere near the 20 over.
3. When I saw what I though might be a law enforcement vehicle ahead, I checked my speed and saw it was 49 or 50, so I immediatley braked down to 43. I was in my wife's car which has alot more pep than my little compact, so I tend to be a bit faster driving it. I corrected my speed to what I thought was below the limit. His lights went on after this slowdown, and I pulled over a few dozen yards past his vehicle. I also checked for signs at once I was hi vehicle, but saw none.
My ticket only says speeding 50 in 30 zone, and does not mention reckless driving, though I know 20mph is a threshold for reckless driving here in Virginia. The ticket also identifies $105 charge
My concerns or questions are: When I go to court, in uniform, what should I say so that I can get the charge lower and do I stand a chance of getting a reckless charge even though the ticket does not specifically call one out? Do the factors I share above have an bearing? This will be at the Alexandria Courthouse, by the way. Would it do any good for me to go to the court on an earlier date just to listen and see how the court approaches similar situations? Lastly, how/when will this impact my record given I have a NY and not a VA license? If the traffic officer does not appear in court that day, what will happen?
I'd like to do this w/o a hiring a lawyer.