Virginia speeding ticket

[SmackD]

So I got my first ticket in Virginia last night. It was for speeding... 42 in a 25. The road was a 45mph road and then suddenly dropped to 25 and was classified as a residential area. I'm not from the area and was not really aware. How does this work? I basically got a court date on the spot with the option to pay the fine.
I have a Maryland drivers license how will this affect me? Is it worth going to court, the cop was a deputy sheriff. Do I need a lawyer?

Thanks for any advice.

 

[chambersc]

meh, if you have the money and can afford the hit (maybe you can do the school), i'd pay the fine and be done with it. unfortunately, ignorance of the law is no defense.

 

[Powermoloch]

Originally posted by: SmackD

So I got my first ticket in Virginia last night. It was for speeding... 42 in a 25. The road was a 45mph road and then suddenly dropped to 25 and was classified as a residential area. I'm not from the area and was not really aware. How does this work? I basically got a court date on the spot with the option to pay the fine.
I have a Maryland drivers license how will this affect me? Is it worth going to court, the cop was a deputy sheriff. Do I need a lawyer?

Thanks for any advice.

 

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by: SmackD

was not really aware.

How does this work?

Do I need a lawyer?

you missed the sign

you pay the fine

no

merry christmas

 

[SmackD]

I'm sorry I'm not trying to make excuses for what I did if that's how it came out I apologize. I've never gotten a ticket before and I'm simply wondering if it's worth going to court? And if this will give me points on my out of state license. Anyone familiar with Virginia?

Thanks

 

[Hexx]

I swear I posted in some thread about someone taking a roadtrip from NY to FL, I told him to watch out for Virginia, you know why?

Because Virginia is hell for speeding, they don't even allow radar detectors!
I usually would say to fight it, but this ones going to be tough.

On a similar note, my mother got trapped in a speed trap while doing 65 in a 55. The speed limit was 65 when it changed to 55 for only 1 mile! There were about 8 cops on both sides of the mile long road picking off people. When she got pulled over she was 10 feet away from the sign where the speed limit reverted back to 65.

This was in MA, she lives in CT, so she went to the court that afternoon and got it reduced to $60 from $140.

Being your first ticket, and the circumstancesl, if you have the time I would try to fight it.
Take photos of the change in speed and the area. You will also need the time what you was pulled over.

Otherwise, as your not in the state, I would pay the fine.

 

[EagleKeeper]

VA will notify the state that your license is from when you fail to pay. Possible have it suspended/revoked.

Then have fun trying to renew.

If that happens, original payment and any penalties to the court must be paid and the court notifies the State (you can get a letter from the state stating as such) and then possible penalties to VA and/or your home state for being bad with your license.

/experience - Money order was transposed as $54 vs $45 and I had moved out of state since mailed.

 

[ngvepforever2]

Originally posted by: SmackD

So I got my first ticket in Virginia last night. It was for speeding... 42 in a 25. The road was a 45mph road and then suddenly dropped to 25 and was classified as a residential area. I'm not from the area and was not really aware. How does this work? I basically got a court date on the spot with the option to pay the fine.
I have a Maryland drivers license how will this affect me? Is it worth going to court, the cop was a deputy sheriff. Do I need a lawyer?

Thanks for any advice.

Dude...you know you were lucky....three more miles per hour and you 'd have been charged with reckless driving.

Regards

ng

 

[SmackD]

Originally posted by: EagleKeeper
VA will notify the state that your license is from when you fail to pay. Possible have it suspended/revoked.

Then have fun trying to renew.

If that happens, original payment and any penalties to the court must be paid and the court notifies the State (you can get a letter from the state stating as such) and then possible penalties to VA and/or your home state for being bad with your license.

/experience - Money order was transposed as $54 vs $45 and I had moved out of state since mailed.

I'm not planning on skipping out on the payment. Would I be able to get anything in court? Class? even though I'm out of state (Maryland)?

 

[EagleKeeper]

Best thing would be to contact the VA court and ask them; "Can I attend traffic school in order to protect your license in addition to paying the fine?"

They would know the answers (you are not the first person that this would have happended to).

 

[cubby1223]

Originally posted by: SmackD
I'm not planning on skipping out on the payment. Would I be able to get anything in court? Class? even though I'm out of state (Maryland)?

Atleast here in Illinois, speeding tickets are handled on a county by county basis. Some allow you to take a driving class, others have you just pay extra for "court supervision" for ~12 months. There's usually a phone number given on the tickets.

 

[xanis]

Stupid thing really, but it will be kind of hard to argue ignorance...

 

[SeaMonki]

1)Plead not guilty
2)Go to court and meet with the district attorny who will probably reduce the fine with no points given it's your 1st ticket.
3)Profit!

 

[Goosemaster]

Virginia is the deathtrap of the automobile world

<---been chewed and spit out

 

[Pepsei]

i see going to the court as your best option!
you'll get traffic court which you can take ONLINE!!!! the test needs to be taken somewhere else thou, like an UPS store.
then they'll drop the charges after you give them the certificate.