[BK]

Well, it was bound to happen with the damn sexy smooth E90 power delivery. I went for a lunchtime drive today and got a ticket for 70 in a 50 on FFX County Parkway. First ticket I've gotten in like 10 or 15 years.

Cop said he was cutting me a break by not writing a reckless driving ticket, but he still wrote it for 20 over, which is a big increase in points versus 19 over. Court date is in October, and I plan to ask for leniency based on my otherwise flawless driving record.

[HRC]

GL man, hopefully your clean record will help you out!

Danny

[ase2dais]

you need to take care of that ticket and do all you can for it easily adds up.
Being your first ticket it can easily be thrown, but dont expect it to be handed in a silver plate, a lawyer would easily get you out of that, if money is not an object. it would be close to a sure thing.

just to let you know, my points are on the border line. My biggest regrets was not fighting the first one

Ive lived here 25+ years Ive never seen this cops so active the past 2 years. the State is low on funds and reving up revenues, and this is the easiest way.

[sruzgar]

If you lived in Florida you could give it to anyone of the hundreds of lawyers here in true David Copperfield fashion make your ticket disappear for a mere $60.00

Its astonishing but have to say it has saved me a few times!

[shimshimhada]

Yeah, I don't speed anymore.

[sixspeedsam]

Originally Posted by shimshimhada

Yeah, I don't speed anymore.

Well, at least not on the track!

[bavarian19]

BK... Im sorry to hear of your unfortunate ticket... I also have had a rather clean driving record (not as pristine as yours because I havent even been driving for 15 yrs), and that clean record helped me get out of a ticket in my E90...

I was running late to a meeting I had in Fairfax, and in only a short section, I was up to about 95mph on 66... My speed was completely unnecessary, but I did get pulled over. I was very straightforward (yes sir's and no sir's) and told him that there was no excuse for the manner in which I was driving.

He asked me about my driving record, and I told him the truth... I have not had a speeding ticket since I was 16. He goes back to the cruiser to check. He returns and tells me the consequences for driving at the speed I was... ... and he hands me a warning .

I was incredibly blessed that day, and have since been a much more cautious driver.

[BK]

Thanks, guys. I will let you know how it goes, though I'll have to wait until mid-October to address this in court. I guess I'll consider getting a lawyer.

Compared to a car wreck or something, which I know some of you have had to endure (AJ), I realize this isn't a big deal so forgive me for my whining. But I had to vent - it's nice to have you guys for that. Now I'll have to take it a bit easier in my E90 for a while.

AJ - you got really lucky. I am always very polite and honest, but this guy didn't want to give just a warning.

[FrankoQ]

Mmmm...
Maybe the next mod should be a radar detector.
I keep driving at least 20 over the limit on most streets.
Many times... a lot faster on back roads with lots of turns.
I can't help it!!! this car just begs to be driven fast.
I keep telling myself I'll get a ticket sooner or later.

Sorry about yours BK, go to court and fight it.

[bavarian19]

Originally Posted by FrankoQ

Mmmm...
Maybe the next mod should be a radar detector.
I keep driving at least 20 over the limit on most streets.
Many times... a lot faster on back roads with lots of turns.
I can't help it!!! this car just begs to be driven fast.
I keep telling myself I'll get a ticket sooner or later.

Sorry about yours BK, go to court and fight it.

It is illegal to have a radar detector up in VA . But as soon as I leave the state I put one up .

Sadly enough, I already forget what its like to drive an E90... 10 days and counting for being without my car


Im hoping to be back in mine by the end of next week... We shall see...

[bavarian19]

Originally Posted by BK

AJ - you got really lucky. I am always very polite and honest, but this guy didn't want to give just a warning.

As I stated, I could not have been any more grateful...


Have you thought about possibly taking a defensive driving course to help offset the insurance cost??? I did it when I was 16 and got the ticket... made a big difference...

[KL2DC]

I haven't had a speeding ticket since 1997 (in FL, ticket clinics took care of that )...I have been incredibly lucky/blessed as I admittedly am a perpetual speeder

Sorry to hear about your ticket, BK....

[John]

Originally Posted by shimshimhada

Yeah, I don't speed anymore.

that whole DTC moment was traumatizin gto you shim?

[ase2dais]

Just as a heads up for Va Fairfax folks, end of the months are usually when most tickets are issued, to meet cops deadline work.
(today the 30th, I saw at least 8 citations given on the road)

Also, DMV Drivers Training can be voluntarilly taken at any time for about $65 dollars, and its a one day 8hr crse. When they say 8 hrs, is pretty strick 8 hrs of videos and discussion.

Completing this DMV crse voluntarily awards you Positive +4/5 pts credit to your driving record, unless you are ordered by the court, its no credit points towards your records.

You can only attend this class once every two years for a maximum of 5 points. So, if you think you can bank 20 driving class points +plus your 12 max ticket points to get a 32 points buffer reserve. Think Again.

So, I think its better not to speed even on the Tracks as one mbr had suggested, to be safe.

[pawarrant]

Originally Posted by BK

Well, it was bound to happen with the damn sexy smooth E90 power delivery. I went for a lunchtime drive today and got a ticket for 70 in a 50 on FFX County Parkway. First ticket I've gotten in like 10 or 15 years.

Cop said he was cutting me a break by not writing a reckless driving ticket, but he still wrote it for 20 over, which is a big increase in points versus 19 over. Court date is in October, and I plan to ask for leniency based on my otherwise flawless driving record.

What were you doing besides speeding that would have warranted a reckless citation? I don't know Virginia law, but in PA merely speeding would not meet the elements of reckless. The cop was probably trying to make it look like he was doing you a favor.

[bavarian19]

Originally Posted by pawarrant

What were you doing besides speeding that would have warranted a reckless citation? I don't know Virginia law, but in PA merely speeding would not meet the elements of reckless. The cop was probably trying to make it look like he was doing you a favor.

20+ over is reckless in VA...

[BK]

As AJ said, 20+ can be written up under the reckless driving statute or under the speeding statute. Either way, it's the same number of points (and is the same number of points as a DUI for God's sake). The difference is that for speeding, it's off your record in 5 years. For reckless driving, DUI, etc., it's there for 11 years.

BTW, for those in Fairfax County, you may know the County sticker is no longer required on cars (since July 1st). My car was delivered on June 29th, so I never got one although I am registered with the County. They don’t give them out anymore.

In any case, when the cop was asking me the usual questions, license and registration, he peered at my windshield, pointed and said, “Why don’t you have a County sticker on there?” I answered, “It’s not required.” He was kind of taken aback and then said, “Oh yeah, I forgot they are phasing those out.” As soon as I said that, I realized it may have sounded like a smart-alecky way to respond, although that is not at all what I intended! Probably didn’t help me in his decision whether or not to write me a ticket. As some of you know, I’m working on only a few hours of sleep a night now, with the new baby and all. So when I am asked a question, it is natural to just give a straightforward response.

[thd13]

Originally Posted by BK

Thanks, guys. I will let you know how it goes, though I'll have to wait until mid-October to address this in court. I guess I'll consider getting a lawyer.

Compared to a car wreck or something, which I know some of you have had to endure (AJ), I realize this isn't a big deal so forgive me for my whining. But I had to vent - it's nice to have you guys for that. Now I'll have to take it a bit easier in my E90 for a while.

AJ - you got really lucky. I am always very polite and honest, but this guy didn't want to give just a warning.

BK- Aren't you a lawyer?

[pawarrant]

That's stupid to have 2 statutes for the same thing. Find out if you have anything like we do in PA a statute called "failure to obey traffic control devices". It is meant for not obeying signs such as "stay in lane" ect., but used as a catch all if you want to plea to a lesser charge than the speeding (failed to obey the speed limit sign). It carries no points, but the state gets their fine, the officer gets his conviction, and everyone walks away happy. If you have anything similar try to talk to the officer outside of the courtroom prior to your hearing and ask him if he would be willing to let you plea to something like that. Most officers will do that in a heartbeat, because like I said he gets his conviction and can go home quicker and the judge is happy because the state still gets their money, and his docket gets cleared a little faster. Good luck!

[BK]

Originally Posted by thd13

BK- Aren't you a lawyer?

Yup, but traffic court is as foreign to me as, well, if I had to represent someone in Indonesia or something.

What I'd get if I hired a lawyer for a traffic ticket is someone who knows the system. He could make deals with the DA (or whomever prosecutes these things) that I would be unlikely to be able to make myself.

On the other hand, I'm not sure a ticket of this nature warrants getting a lawyer. The fine is not all that much, and the points aren't significant as long as I don't get another ticket. I'm debating just showing up and talking to the DA or judge myself, referencing my clean record. Apparently, VA gives "positive" points for every year you drive without a ticket, and mine has to be maxed out.

[BK]

Also, I should add, I told the officer that I hadn't had a ticket in at least 10 or 15 years, and he said I should go to court and contest it, that they are usually lenient on drivers with positive point balances. So he wasn't a bad guy, just a guy that wasn't about to not give me a ticket at all.

Still, he could have written 69mph instead of 70mph. That bugs me.

[pawarrant]

Originally Posted by BK

Yup, but traffic court is as foreign to me as, well, if I had to represent someone in Indonesia or something.

What I'd get if I hired a lawyer for a traffic ticket is someone who knows the system. He could make deals with the DA (or whomever prosecutes these things) that I would be unlikely to be able to make myself.

On the other hand, I'm not sure a ticket of this nature warrants getting a lawyer. The fine is not all that much, and the points aren't significant as long as I don't get another ticket. I'm debating just showing up and talking to the DA or judge myself, referencing my clean record. Apparently, VA gives "positive" points for every year you drive without a ticket, and mine has to be maxed out.

Does an ADA prosecute minor traffic offenses in VA? If not, anyone can talk to the officer to cut a deal. Especially since you are an attorney (although it could hurt you to admit that to the officer lol). Most officers get pissed if you bring an attorney to a traffic hearing because now it becomes some big deal and takes up too much of everyone's time. Most officers will be much less likely to enter into a plea with you if you bring some smart ass attorney. If an ADA prosecutes the traffic cases down there, I'd give you the opposite advise. An ADA will be more receptive to a plea offer from another member of the bar. Since you are, I still wouldn't waste money on another attorney.