I ran across an amusing post on a message board asking for help on a reckless driving ticket in VA.
Hey guys, I ran into some bullsh*t cops today on I95. I was apparently going 105mph in a 55mph zone. I think the cops were just jealous of my modded Honda Civic, so they decided to pull me over. It was total bullsh*t man. They’ve probably never even seen Fast & Furious. There was like nobody on the road, except the people behind me that I was passing. I am so pissed. They said it was reckless too!
What should I do? Hire a lawyer? Hire an attorney? Try to sue the cops for lying? It was really embarrassing to have to pull over for these idiots. It’s like they have nothing better to do. Should I just ignore it? What’s the worst that could happen? I don’t want to have to pay for this fine. If I ignore it will it just all go away? I just want to close my eyes and make it all go away….Please, anyone out there? Helloooooo?
Maybe this is a fake plea, but it is entirely plausible that there are people this young and ignorant on the roads.
It is amusing to think that someone might suspect “jealousy” as a motive for a police stop, over the less emotionally dramatic, but more practical possibility that the cops decided to pull him over because he has traveling 50mph OVER the posted speed limit.
For that kind of speed, it will likely take some fairly miraculous lawyering and judge on painkillers to keep him out of jail. Most of the time 90+mph is plenty for an invitation to be a guest of the Commonwealth for a few days, and over 100mph is asking for an extended stay.
And some Virginia judges are perfectly willing to require some jail time for ANY reckless driving charge of any speed.
For any criminal offense, it makes sense to consult with an experienced Virginia defense attorney. Just because the incident resulting in a traffic citation, and not an arrest on the spot, doesn’t make it any less serious. Reckess driving is a criminal offense, as serious as a DUI. Any Class 1 misdemeanor conviction is a serious black mark, resulting in a criminal record that can haunt you for years, and possibly the rest of your life.
So take advantage of a criminal defense case evaluation. Even talk to several different attorneys if you need to, in order to find the attorney who gives you the best advice, and really knows what he or she is talking about.
And, no, a criminal citation for reckless driving in Virginia will absolutely not “go away” if you ignore it. Be smart, and deal with something like this as quickly and aggressively as possible. Because there is often a lot you can do to help yourself and get charges significantly reduced.