Never speed in Virginia... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

spdrun · #1 01-19-2015, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dynalow

Thanks for the post. Many is the time I've rocked around the Beltway & out the Dulles Toll Road to visit family in NoVA. . 75 is about my limit....anywhere. Maybe 80ish once in a while.

Q about the article. Where is Rappahanock County. Front Royal is mentioned and , iirc, is out near the top end of the Skyline Drive, no? Out in the Boonies.
Jail is a real beetch for speeding in the Boonies.

He said Rt. 211, which is a 4-lane stretch of rural highway near Washington, VA (not to be confused with DC). I'm guessing 7-8 miles to the east of Washington, past Washington, to the border of the national park. Pretty much Jerkwater, Yoknapatawha County.

Speed limit is 55, people routinely go 70-75. Over 90 is excessive. But that's not the problem with VA law. The problem is that reckless in VA is defined as 15 mph over the limit, which means that basically ANYONE driving on that road can be charged with a serious misdemeanor.

aklim · #2 01-19-2015, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spdrun

He said Rt. 211, which is a 4-lane stretch of rural highway near Washington, VA (not to be confused with DC). I'm guessing 7-8 miles to the east of Washington, past Washington, to the border of the national park. Pretty much Jerkwater, Yoknapatawha County.

Speed limit is 55, people routinely go 70-75. Over 90 is excessive. But that's not the problem with VA law. The problem is that reckless in VA is defined as 15 mph over the limit, which means that basically ANYONE driving on that road can be charged with a serious misdemeanor.

How so? According to him the cop was unlike what your rants were.

Quote:

During the traffic stop the trooper was polite and professional. My passenger the GM rep explained whose car it was and that we were on a media drive. The trooper told me I was going way too fast in a 55 mph zone and he had to charge me with reckless driving. (By the way, telling the cop you're a journalist doesn't get you out of speeding tickets. Quite the opposite, in some cases.)

The trooper also took the time to explain what that meant, legally speaking, to a transplant like me not familiar with the local laws. That was kind of him. I wasn't arrested, I was merely given a summons to appear in court. He didn't impound the ZL1 either, which I'm told he easily could have done.

80 and up is automatically reckless driving. That is 25 over the 55 limit. Also according to him 20 over is reckless driving, which means that basically ANYONE driving on that road WHO CHOOSES TO DO 20 OR MORE OVER can be charged with a serious misdemeanor. Sorry, if you don't know you are doing 20 over, you have no business driving. If you do know, you deliberately chose to run the risk of getting busted and being charged with a misdemeanor. It is that simple. As a judge told the guy in front of me "If a broken speedometer was an excuse for speeding, nobody would have a functioning speedometer.".

spdrun · #3 01-19-2015, 05:51 PM

I think they changed the limit for reckless to 15 over. It's 15 over or 80 mph whichever is LOWER, btw.

As to not knowing you're going 15 over, there are situations like a 50 mph limit dropping to 35 around a curve, otherwise known as a speed trap. Granted, you'll probably be required to pay a fine (point of speed traps is revenue), but if the cop doesn't like your color, car, state of residence, whatever, reckless is an option.

aklim · #4 01-19-2015, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spdrun

I think they changed the limit for reckless to 15 over. It's 15 over or 80 mph whichever is LOWER, btw.

As to not knowing you're going 15 over, there are situations like a 50 mph limit dropping to 35 around a curve, otherwise known as a speed trap.

Granted, you'll probably be required to pay a fine (point of speed traps is revenue), but if the cop doesn't like your color, car, state of residence, whatever, reckless is an option.

Don't know if they changed it and when. All I know is now it is 20 over limit or 80. Like I said, you should know when you are doing 20 over or 80 so any issue is your inadequacy not the cop's, legislature, judge, cat, dog, etc. Currently, there is something said about changing the ceiling to 85.

I don't know about your GPS but mine has the speed limit and a red square to indicated when I am over. Besides it is YOUR duty to know where the speed limit is precisely. If that is too difficult, don't drive. It is MY job to know and watch for speed change signs. My failure is not their fault. If the sign was run down 10 mins ago, fair enough. I think I KNOW (may not necessarily obey) that the speed is more likely to drop when going into a curve or thru a populated area. My instructor years ago told me it was my responsibility to watch for speed changes, BTW.

Then don't give him the option by complying. Again, if that is too difficult, don't drive. Stop blaming someone else for your own mistakes with wild suppositions. What next? He might shoot you, put a gun with the serial numbers filed off in your hand and claim that you pulled a gun?

Sure, it's possible. Most anything is.

spdrun · #5 01-19-2015, 06:13 PM

I don't have a g.d.m.f. GPS and my phone is in flight mode when driving. As it should be.

aklim · #6 01-19-2015, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spdrun

I don't have a g.d.m.f. GPS and my phone is in flight mode when driving.

As it should be.

Were you born blind or are your eyes in flight mode when driving too?

As it should be? By what law?

Jim B. · #7 01-21-2015, 09:46 PM

"Death penalty for parking tickets".

~~ Steve Martin

spdrun · #8 01-21-2015, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim B.

"Death penalty for parking tickets".

~~ Steve Martin

You mean Larry Niven?

Jim B. · #9 01-21-2015, 10:16 PM

I think the gravitas of the crime should bear some real Telationship to the actual crime that was committed.

JB3 · #10 01-22-2015, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim B.

I think the gravitas of the crime should bear some real Telationship to the actual crime that was committed.

And so it did. The judge could sentence for a day in jail for every mile an hour over 90. 93 miles per hour, 3 days in jail.

Obviously, the judge was not fond of this jalopnik journalist, so was not lenient on him.

aklim · #11 01-22-2015, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JB3

And so it did. The judge could sentence for a day in jail for every mile an hour over 90. 93 miles per hour, 3 days in jail.

Obviously, the judge was not fond of this jalopnik journalist, so was not lenient on him.

Or maybe he pulled the "I'm a journalist, give me a break. " routine and expected a break and pissed the judge off. He did indicate it works at some locations and not this so maybe that was why she pushed for the max. Some guy coming in front of me acting contrite, I might give then the benefits of the doubt and hope they are sincere. You come with an attitude and I definitely will nail you for all I can.

David Wilson · #12 01-22-2015, 06:13 PM

Headed to Richmond on 64 today and looked down at the speedo and I was doin 82. Thought about this thread and backed er down to 79. LMAO.

Bill was introduced in the VA house this week to raise the limit to 85