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

spdrun · #1 01-19-2015, 01:43 PM

Never Speed In Virginia: Lessons From My Three Days In Jail

Auto journo gets caught doing 94 in a 55. Fun and jail time ensue.

aklim · #2 01-19-2015, 02:19 PM

Well, if he didn't want to do the time, perhaps he shouldn't have done the crime. When I speed, I know exactly what they can nail me for and when I get busted, I only have myself to blame if they nail me.

In his case it is clear cut. In my case, I am not sure. I could be charged for 20 over or reckless driving according to the definition depending on the officer's call.

spdrun · #3 01-19-2015, 02:22 PM

As expected from you, Aklim

aklim · #4 01-19-2015, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spdrun

As expected from you, Aklim

Should I have gone with the "It's a bad law and therefore he should have gotten a slap on the wrist"? Or blame the cop for enforcing a "victimless crime" law?

Skippy · #5 01-19-2015, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

Should I have gone with the "It's a bad law and therefore he should have gotten a slap on the wrist"? Or blame the cop for enforcing a "victimless crime" law?

That's pretty much my position. I'm of the opinion that many rural roads should be unrestricted (as in no speed limit), and speed limits in town are generally set too low. I also think jail time is inappropriate for any offense that doesn't involve personal injury, property damage/theft, or national security.

Now if you're speeding and you hit someone/something, that's a different matter.

aklim · #6 01-19-2015, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skippy

That's pretty much my position. I'm of the opinion that many rural roads should be unrestricted (as in no speed limit), and speed limits in town are generally set too low. I also think jail time is inappropriate for any offense that doesn't involve personal injury, property damage/theft, or national security.

Now if you're speeding and you hit someone/something, that's a different matter.

So petition for a change of the law. If you can convince them that our vehicles are able to handle it (remember the broken down POSs on the road) AND the driver is able to, I'm good. Also must be able to handle the cost of repairs when the increased risk brings increased cost.

MTI · #7 01-19-2015, 02:24 PM

well duh . . .

It was great incentive not to screw up ever again, that's for sure. I'm never going back.

gatorblue92 · #8 01-19-2015, 03:30 PM

Well thank goodness that the war on drugs has been won and there are no violent criminals on the streets of Virginia so we can start focusing on these evil speeders

dynalow · #9 01-19-2015, 04:37 PM

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.

aklim · #10 01-19-2015, 05:00 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.

We all speed. Some more often than others. Point is, if you want to speed, you have to be prepared to be caught sometime and pay the penalty. If you are unwilling and/or unable to pay, you can't play. It is that simple. Choice comes with responsibility. I speed but I don't whine that the penalty is too high. I KNOW exactly what I could be in for when I drive anywhere from 1 to 10 mph over the limit, 11-19 over and 20 over. I know the demerit points, possible court appearance, etc, etc.

spdrun · #11 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 · #12 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 · #13 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.

davidmash · #14 01-19-2015, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gatorblue92

Well thank goodness that the war on drugs has been won and there are no violent criminals on the streets of Virginia so we can start focusing on these evil speeders

My brother in law is a fireman/paramedic. He sees the aftermath of speeders all the time. Perhaps if a reckless driver take out a family member your tune might change.

Txjake · #15 01-19-2015, 04:26 PM

VA is ****ed up.