Scary to get a ticket in Virginia

I had the experience of traveling through Virgina during my 2007 summer tour. On my way to Asheville NC for the STAR, I was traveling on I-81 south and had noticed a section called the safety zone where they had posted the fines on highway signs. I can't remember the exact amount of what the fines posted were but it was something like a $1000 for speeding and $500 for a fix it ticket.

Anyways, I noticed there was less Highway Patrolers there, but when I left the safety section, I lost counting all of the Hwy Patrolers after 40 miles. I had counted 70 before I stopped counting. Maybe Virgina need more money for all of the patrolers.

 

I think for the good of all we should canx this thread.
The Virginia legislature voted yesterday to repeal the law. The Governor has already said he would approve the bill to repeal when it gets to him. It's just a matter of time now.
Issue closed (except for the new ones we've started within this thread).

 

You know the Tea Act & Stamp Act were also taxes put in place to help make people take responsibility for their actions. It still doesn't mean that taxation is a justified punishment. Especially to this level, hell there have been wars for less than this. Granted speeding isn't legal. However, does speeding give the government the right to take literally 10 months worth of food out of your families mouth?

I have had 2 tickets going 98 in a 70. I paid them both. I was also the only car around, other than the THP hiding in the meadian.

...off the box now:wink:

 

I too am a Police Officer and normally dont chime in on these types of threads for obvious reasons but since I had that extra espresso today, what the heck. STELLENBRAV is right! Speeding is a choice and it is in fact against the law. But let me ad a caveat in that I too find it nearly impossible to go the posted limit especially on two wheels. But there is a time and place for "cleaning out ones carburator" and it is not near the school zone or during rush hour. There are two kinds of speeding as far as I'm concerned : 1. let me get arouind this SUV going 40 and 2. "lets see what this baby will do" . Most cops you ask only take exception to the later. As a Trooper I find more fault in what I call "road manners" i.e. unsafe lane changes, tailgating, running that 'orange" traffic light etc.. Those are the ones that cause crashes, and bad crashes. On the rare occasion I dust off my radar gun here in the beautiful Commonwealth of PA, I give motorists 18 over before I even pull out and almost never bang someone for "full speed". Most times it a roadside "chat" or a no-point obedience summons and off you go. Unless you are a D*CK then its pretty much "ON" at that point. I would also add that I nearly 10 years working the roads (afternoon shift) I could count on 1 hand the number of bikes I have stopped. Historically, motorcyclist (at least in my area) are pretty law minded folks. There are clearly more cruisers than sport bikes in the Pittsburgh area but we still have our clicks of CBR's and Gixsers. I have investigatied 3 fatal motorcycle crashes in my career and none were speed related and only 1 was the bike at fault. BAC of .24!!! The statistics actually say differentyly but by and by, speed is not a big factor in crashes for my area. See http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-30/NCSA/Rpts/2001/809-271.pdf if you want to read the NHTSA sutdy. Its a bit dated but relevent. As far as the original topic, a speeding fine in PA averages about $120.00 and that includes court cost and most carry points. However that fee is $40.00 less if you are stopped on a motorcycle becuase there is no CAT fun charge on motorcycle citations. While I dont know where that money goes to, (my pension I hope) I find that most people are far more worried about the points than cash. I agree that the legislative measures are clearly out of whack and I can also attest to the fact that VA Troops will pen out one for an off-duty brother without blinking. For you "on the jobbers" I can tell you me and mine usually adhere to professional courtesty but speed at your own risk. My best advice on beating a speeding ticket is not to get one in the first place . But if that cant be helped, DONT RUN! You'll only go to jail bloody. VFR s are fast, Motorola is faster! But when you do stop, be polite (were people too), ask the officer for a warning and if that doesnt work, please, take a hearing and excersise your God given right to a summary trial. Many times a plea to a lesser charge (no points) or an ammended speed is in order. Ok boys and girls, letter rip! I got big shoulders for an old guy.

 

Roaddog, you do restore my faith. Thanks for the input!

 

I for one like when the Leo's chime in and I hope this forum never makes them feel unwelcome, I do see why they are hesitant to post because on the other forum I frequent it's forum suicide to post their profession.

 

Hey guys long time no speak...

They repealed these laws last week, the question being argued is whether they will refund the money already taken back to the offenders or not. The Virginia citizenry went bonkers on this one.

It was so obviously a ploy to merely meet their transportation budget, and was being abused by the overzealous Police in the Commonweath that surely received preferencial treatment for writing more tickets.

I am a supporter of law enforcement generally, but have unfortunately been exposed to a side where abuse by the Police of people is rampant, especially to minorities and immigrants.

They overstepped when they started charging people on bicycles and with felonies for speeding. I have come full circle. Our biggest threat is no longer Al-Quaeda but our own government taking our liberties one by one in the name of security. Welcome to Gattaca Gents! Line up here for your V-chip in the neck! Rant over, nice to see you guys still around...:usa2:

 

A few things to consider here:

1) There are good drivers/riders & bad riders/drivers. Lumping both into one pot just because the supposed offense is the same is ridiculous at best. If I (never received a legit ticket for a traffic offense, ever) get pulled over for 5 over the limit, this is not the same as someone who has a suspended license & 5 warrants.

2) The are good LEO's & there are bad LEO's. To say all are good/bad is stupid. The town I live in has the most inept retards for LEO's I've ever seen. Might this have something to do with the fact that this town is one of the poorest per capita in the entire county? Go 15 miles east into Mt Laurel & the LEO's are fantastic. 2nd richest town per capita in the county. Hmmm...

3) Using LEO's as revenue collecting agents is extortion, plain & simple. http://dictionary.reference.com/search?r=2&q=extortion

4) Speed limits as we know them are freaking retarded. Most of the secondary roads in NJ are 45MPH. All of them are straight as an arrow. I know of one that I can do a hands off coast down for the better part of a mile. 45MPH on these roads is ridiculous. Anyone on this board who knows how to ride correctly can exceed the speed limit in just about any normal riding circumstance AAANNNDDD do so safely.

5) It's truly scary what people are willing to put up from their government since 911. As history has shown, unless the citizens do something to change the situation, the government will keep tightening the screws just because they can. Example: I can't bring my bottle of contact lens solution, a bottle of cologne or fingernail clippers on a plane. Stupid I tell ya, stupid. Further compounding the problem is the complete ineptness of the TSA. It's terrifying how dumb most of these "agents" are, yet they're responsible for our safety.

KC-10 FE out...
lane:

 

whoaaaa

no offense by this but you are a little behind lol.....that was passed back last july and now they are about to throw it out.....there have actually been legislators getting the tickets...lol the $1,050 fine was for reckless driving (i.e. speeds in excess of 20 mph over the limit) i have lived in VA all my life and i can say from personal experience THE LAWS SUCK A$$

 

Lgn001-
Excellent point. In the past week I have seen 3 vehicles being operated well after dusk with no headlights on. I can understand maybe forgetting to immediately turn them on in a well lit parking lot, but to drive down a road and leave the well lit areas into pitch black and still not realize? Where are the police? If I was a cop, I would take their friggin license away right on the spot.

More money definitely needs to be contributed to driver education.

And how about governing vehicles to 75mph? The ability (freedom?) to speed will still be there so the revenue is not lost. But I think a lot of fatalities will reduced such as the 7 people killed while watching illegal drag racing in MD this morning.

 

Hot brakes:

I disagree that speeding fines will reduce the likelihood of stupid people getting hurt.

According to the local news last night, the dumb-dumbs were standing in the middle of a four-lane divided highway at night behind a huge burnout cloud. They ran out onto the highway at 3am after the start to get a better look at the racers!

That ain't the driver's fault of the car, or the 18-wheeler that bumped through the smoke after the race. They may not have been speeding.

The crowd of people did not just happen to be having a holiday-picnic-chicken-fry at 3am, they were there to "support" the racers.

This all happened about twenty minutes away from Maryland International Raceway - where they've filmed PINKS, had NHRA races etc. This is Darwin's theory in exemplary fashion.

If you race on the street, bad things can happen.

-sorry about the early morning rant.

 

Cops, Leos, or whatever you want to call them deserve our respect, until they prove undeserving. I have raely found this to be the case. They have a tough job and deal with a**holes hourly.

That being said, I'd like to see more attention spent on cagers whose driving skills and knowledge of the rules of the road is non-existent, such as those drivers who: won't get out of the left lane EVER and back up traffic for miles; drivers who cut off semi's and anyone else, causing accidents and leaving total carnage in their wake as they drive off totally oblivious to what they have done; drivers who are so intent on the conversation they're having on their cell phone that they forget they are driving and slow down way under the speed limit, don't use their signals because their hand is occupied with the phone, run stop signs and stop lights, and generally do anything but pay attention to driving the vehicle they're in; and those drivers who haven't got a clue what the proper protcol is at a four-way stop and just sit there, or wave you on when they obviously have the right of way.

Driving is a priviledge. Driver's should be required to know the "rules of the raod" inside out, and have the physical and mental skills needed to properly and safely drive a vehicle. If only these types of individuals were given drivers licenses, there wouldn't be any need for speed limits or many of the other driving laws. Common sense would take care of it.

Yes, I live in a dream world, but I feel better now.

 

As some one who has made a fair share of "donations" to city, county & state goverments throughout the mid west. I have reached an enlightend state of mind that the officers are just doing their jobs & treat every one w/ the respect their position in society deserves. If I have an issue w/ the ticket I will fight it in court, where I have had great success in atleast getting points reduced. Like you stated generally when we speed we are completely aware of what we are doing, it is a choice. Like any other choice in life you need to be willing to accept the consequences, those are just the rules of the game. Plus by being polite & courteous generally "most" LEO's will cut you a break of some sort, especially if they ride themselves. As far as the VA laws yes they are extreme, that just law makers trying to generate revenue. They will realize soon enough that it will back fire on them.