Reckless Driving - Hampton, VA

dolci · August 26, 2009, 11:04:05 AM

http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=28738.msg499002#msg499002

Suggestions?

somegirl · August 26, 2009, 11:53:08 AM

Sorry to hear, you might check out this previous thread about speeding tickets:
http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=21760.0

Good luck.

KnightofNi · August 26, 2009, 12:08:38 PM

out of curiosity, what was reckless about it?
was it a certain amt over the limit?
was it because there were kids in the car?
were you weaving or sis you cut someone off?

either way, in my completely unprofessional and uintraing opinion i owuld suggest not pleading guilty at the very least.

dolci · August 26, 2009, 12:13:19 PM

80 in a 55. Everyone had a seatbelt on. According to the code listed on the citation, it's a straight 20+ mph over the posted speed. (Now had I been in my car, I'm not even sure I could go that fast without a car part flying off

)

cyrus buelton · August 26, 2009, 12:18:58 PM

Yes, you need an attorney.

fair price is from 500-1000$ (at least that is what my brother charges in Chicago Suburbs)

I paid 500$ for an attorney for an 98-65 last year.

Bun-bun · August 26, 2009, 01:05:13 PM

VA has a stupid definition of reckless. Anything over 20+ over the limit. It's usually not hard to beat, and if you were a local, you might not have been hit with anything but the speeding. The lawyer is up to you, but it's been my experience that if you show up in court, plead not guilty, explain your situation(no accident involved, clean record, kids distracted you, etc.) and ask nicely, the judge will usually drop it to simple speeding. Of course, YMMV.

Are you still in the area?
Wanna take a ride?

NAKID · August 26, 2009, 01:29:54 PM

In my experience, if you go in and plead not guilty, the judge cuts you off and sets a court date. The date to appear on your ticket is just an arraignment, not a chance to plead your case to the judge.

cyrus buelton · August 26, 2009, 02:11:39 PM

Quote from: NAKID on August 26, 2009, 01:29:54 PM
In my experience, if you go in and plead not guilty, the judge cuts you off and sets a court date. The date to appear on your ticket is just an arraignment, not a chance to plead your case to the judge.

That is correct.

And then the police officer will come to court.

not advisable to do this way without an attorney and a damn good reason to think you are not guilty.

Kopfjäger · August 26, 2009, 02:12:51 PM

Quote from: NAKID on August 26, 2009, 01:29:54 PM
In my experience, if you go in and plead not guilty, the judge cuts you off and sets a court date. The date to appear on your ticket is just an arraignment, not a chance to plead your case to the judge.

I guess that all depends where you live. The date on the ticket, which has said (date to appear in court) in the past. Was the date I went to court and contested my ticket. I have never used a lawyer for traffic court. ymmv

NAKID · August 26, 2009, 02:13:58 PM

Hmmm, odd. My experience is limited to AZ and CA...

dolci · August 26, 2009, 02:28:59 PM

According to the officer, the date on the ticket was not an arraignment - it is the trial date. (I work with several hundred attys, so sometimes, even when flabbergasted, I remember to ask a couple things)

Bun-bun · August 26, 2009, 03:26:48 PM

Unless they changed things in the last couple of years(always possible), Dolci's right, the date on the ticket is the trial date. Since the law is set up for 20+ over, reckless is a fairly frequent charge here.
I got out of one on my bike several years ago by telling the judge that I wasn't hurting anyone but myself by driving that fast on a motorcycle and that if I wrecked, my punishment would be worse than anything the courts could dish out.
Somehow he bought it!

NAKID · August 26, 2009, 03:27:43 PM

Working with several hundred attys may have it's privileges. See if one will represent you pro bono...

cyrus buelton · August 26, 2009, 07:05:04 PM

my court date was my arraignment.

I could plead guilty or not guilty. Not guilty gets me a trial. I plead guilty and ended it.

This was in Ohio, July 2008.

Not sure how you can have a trial without the police officer being there. Who is going to ID you at the scene?

So is every officer coming to every 20+ over in the state of VA? probably not.

cyrus buelton · August 26, 2009, 07:10:14 PM

Quote from: dolci on August 26, 2009, 02:28:59 PM
According to the officer, the date on the ticket was not an arraignment - it is the trial date. (I work with several hundred attys, so sometimes, even when flabbergasted, I remember to ask a couple things)

Trial Date?

you going jury or bench trial? I believe the sixth amendment guarantees your right to a trial by jury.

therefore.....

If you go jury, who is interviewing the jury to get a proper group of individuals?

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Reckless Driving - Hampton, VA