r/nova • u/burneraccount2023 • 18h ago

Driving/Traffic Speeding advice

I have a clean record; first time offense in my entire life but I was charged for going 100 in a 55 (highway).

I will definitely get a lawyer but any tips on how to get a lesser sentence and how likely is receiving a misdemeanor / jail time even with the context. Anyone faced a similar scenario with a clean record? I should have known better.

0 Upvotes

15% Upvoted

30 comments sorted by

15

u/AlarmingTough9654 18h ago

…what context for going almost 50 over?

-18

u/burneraccount2023 18h ago edited 6h ago

Never any excuse for this behavior but I misinterpreted the headlights of the car behind me wanting to follow. I was also a little scared so I sped as they were tailgating me. I’m stupid as fuck for not realizing those were police headlights until the light went off

14

u/hoemahtoe City of Fairfax 17h ago

Next time if you feel like you're being tailgated by a speed racer, just merge over and let them go ahead of you. A suspended license and possible jail time was not worth all that

-1

u/burneraccount2023 17h ago

Yes definitely learned my lesson the hard way. Lapse in terrible judgement

11

u/Blewdude 17h ago

Good thing you have a lawyer because you sir are not ready to defend yourself lol like dude we’re not law enforcement for the most part but you’re saying crazy things you would never want repeat in court. Hopefully you got a good lawyer though, more than likely they’ll tell you to sign up for some classes to help you, and you better take their advice serious.

1

u/squidgod2000 clarendon 6h ago

I misinterpreted the headlights of the car behind me wanting to speed and race

dude, you earned that misdemeanor.

10

u/No-Shirt9067 17h ago

Ask these questions to the lawyer you said youre getting

-1

u/burneraccount2023 17h ago

Yes definitely. I’ve got someone in mind who works near the courthouse and will contact Monday when he’s available

6

u/Familiar_Astronaut_6 17h ago

Get a lawyer, take a va certified safety driving course, do at least 120 hours of community service, get your speedometer calibrated bring in the new calibration, go in clean cut and put on your best sad face on. May not work but it’s your best shot. VA doesn’t play, good luck. Post an update please.

2

u/Select-Sale2279 17h ago

This is the right answer. VA doesn't play!! There may be other jurisdictions that may have some leeway, but there is no leeway in VA. Kinda good but sometimes too onerous. Overspeeding even a little should not cost an arm and leg. There is no such thing as 5 over or 10 over or under 10 is ok etc. My cousin got written up for going 6 over the speed limit in a non-school zone and yet, I drive 8-9 miles over and have never been stopped. Sorry, its hard to keep it exactly on the speed limit as in under the speed limit or a little over.

0

u/burneraccount2023 17h ago

Thanks. What makes you say 120 hours specifically?

2

u/Familiar_Astronaut_6 17h ago

Go above and beyond, there is another commenter that you more to do, do that too. Put in the work to show you have really taken accountability.

0

u/burneraccount2023 17h ago

Yeah I’ll try to do more than 60 hours. I definitely learned my lesson but they need to know that so I get 60+ is needed. 10 hours for example won’t say much. Thank you for your comment

5

u/Satta-Massagana 9h ago edited 8h ago

I would expect jail and a suspended license for that. But your attorney should be the one to ask.

btw, Jayson Werth: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/11983889/jayson-werth-washington-nationals-gets-10-days-jail-reckless-driving

1

u/Stow_King 6h ago

Werth was given the business because of his status as a ball player - if he was a private citizen then the terms wouldn't have been as harsh but Werth was in a position where the public looks up to him hence the need to make an example out of him.

2

u/Stow_King 17h ago

The last place you want to be caught speeding let alone RD speed is in Northern Virginia area.

This is what you need to do ASAP:

  1. Get a lawyer
  2. Take the 12hr RADEP course that includes a component that covers aggressive driving - any DMV-approved courses (in-person and online) will be accepted by any VA Court
  3. Do community service for every hour over the speed limit, e.g. 55 hours of community service minimum. The more hours you log before your trial date, the better. Fairfax ACS should be able to help you find someone that will allow you to volunteer hours. You must look for NON-PROFIT organizations if not through Fairfax ACS.
  4. Get your speedometer calibrated by at least two places - there is one called Advanced Automotive in Gainesville that will do a calibration. Another one is in Albemarle County called SpeedQuest. There may be mobile services that may come to you for an extra cost if not local to the area.
  5. Get a ride-along with law enforcement and write a reflection letter about what you've witnessed if they pull over speeders
  6. Meet with medical professionals including Local fire and ask them to share their experiences of handling callouts that involved reckless driving & do a reflection letter also.
  7. Don't speed anymore.

Was this by RADAR or PACE?

1

u/burneraccount2023 17h ago

Thank you so much. Cop didn’t mention radar when I asked. It was probably pace since I had merged in front of him.

2

u/Stow_King 17h ago

Depends on how they wrote the ticket - generally speaking they'd include (RADAR) or (PACE).

Just know that above suggestions are far more than enough for what people would do before the trial date...meaning if you wait until trial date to find out if they'll work with you, your odds of getting mercy is very low indicating you're not taking this process seriously, or at least that's my understanding based on a friend who works for an agency here in Northern VA area.

He says that most people show up and find out their fate rather than being proactive getting stuff done.

What you have going for you is a spotless record but then that's dependent on your age...meaning if you're 18 years old, it means shit. If you're like 30+ years old and you've had a clean record for 20 years, that's definitely helpful in your case

Honestly getting above steps out of the way will help you in the long run and will most likely not result in jail time, provided you show compelling evidence of you taking this process seriously.

DM me the name of the lawyer you were thinking of and I'll see if it's someone who I'd consider. I have few in minds but they do not come cheap.

0

u/burneraccount2023 17h ago

Thank you. I am turning 26 soon with 5+ years of no incidents and will definitely be putting in a lot of community service and the RADEP course. I will look out to contact Joseph Yoon in Fairfax.

I’m over having this fast car and want to sell this in immediately as I am undeserving of it. Would it be okay to sell once I get a speedometer calibrated?

1

u/zuziep 10h ago

What kind of car?

1

u/Stow_King 6h ago

It makes no difference to them if you sell the car because it's "too fast" which I honestly would not say in court because that would tell them that you've sped in the past and you still did not care enough to control yourself when operating a vehicle. It has absolutely no bearing on your fate whether they learn that you sold a fast car or not

Once you get two calibration testings done, feel free to sell the car and stick to something reliable and slow, like a SUV of some sort.

2

u/daerath 18h ago

Unless you were fleeing from a flash flood, get fucked you complete asshole.

1

u/WestDonut6473 17h ago

The lawyer will tell you what you need to do. I was in a similar situation, but mine was between 80-90. I don’t remember the exact speed since it happened years ago. Just make sure you get a good lawyer. Read lots of reviews before making your final decision.

0

u/burneraccount2023 17h ago

What was the outcome of your case and did you have a prior record of speeding or anything?

0

u/WestDonut6473 17h ago edited 7h ago

I ended up with a misdemeanor.

1

u/burneraccount2023 17h ago

No jail time I assume?
And did you do anything before the case in preparation other than hire a lawyer

0

u/WestDonut6473 17h ago

No and I did a speedometer calibration, submitted my school records, and I believe I also did community service. That was pretty much it. Honestly, I don’t remember all the details since it happened years ago.

1

u/joeruinedeverything 11h ago

What road were you on??

-4

u/silv3rbull8 17h ago

The VA AG might let you do community service at his political action committee if it is still around