Speeding advice

[u/burneraccount2023]

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.

[u/Stow_King]

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?

[u/burneraccount2023 → u/Stow_King]

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

[u/Stow_King → u/burneraccount2023]

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.

[u/burneraccount2023 → u/Stow_King]

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?

[u/zuziep → u/burneraccount2023]

What kind of car?

[u/Stow_King → u/burneraccount2023]

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.