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Actually tire size can really swing your speedo reading off by more than some people assume. For example, if you have a truck and switch from stock treads to taller treads for off roading your speedo can rate you faster than you're really going. If you switch from stock tires on a Celica to glorified rim protectors then your speed could read 52mph when you're actually going 60mph.
What's your stock tire size (i.e., 185 75R14) and what's your current tire size? It's easy to figure out how the reading might be altered. Try this calculator:
It might be enough to get the reckless driving thrown out if you can sell it. You don't necessarily need a lawyer if you're reasonably well spoken and can take a pleading tone. This isn't a jury trial after all. If you've never gotten a reckless before then there is a good chance it can be reduced. If you were doing rapid lane changes, and driving like an a#* then you'd have to pitch it like you realize you made bad choices and are willing to complete a safe driving course. If you communicate a willingness to affect change then a reasonable judge could take that into consideration and reduce the charge to a standard speeding ticket. Also, if at all possible, having your mom or dad there to back you up would look great because it would give the judge an opportunity to get preachy to both you and them, which might work in your benefit.
In all seriousness, you're in trouble with Virginia. They actually could've arrested you on the spot and hauled you off to jail. Reckless driving here in VA is very serious and it will cost you dollars and points. It may also cost you your car insurance and the priviledge to drive. Maybe you'll 'get off' with just having very high insurance premiums and a 40-hour defense driving course.....Please don't opt for getting the el-cheapo Virginia Uninsured Motorist Insurance. Although it's about $500/year, it's not worth squat -- you will be held fiscally accountable for any and all liability on other people if you have an accident and they sue.....that could financially haunt you for life (unless you file bankrupty).
Be prepared to cough up around $200 in court for the charge. You will NOT beat reckless driving. They've probably got you on radar and if you go to court thinking you have an 'excuse' of fat tires, you don't stand a chance. The Judge is going to have your record in front of him/her and your record is already tainted. Like another person wrote, if you are excusing your excess speed, get the certification of your calibrated speedometer. Your word means nothing in court. And the court system sees people 'like you' all day long. There is no such thing as an excuse unless you have factual evidence for the Judge to inspect.
With reckless driving, you'll also have points added to your depleted drivers record. If you get an attorney, they may advise that you take the 40-hour defensive driving course prior to court. You'll be taking that anyway, if they continue to let you drive.
Since you have priors here in VA, my bet is that you'll pay the full fine, instructed to take the defensive drivers course, and get a restricted drivers license to go to and from work and school.
Personally, I think you should lose your license for a time because it doesn't appear that you understand how dangerous high speed can be. Not trying to be mean here, but your history of driving isn't showing responsibility to those of us who are reading what you've shared. Unless you've seen a fatal accident or know someone who has lost their life due to excessive driving, you will probably continue to drive irresponsibly. I sincerely hope that you have a talk with yourself and make a few changes. It might mean all the difference between life and death.
I could be wrong but I think some of us are getting a wee extreme with our opinions on this forum. One thing to keep in mind is that Reckless Driving is that it's a general term that applies to going 84 in a 65mph zone, and it also applies to someone in a souped up Celica doing 84 in a 65mph zone AND losing control of and ditching their vehicle before the trooper has a chance to flick their lights on. There aren't official graduated degrees of Reckless Driving so the judge will be keeping this in mind if the kid pleads guilty and makes sensible arguments as to why his speeding should not be characterized as a serial offense. I mean, for goodness' sake, you've got countless examples of involuntary manslaughter charges reduced to reckless driving misdemeanours in Virginia (just google them) so it's a reasonable assumption that you can get a reckless driving charge reduced to a basic speeding charge once you attend a court imposed driving course.
I mean, seriously, doing 84mph on I-81 is an average cruising speed in the passing lane for about 50% of commuters out there. I have a college age member of our extended family in Winchester that got her reckless charge reduced (and she had plenty of speeding priors believe me) and another person on city-data had the charge entirely expunged from his record after taking the course so clearly it's possible.
Thanks for everyones advice who provided it. Although, I do agree some peoples opinions are a little extreme. I simply came here looking for advice, not to get lectured. I know that I need to calm down when driving yet I do not feel my driving was reckless in any way. There were no cars around me, I only exceeded to these speeds because I just got out of traffic and was frustrated, I did not pass anyone and I was in the fast lane. Although I still know that these are no excuse for speeding.
I did check the link that seanpecor provided (thanks for that) and it showed that my tire size would make my speedometer 3mph lower than what I'm actually traveling. I have an appointment tomorrow to get it calibrated.
Also, if at all possible, having your mom or dad there to back you up would look great because it would give the judge an opportunity to get preachy to both you and them, which might work in your benefit.
Only if the driver is under 18. Past that point, parents are irrelevant. Depending on the court, they may not even be admitted into the courtroom.
I could be wrong but I think some of us are getting a wee extreme with our opinions on this forum.
I'd agree that personal vilification of those who get busted for either 81 or +20 under what are extreme laws that even most Virginians aren't aware of is going too far. I'd say the same for personal vilification of those who get busted on a DUI for a .08 as well. But some of that may have come in this case from a perception that VTH in his early posts came across as being a little cavalier over his situation. In this case, that's a good way to end up being made an example of, and no one wants to be made an example of.
Quote:
Originally Posted by seanpecor
One thing to keep in mind is that Reckless Driving is that it's a general term that applies to going 84 in a 65mph zone, and it also applies to someone in a souped up Celica doing 84 in a 65mph zone AND losing control of and ditching their vehicle before the trooper has a chance to flick their lights on.
Not really. Reckless for speed and reckless for failure to maintain control are separately defined and separately treated. Celica-dude might well be eligible for both.
Quote:
Originally Posted by seanpecor
I mean, for goodness' sake, you've got countless examples of involuntary manslaughter charges reduced to reckless driving misdemeanours in Virginia (just google them) so it's a reasonable assumption that you can get a reckless driving charge reduced to a basic speeding charge once you attend a court imposed driving course.
That's the sort of thing you're hoping to walk away with. The reduced plea, a few hundred bucks, the traffic course, and a year's restricted license restored on condition of no further violations. That's the good outcome. There are a number of worse ones, and given the existing record and a reluctance to obtain counsel, it wouldn't be very hard to wander into one of those. I can only repeat that this citation is a matter to be taken very seriously.
Location: Virginia Beach moving possible to Michigan
77 posts, read 414,134 times
Reputation: 46
Well........ I feel for ya VT. I have two kids, one by the way will be transfering to VT in the fall, at Radford now. Being a parent you will just have to except the the lecutring, it's what us old folks with life experience do But my lecture to you would be the previous speeding tickets at a young age when you have not been driving for the last 20 years. You didn't learn and you had it coming sooner or later, as I tell my son, if you develop a habit that is against the law, sooner or later you will get caught, just a matter of time. Now for my humble advice. Tell your parents, suck it up....yeah you'll get lectured again, but you will have resources ( or not, I made my son pay me back lawyer fees and for 6 months, to school only and work was he allowed to drive....can we say BICYCLE ). Maybe, just maybe you can get the wreckless driving reduced to speeding, with the calibration, but previous infractions don't help. Other then that, slow down dude and be patient or change cars. My son drives his sisters old beat up Ford Escort, he's driven it too Bonarro and Florida. Get rid of the rocket pocket, put some slow Reggae on your iPod and chill at 65. Good luck.
^good avice.
So, VT do you pay all your insurance, or are you carried on your folks? If you arer carried on your folks they will find out. You will get points and your insurance will go up, if you are under 21 you might get dropped completely.
I could be wrong but I think some of us are getting a wee extreme with our opinions on this forum. One thing to keep in mind is that Reckless Driving is that it's a general term that applies to going 84 in a 65mph zone, and it also applies to someone in a souped up Celica doing 84 in a 65mph zone AND losing control of and ditching their vehicle before the trooper has a chance to flick their lights on. There aren't official graduated degrees of Reckless Driving so the judge will be keeping this in mind if the kid pleads guilty and makes sensible arguments as to why his speeding should not be characterized as a serial offense. I mean, for goodness' sake, you've got countless examples of involuntary manslaughter charges reduced to reckless driving misdemeanours in Virginia (just google them) so it's a reasonable assumption that you can get a reckless driving charge reduced to a basic speeding charge once you attend a court imposed driving course.
I mean, seriously, doing 84mph on I-81 is an average cruising speed in the passing lane for about 50% of commuters out there. I have a college age member of our extended family in Winchester that got her reckless charge reduced (and she had plenty of speeding priors believe me) and another person on city-data had the charge entirely expunged from his record after taking the course so clearly it's possible.
Sean
Some of us in this Forum are a wee bit wrong.
Reckless driving can be classed as a Felony. Reckless driving will stay on the driving record for 11 years.
Please learn the laws before dismissing this as an 'oopsy'.
Hokie, It might be prudent to hire an attorney since you have priors. BTW, Your driving WAS reckless.
This subject has come up on the boards before, we all speed & are guilty of slight over speeds on the roads but 19 mph over 65 is a bit excessive & dangerous.
I don't post much on the va section so i'll probably catch a little flack but anyway this is just my general overview on this of which could be off base since what one reads in text here can be taken the wrong way.
so on with the lecture, i'm curious what the other tickets are (keep in mind these are just my opinions) you seem to be wanting to discount the fact that you are in fact guilty of reckless driving.
"I'm pretty worried now since I've heard reckless driving is serious"
while driving 84 the thought didn't occur to you at that speed if something happened the consequences would be extremely serious.
"I currently have two other tickets on my record which were within the past 6 months or maybe longer"
did it not enter your mind that what if i get pulled over.
"I'm pretty sure my speedometer is off by a couple mph's"
no excuse what so ever.
"do you think it will be hard to drop the reckless driving charge"
your 3rd ticket & you still want the state to give you a break.
"I know that I need to calm down when driving yet I do not feel my driving was reckless in any way"
"I only exceeded to these speeds because I just got out of traffic and was frustrated"
frustrated & excessive speeding, but yet not reckless, we all get pissed off in traffic but still at those speeds there was no regard for your nor anyone else's safety.
"I did not pass anyone and I was in the fast lane"
totally irrelevant, your lucky you didn't get an illegal lane usage also.
"Although I still know that these are no excuse for speeding"
hopefully a lesson learned
now i did pick at your posts, but not to be degrading you or anything like that, just to make you aware of how serious this charge is plus this is what your going to hear from the lawyer & possibly the judge.
the speedometer deal, don't even think of bringing that up before a judge or a lawyer that in no way is any defense what so ever, you will need a lawyer don't even think of appearing by yourself & bringing mommy & daddy is not going to help your case one bit, your being charged with reckless driving the judge is not concerned with you pleading i'm mr goodie two shoes.
the other opinions expressed are not in the extreme in my opinion they're merely the facts, you have no defense what so ever so your just going to have to pay the piper, as an example 5 cars are speeding in line, your the last 1 in line & the officer pulls you over, in your defense your going to say well the other 4 were speeding also why me, he's going to say your the one i got so end of story sign here.
i ask you what would have happened if a tire blew out, animal run out in front of you, mechanical failure, in no way could you maintain control of the vehicle at that speed resulting in seriously injuring or killing yourself and possibly innocent others.
so bottom line is you are guilty (over 80)of reckless driving of which is a criminal charge, you will need a lawyer, you better take it serious, your probably going to have to pay big time for this one, depending on whether your lawyer can get the charges reduced, who the judge is, your attitude & record, you may get a slight break but not looking good.
without a lawyer the odds are against you, you will be paying more in the long run if the outcome is not in your favor.
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But my lecture to you would be the previous speeding tickets at a young age when you have not been driving for the last 20 years. You didn't learn and you had it coming sooner or later, as I tell my son, if you develop a habit that is against the law, sooner or later you will get caught, just a matter of time. Now for my humble advice. Tell your parents, suck it up....yeah you'll get lectured again, but you will have resources ( or not, I made my son pay me back lawyer fees and for 6 months, to school only and work was he allowed to drive....can we say BICYCLE ). Maybe, just maybe you can get the wreckless driving reduced to speeding, with the calibration, but previous infractions don't help. Other then that, slow down dude and be patient or change cars. My son drives his sisters old beat up Ford Escort, he's driven it too Bonarro and Florida. Get rid of the rocket pocket, put some slow Reggae on your iPod and chill at 65. Good luck.
