A little background: I'm from Texas where the speed limits pretty much don't exist and reckless driving by speed is not a thing. Currently I reside in Virginia, where it is a thing. I found this out the hard way.

Driving down i81 Southbound, it was early in the morning. To put a long story short, I got pulled over doing 90 in a 70. Trooper informed me anything above 80 is reckless in Virginia and I HAD to appear in court or sign this piece of paper pleading guilty and mail it in. I opted for the court.

Court date was one month from the date of ticket, I got it extended to three months after the initial date due to scheduling conflicts. In Texas, you can extend your court date for a very, very long time. Sometimes even two years. Not the case in Virginia.

Naturally, I was worried because this was a Class I misdemeanor and everybody was telling me to lawyer up. I called around, lawyers were much too expensive on my budget. So given that, I decided to go in without a lawyer.

Here's some tips for court:

• WEAR A SUIT
• Be courteous to the judge and officer
• DO NOT try to make up a BS excuse, make them understand that you know how serious the situation is
• BE prepared. Make sure you have some type of explanation or story drafted up and PRACTICE speaking

All in all, I was able to get away with a non-moving violation which entails a $250 fine and a 8 hour driving course. Much better than a misdemeanor. The lawyers in the court got their clients the same deal as I did, sometimes even worse ($500 fine and community service). I'm guessing the judge took pity on me because I was a student.

Anyhow, I just wanted to share my experience with everybody in case they needed advice or to understand how the trial process goes. The court I went to was in Marion, VA.

 

In VA be prepared to be pulled over for as little as 7-8 over the posted limit. Happens all the time.

The high posted speed limit was one of my favorite things when I visited Texas.

 

That section of 81 is also notorious for speed traps.

 

I learned this on 95nb north of Richmond. On my court date I sat and listened to excuse after excuse until finally, being last, I was able to tell the judge that I wasn't paying attention to my speed and understand how serious it was. He respected my honesty and gave me a small fine of ~$80.

Kwin's advice is pretty spot on. You'll be fine. Just avoid making a habit of +80mph speeds and don't bother buying a radar detector, they're illegal in the state as well.

 

Nice to hear you got out, but also realize there's a whole lot of luck involved. I used to make frequent trips to the courthouse and make donations to the county (been many years now), and it's all luck. If the judge is in a bad mood that day, you're f@#ked, plain and simple. If he's having a good day, be thankful and move on. Some judges are obviously nicer/worse than others as well (luck of the draw). I saw a judge give everyone driving over 80 mph a suspended license for at least 30 days (this was in Fairfax county).

 

Take the online driving courses, then go take the test at a Kinkos (Fed Ex)

No need to waste time in a classroom

 

Damn VA is no joke. In PA if you appear in court for a traffic ticket your basically guaranteed a reduction in the penalty. Last time I went the guy in front of me, no shit was still wearing his pajamas and had his ticket dropped from a 25mph over to a 6mph over.

 

I can't stand VA, reckless driving is the same as a DUI or vehicular manslaughter.

I have a court date in two weeks to fight mine. I took off at a green light and topped out at 64 in a 45. Cop couldn't get me for reckless speeding so said I "slid" through the intersection and gave me reckless general. Had I been given a speeding ticket I probably would have just paid it, but possibly having a criminal conviction I lawyered up.

 

Wow you definitely got off easier than most. IANAL but I could have sworn anything over 90 is a weekend in the slammer + an extra day for each mile. I was clocked at 96/55 back in 2010 and it was an expensive ordeal. Chris is right though; reckless driving in the commonwealth is a class 1 misdemeanor. That is the worst kind of misdemeanor.

 

Trust me, it's far better than a DUI......

Point wise, sure. They are similar, 11 years on your record and -6 points.

The repercussions everywhere else though? I'll take a reckless any day of the week.