You're already taking the right road by planning to defend yourself on this ticket. I may have read too quickly, but if it hasn't already been mentioned...nothing out of pocket is better spent than trying to assure this information doesn't get back to your insurance company. If you can get the ticket lowered/dismissed by a competent attorney, the 'over-the-long-run' costs you will save yourself in increased insurance rates will *more than* offset the one-time lawyer fees. Good luck!

- Dave

 

Last year, I got a failure to stop ticket in NC. I called the court and all they required from me was to take the DI course and pay the fine + court costs. They even postponed the court date for a month. In NOVA things are more difficult. However, in western VA you might be better off.

I would call the court ASAP and ask if I can talk to the prosecutor (or anyone with decision making power). If they allow it (and they should because you live very far away), ask them what do you need to do to get it reduced. They might just ask you to take the DI course and pay a small fee. The $2,500 penalty is the maximum in VA, so if you have a good record you won't get it. If they do not allow you to talk to the prosecutor, then you need a lawyer to represent you. In that case, shop around for a good deal and ask him to get it reduced.

Anyway, I really think you'll be ok.

Pedro

 

Sorry to hear that Mark, if you need a speedometer calibration I work for Honda be more then happy to help out let me know good luck man

-Alex-

 

I hate to be mean but va is just the most retarded place in the USA. Even the most western part of VA knows that and said "screw you all and your stupid ideas we are gonna brake off and be called west virgina". Not turning this into a "oh you don't know what you are talking about James your ignorant" thing and not trying to hijack marks thread. It just shows how inbread VA's political system really is. Come on he was doing a little bit more than 10 over and it's cause for a suspended license and up to a 2500 fine!!! Don't they get enough money from the taxes they continue to charge you for things you already bought! Now don't get me wrong it's beautiful down there the mountains and beaches all are nice and I enjoy spending time there but damn. The whole states governing system need to be overhauled.

 

Glad someone said it. It really is ridiculous. I always drive extra slowly in VA...except for maybe that one drive to Shenandoah.

 

Eh. MD really doesn't have a draw for me honestly. I have a bunch of buddies who are UMD grads and live in Columbia now, we get into this discussion a lot actually. MD may have the better traffic laws, but it just feels too much like the 'burbs everywhere for me.

It's not that crazy down here - you guys were both on the Shenandoah trip last fall, and I don't think we saw a single LEO that day. I've been running without a front license plate since I bought my S, which is illegal in this state, but I've never had a problem.

Yeah, the fines are probably too high, but it's not like this state is any worse than the rest - Mark just got unlucky, sadly Hopefully all the advice here can help him mitigate some of the damage.

 

Sounds like a lot of you pay a lot for lawyers...I got a reckless driving ticket a couple years ago, 68 in a 45. Paid around $400 for a local lawyer, got it dropped to just a regular speeding ticket. I didn't have to go to court with him or anything. I'd definitely just shop around for a reasonably priced lawyer in the area where you have court.

 

$400 for a lawyer on a reckless driving ticket is a steal. If you can find someone willing to do it for that, good on you. That's super cheap though. $1000-$1500 is the norm around here, with some dropping it down to the $750ish range. That's if you don't have a hook-up of course.

 

Update:

Local(southern,south-western Virginia) Lawyer Richard Mattox III @ Miller & Cerasuolo. Service charge is $250. I've talked to him thoroughly and he is confident that he will make this ticket to non moving violation with somewhere between :$200-$280 fine with $60 court fee with my no speeding ticket in 5-7 year history He also said I don't have to be present and he will do it all himself.
I was expecting to spend $1k+ but he sounded very confident and very professional. I'll update you guys how it goes and the result.

 

sweet!!!!