Regarding the debate over what is reckless or not, be advised that many states, e.g., Virginia, have legislated "reckless" driving to be anything over 80mph. It doesn't matter if you're Jacques Villenueve in an S2000 on an empty highway on a sunny day, in these states, over 80mph is reckless. The law used to be in almost all states that reckless driving depended on the circumstances. Where reckless driving has been legislated to be over a certain speed, the case would only require that the State prove you were driving over that certain speed. You really don't have a defense if you've admitted (which you did and the prosecution could use this thread as evidence) going over 80mph.

My advice is to get a lawyer ASAP and get the charges dropped or at least reduced to "speeding". Ask your insurance agent what reckless driving will do for your rates. Also, reckless driving is usually a misdemeanor offense, i.e., a real crime, comparable to DUI. You want to start a criminal history over what should be a speeding ticket?

Anyways, if you have a relatively clean history, usually the courts will offer some sort of safe driving class as an option to avoid conviction.

 

Fortunately, nowhere in this thread have I admitted to driving over 80. I received a citation for doing 80 in a 55. That was what the citation said. As I previously stated, I last noted my speed at 72 mph when I saw the cop car, but at that moment I was in the process of braking. I only have the word of the officer for the speed written on the ticket and he didn't stick around to discuss it with me. He handed me the ticket and immediately walked away after saying there were instructions on the attached page.

-B

 

If you can got to traffic school and get the thing dropped - take your lumps and move on. I find myself in traffic school every 2 years (frequency allowed in Arizona). Fortunately I have not received and tickets in traffic school black-out dates (2 year period).

If traffic school only allows you to keep your license and you still end up with the 6 points - do as other have stated, comb your hair real pretty, put on your best and most polite smile and go to court.

I accidently passed a school bus that was stopping while going the other direction on a 6 lane (plus turning lane) city street. I was paying attention to the mess of traffic I was in and followed the other 10 cars around me past the bus. The judge asked if I had intentionally past the bus and I said "of course not". She had the clerk pull my driving record which only showed freeway speeding tickets and dropped the ticket to a failure to yield and allowed me to go to traffic school. - be nice, polite, wear casual business clothing (not to dressy but no shorts, jeans or t-shirts).

The judge also told me that if the bus had stopped 30 feet farther down the road I would have been legal - as there was a curb seperating the north and south bound traffic.

 

You might be able to use the argument that inaccurate gauging of speed increases as the curvature of the bend increases. Radar (and Lidar) are not instantaneous (like the calculous derivative is) and as such are designed for straight-line gauging.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by airgate
[B]

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by bguernsey
[B]Fortunately, nowhere in this thread have I admitted to driving over 80.

 

A friend is now telling me that he got a ticket out of state (I don't live in Kentucky- my license is in Indiana- but I work in Kentucky) and it did not count against the points on his license, nor was it reported to his insurance company.

Can anyone confirm this? I guess I'm going to call the Indiana DMV to find out about the points, but I don't know who to ask about the insurance- certainly not my insurance company

Also, the offense code was only for speeding. Reckless driving was a separate offense code. Apparently 25 mph over is the cut-off and they don't have fines listed for anything higher than that.

-B

 

i got a reckless driving ticket in VA for doing 78/55...anyone have anything to say about this defense?

Or does anyone know the law in VA regarding reckless?

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by bguernsey
[B]
Also, the offense code was only for speeding.

 

Depends on the state you have your license in. But most out of state tickets just carry a fine and the points do not show up on your license. For example my Reckless ticket in NJ was a $179 fine deemed by the judge and no points and record of it ever appeared on my license.