[MWebber]

I was driving in Blacksburg being harrassed by another vehicle (of course the officer didn't see him, because he saw the officer first, so he didn't pull out and punch it) so I took a left at a stop sign(legally) and proceeded to "loose" the harasser.

to make a long story short....

I have a reckless driving ticket for 57 in a 25 (all within < 1/4 mile from a stop he clocked me), uphill. I top the hill and haven't seen the officer, I drop over the hill and approx. 100yards and I see headlights crest the top of the hill. (possible 'punishment' , 1yr prison, $2500, and/or 6 months suspended license)

Now, I'm thinking, here comes this @hole again... then... the blue lights....now I'm sweating bullets, thanking God that he didn't clock me going down the hill, because I *meant* to loose that butthead harasser.

anyway, he's all nice and professional, considerate, and all that happy stuff, which is cool, cause I'm thinking I'm spending the night in Blacksburg (if ya get my drift).

I have 3 good driving points atm on my driving record and have *never* had negative points (e.g. below zero)

so, If anyone has input here it'd be cool, on a few points.
(There are 3-5 mkii supras that live, work, frequent the area)

would his loss of sight be enough to cause 'reasonalble doubt' as to who he stopped and issued a summons?

should I pursue the radar defence, calibrated before and after the stop, and calibrated calibration device(the tuning forks calibrated within 6 months?)

should I try for improper equipment, and go get my speedo tested?

should I try for improper driving.

should I get an lawyer?

should I move to a non-extradition conntry?

 

[dogstar]

id highly suggest speaking to a friendly police officer, or a lawyer who specializes in traffic cases.

most of the time, suggestions from private citizens are well meaning, but ill informed, and myself, i really prefer to get the straight poop.

also, best of luck, i hope you get it reduced or at least get a fair chance to have the judges consideration

 

[MWebber]

unfortunately I do not live near the area I was ticketed. so I don't know any friendly officers in that area.

I was hoping that someone on the list that have been/is a police officer would have some general advice and/or specific knowledge of Va law regarding loosing sight of an alledged offender.

I know I'm fishing for straws, and I am planning on contacting an attorney tomorrow morning. Hopefully, he will be able get it reduced to improper driving (not a misdemeanor).

Way Too Stressed and yeah I got :burn:

btw: I love the Sig!

 

[dogstar]

like i said, best of luck with it... most cops from a nearby area, even a different state should know, or be able to get the written traffic laws and bylaws pretty easily, but a lawyer who knows their business will be able to help just as easily

glad you like the sig, i done stolen it from a friend

 

[3000cc MK2]

Mike...

That is a pretty high speeding... that makes it a recklessdriving

to tell you the truth that town has some nasty cops especially emporia... my suggestion is get a lawyer and have a recalibration on the speedo and if you know somebody who can make it so far off to make it not a 20 over speed limit it might make it to a speeding

VA traffic laws xxxxxxx

jay

 

[MWebber]

we are able to access the law codes online, basically I got nailed with 46.2-862 which is reckless by speed.

unfortunately, it's one of those places where the limit is 25 and everyone does at least 40

which way would the .37 speedo gear make the speedo go? I have the .430 in now. although, I doubt this will make much of a difference in court and it's immoral or worse.

 

[dogstar]

um, you might be best to take a question such as that into pms, but if you want a simple answer, a smaller gear will spin faster....

if youd like some advice from a guy who deals with lots of cops, gimme a pm and we can chat some, might be able to make a suggestion or two.

 

[MWebber]

I haven't really entertained the thought, at lease here in Va, it's very illegal.... the last thing I want is more problems with the police.

I contacted an attorney this morning and have an appointment soon. I'll let you guys know how it goes....

Thanks for the offer on the PM.

 

[Muchbzy]

Mike, in NC when you get a ticket you get all types of letters from every lawyers office in the area that deals with traffic offenses. As long as you haven't had a ticket in a while just pick the most reasonable one. I had a ticket not too long ago, in the work vehicle, and paid the lawyer. Never went to court, saw him face to face or had the car checked. No points, no nothing. These guys are all pals and deal with the same judges all the time.

Good luck.

 

[Supra Bob]

Mike,

Speaking as someone who was a VA cop for 3 years you've already done the best thing you can... contacting a lawyer. I would definately get your Speedo tested and recalibrated..and make sure you have the receipt with you in court. The radar calibration defnse is pretty much beat.. it never works. The biggest thing you have against you is that he watched you from a stop accelerate to the highest speed he wrote ya for. The fact that he lost sight of you COULD help you, but only if it was during a time where vision was obscurred (i.e. at night, during a storm, etc.), but if he was in a position where he could positively get your plate number.. then thats not worth anything either. I would consider saying that you were being harrased by another vehicle and that you felt threatened by the person in the other car, and you were trying to get away from that person as fast as you could.... I've actually seen that one work...tho it depends on the judge, and whether or not he feels someone like you would reasonably feel endangered by someone else..(i.e if your a big dude... again.. don;t waste your time on it.)

I hope that helps man... Good luck.

Bob<--- the officer who only wrote tickets to ricers and people who caused accidents

 

[pdupler]

Just be sure to check up on the lawyer and get some sort of written record from the court of how the case is settled. A former GF paid $70 to one of those ticket lawyers who promised to make it just go away and four years later, got a summons to appear in court on the outstanding fine and late fees totalling over $450. Seems the county got low on cash and decided to open up old cases to raise revenue - they do that occasionally. I went to the courthouse with her and they told her they had no record of the lawyer having even appeared on the matter. She paid the fines and the ticket was expunged from her record - all they wanted was the money anyway. An expensive lesson learned.

Phil D.

 

[ma615mgte]

sorry to hear mike, shock: you was speeding in my town?? wait.. on my road?? :wink: now you wasnt trying to pull a wayne now was ya?? glad i WASN'T home for that one. and of those 3-4 mkII's are you including the 3 that i have? lmao :you know my ol toyota pick up, and that dakota i got can hit 70+ on that road.. (not in the turns though) i do hope it all comes through for ya... ..... i call first dibs on his 85 if he sells it! :mk2vroom:

 

[Square]

Your ticket may be heard in the Montgomery County courthouse in Christainsburg, VA. I have been in that court for a 80 in a 65 ticket. Here is my advice for you:

1)Get a lawyer, a local lawyer to the court you will appear in.

2)Get a speedometer calibration. Even if it is dead on, it may help you.

3)Let the lawyer plan your strategy. The lawyer knows the judge and the cop, and he has the experience to know what works with them and what pisses them off.

4)If your lawyer says it will help for you to be there, then make sure you can spend all day in court. One of the lawyers best tools is his ability to move your case further down in the docket. Having you case heard at 4PM instead of 10AM can make all the difference in the world.

57 in a 25 is a decent ticket, but when I was in Montgomery county traffic court I saw a 94 in a 65, a 104 in a 65 and a 93 in a 55 + a DUI + no seatbelt + 4 unregistered guns in the car. My point is that next to these clowns, you don't look so bad. Also, do not argue or become verbally agressive with the cop. I watched a guy do this to one of the state troopers in front of the judge, and the consequences were both predictable and ugly. Approach it as if the cop and the judge play golf together (which they probably do in a small town like Blacksburg) and you should be fine. If you want to talk about specifics or hear more circus stories about my day in Mongomery county traffic court, just IM me.

P.S. - I got the 80 in a 65 dropped completely. The judge was very reasonable (as long as you weren't verbally attacking his officers).

 

[MWebber]

Your ticket may be heard in the Montgomery County courthouse in Christainsburg, VA. I have been in that court for a 80 in a 65 ticket. Here is my advice for you:

1)Get a lawyer, a local lawyer to the court you will appear in.

2)Get a speedometer calibration. Even if it is dead on, it may help you.

3)Let the lawyer plan your strategy. The lawyer knows the judge and the cop, and he has the experience to know what works with them and what pisses them off.

4)If your lawyer says it will help for you to be there, then make sure you can spend all day in court. One of the lawyers best tools is his ability to move your case further down in the docket. Having you case heard at 4PM instead of 10AM can make all the difference in the world.

57 in a 25 is a decent ticket, but when I was in Montgomery county traffic court I saw a 94 in a 65, a 104 in a 65 and a 93 in a 55 + a DUI + no seatbelt + 4 unregistered guns in the car. My point is that next to these clowns, you don't look so bad. Also, do not argue or become verbally agressive with the cop. I watched a guy do this to one of the state troopers in front of the judge, and the consequences were both predictable and ugly. Approach it as if the cop and the judge play golf together (which they probably do in a small town like Blacksburg) and you should be fine. If you want to talk about specifics or hear more circus stories about my day in Mongomery county traffic court, just IM me.

P.S. - I got the 80 in a 65 dropped completely. The judge was very reasonable (as long as you weren't verbally attacking his officers).

ouch!!

Well, it's scheduled to be in Mongomery Co. court house in B'burg at 8:30 am. if it's the usual, "if you wish to plea guilty step forward" and then everyone else gets to go before the judge and plea thier case, it'll be later in the day.

I spoke with the attorney and he felt I could handle it on my own. I was not abusive to the officer,(I never am, "yes sir, no sir, etc, Dad is a former NJ Trooper, amung other agencies... blah blah blah..., short of it is, I grew up respecting officers.) anyway...

he said as long as I was comfortable do it, I could request that the ticket be reduced and ask the court to consider driver's ed. he also said the judge's in B'burg are usually pretty reasonable, and in light of my driving record, he though they would go pretty easy on me.

we shall see....

oh, Wayne, give up on getting my Supra. :fist: :werd:

 

[ma615mgte]

aww shucks :fawk: :mofo:

 

[Square]

Mwebber,

What part of Va are you from?

 

[MWebber]

Mwebber,

What part of Va are you from?

Salem, Near roanoke.

 

[Angkistrodon]

Your on the right track with the lawyer. You just got popped.....It straight SUCKS....thats it. The worst thing about it is that it all boils down to you paying money.

There are more folks from VA here than I thought! Any of you guys short and asian and driving that fine BLue 85' in Richmond? The one for sale....of which I could not make out the number on the sign in the window????????

 

[ma615mgte]

nope sorry, that wasnt me. did you say around richmond?? ill give my sister and her bf a holler, see if they spot it to get ya a #... it's breaking my heart to sell my 84 to mike... but i know the plans for that ride. :twisted: :3gears:

 

[Angkistrodon]

I've seen it twice....about the same time and the same place..on Staples Mill Rd. but he is always turning in a way that prevents me from seeing the sign!! I've honked and waved in my primer-mobile and he waved back, but I think he got a little nervous when he saw me freaking out and pointing.