Virginia speeding tickets for out of staters - input?

[mjimport]

I just got a ticket for 80 in a 65. It was one of those wrong place/wrong time situations when the limit dropped from 70, I never saw any speed limit signs, and traffic was too heavy to set the cruise and I was not prepared for the extremely steep mountain I was driving down.

Anyway, it's about 6 hours drive from home in PA and my court date would be May 2nd to dispute it. As of now, I plan on paying the ticket by mail and be done, roughly $160 total.

My question is, are there any suggestions you all have for dealing with this? It looks like Virginia is one of the many states that transfers info back to the home state, so there's no getting away with not paying or not getting points on my record.

So much for my perfect record 😤

[TimeMachinE30]

Pay it. Move on. You do the want to try the courts.

Furthermore, you should have known better to speeding VA.

[b*saint]

I would just pay it. I got an out of state speeding ticket once in IL. It was my first. And its NOT like Mass where if you miss the day to fight it they fine you extra money and send you the bill. They got all butt hurt and had a bench warrant out for me. SO lame. Just pay.

[jrossowvue30]

You're lucky that the cop wasn't in a dick mood and that you weren't going 81mph otherwise you'd been reckless and pre-pay wouldn't be an option (assuming he didn't write it up as reckless...). Pre-pay is your best bet but you'll also have to pay court cost even if you pre-pay, I think it is an additional $60 tacked on to the total, no way around that.

Va traffic laws are pretty bad, speeding being the absolute worst. I always run my radar detector, even in town. If you're traveling thru and you have one don't turn it off, I wouldn't drive in this state without one.

[boomer]

You're lucky that the cop wasn't in a dick mood and that you weren't going 81mph otherwise you'd been reckless and pre-pay wouldn't be an option (assuming he didn't write it up as reckless...). Pre-pay is your best bet but you'll also have to pay court cost even if you pre-pay, I think it is an additional $60 tacked on to the total, no way around that.

Va traffic laws are pretty bad, speeding being the absolute worst. I always run my radar detector, even in town. If you're traveling thru and you have one don't turn it off, I wouldn't drive in this state without one.

Don't the cops in Va. use a device that detects radar detectors?

[jrossowvue30]

Don't the cops in Va. use a device that detects radar detectors?

So they claim but I don't know. I have a Beltronics STi Driver which is undetectable, I've had it for 4 years and no issues. I know other guys who just use Escort Passports X50's which are detectable and also never have an issue. I have heard of guys in Northern Va having issues with cops picking up their V1's so maybe in certain areas of the state (like NoVa where there are a lot of out-of-state drivers) they're looking for them more than they are right smack dab in the middle of the state like I am in Richmond.

Also, if they mange to catch you with one it is a $40 fine, they don't confiscate it and its not a moving offense so no points. To me totally worth the risk.

[boomer]

I had my Escort on the floor and was still able to pick up a signal about 20 seconds before
I saw the patrol car. This was on I95 N, south of Richmond.

[jrossowvue30]

I had my Escort on the floor and was still able to pick up a signal about 20 seconds before
I saw the patrol car. This was on I95 N, south of Richmond.

No ticket?

I get so much satisfaction when my RD alerts me to a speed trap and I crusie by at the speed limit. I think the cops in Va assume nobody or almost nobody is running with a RD so they just sit in their spots and run radar. I seldom see them using the instant-on guns that would be harder to detect. Considering anything above 80mph is considered reckless in this state you'd be a wise to get one.

[boomer]

No ticket?

I get so much satisfaction when my RD alerts me to a speed trap and I cruise by at the speed limit. I think the cops in Va assume nobody or almost nobody is running with a RD so they just sit in their spots and run radar. I seldom see them using the instant-on guns that would be harder to detect. Considering anything above 80mph is considered reckless in this state you'd be a wise to get one.

No ticket. I usually turn my RD off in Va. but felt lucky this trip.

[Exodus_2pt0]

Virginia, the land of hollowed out headrests with V1's stuffed inside.

[mjimport]

LOL, maybe it's time for me to invest in one. I have an old one, but I'm talking 15 years-old old. Been sitting in a box somewhere for years.

Is there any process for deferring the points? Years ago in Indiana I was able to pay additional court fees of around $300 and deferred any points on my record. I have also heard of some states offering a "class" on safe driving that would reduce the penalty.

[Kershaw]

My question is, are there any suggestions you all have for dealing with this?

Pay the ticket and stay out of VA. They take speeding very seriously there. Why would you even think about not paying it? Lol.

[M-technik-3]

Pay it and as others have said be glad they did not write it up as reckless driving.

[jrossowvue30]

LOL, maybe it's time for me to invest in one. I have an old one, but I'm talking 15 years-old old. Been sitting in a box somewhere for years.

Is there any process for deferring the points? Years ago in Indiana I was able to pay additional court fees of around $300 and deferred any points on my record. I have also heard of some states offering a "class" on safe driving that would reduce the penalty.

The way to get some points shaved off would be to go to court and ask the judge to knock it down a few MPH if you take a driver improvement class. Not sure if you would have to take that class in Va or if you could take it in Pa then just send the certificate down to the court.

[mjimport]

Pay the ticket and stay out of VA. They take speeding very seriously there. Why would you even think about not paying it? Lol.

I'll be clear, I'm not intending on going rogue and become a fugitive of the law LoL. But in years past in Michigan it used to be common for drivers to contest the ticket and half the time the officer would not show up to the court date, which would result in the judge throwing out the violation or at least reducing to a minimum violation.

Anyway, thanks for all the input!