Glad i don't live in VA.

 

Longshot here but is there any way to question the accuracy of his detection equipment in the circumstance it was used, was there a median in between you???

 

Sometimes wives can come in handy ! If you are in good relations with her, maybe she can testify as witness in your favor. Like you said, there is no way you were going that fast. The officer must have registered a Solar Flare or possibly a surveillance aircraft paining the area for recon mission. I would not rule out nuclear EMG waves emanating from a late model japanese car in close proximity behind you. Besides, you have a 75 MPH beep alert set on your car that never went off. The officer had himself and some electronics. You have yourself, your wife and the overspeed alert.

Did you know that in a serious investigation they can acquire/obtain as evidence your cell phone's GPS function via cell phone towers to ascertain actual speed. Or even the black box in your car for that matter. But as long as no one noticed the dead body in your frunk you are safe.

I vote for a good lawyer and move to Florida and get an escort.

 

Sorry Viken, you are wrong. One of the first things you do, Every shift, is test AND log your laser/radar's calibration and accuracy. It's in the officer's ticket notes, as is everything the driver said. This driver has already shown he's not a liar, and would likely not have his wife perjure herself. Hopefully, you wouldn't do that to your wife either.

The fastest way to get the maximum sentence is to lie or try to get out of something you did. That's when they just figure you're a dusche and deserve the max. I'm sure he'll do the right thing and he'll get off with a good lesson learned.

 

My best advise is if you have a moment of the stupids, don't do it in Virginia.

I have (had) a perfect driving record. There was nobody on the road (six lanes) when I hit the gas for a quick underpass "listen to the exhaust" sprint. Clocked and ticketed at 115/45. Got a $500.00 fine, 90 days/70 suspended (only 10 of the 20 days are served and my time is split between weekend jail and community service), and a 6 month suspension of license.

Judge will not allow a restricted license at this time. Which really sucks as I am a consultant...thank God my wife doesn't work and can play chauffeur .

 

Good god. Honestly -- makes me want to move out of here. With cars like these, it's only a matter of time...

Sorry to hear about it. Punishment certainly doesn't fit the crime.

Henry

 

Yes sorry for your loss. However, the punishment certainly does fit the crime. Penalties in the traffic law are clearly stated and if someone is driving over two times the posted (legal) speed limit, they have to accept the punishment when caught. If you want to drive 115 mph, do it on a race track not on a public highway with a speed limit of 45 mph. That's not wanting to hear the exhaust underneath an underpass because that can be done at 50 mph in second gear. That's just, as the OP said, stupid.

He was fortunate the fine was not the max, and that he gets to spend his jail time on weekends. I'm sure he feels fortunate he wasn't sentenced to 90 days in jail 7-days a week which would have certainly meant a loss of job and possibly more. The judge was nice.

 

Always use a radar detector and laser jammer, regardless if they're illegal where you live. If you drive fast frequently get a RD that is permanently installed in the grille. Getting busted for having these is a lot less painful than for excessive speed.

 

I knew this a long time ago. Virginia is not the place to own anything that can get to 60 mph fast... let alone 120 in what it takes most cars to hit 60.

Lived in Germany... bought a BMW M3.
Came back to Virginia. Sold the M3 and got a Prius.
Moved to PA and bought a Porsche Turbo.
Came back to VA and bought a BMW 530xi.
Went to afghanistan.... came back and bought the A3 in my sig.

Fast cars = fast trouble in VA. I have a lofty clearance and VA is retarded. Wished I had bought my townhouse in MD... oh well.

And the law for clarification is not 82+ it's 80+ mph or 20 mph over any posted speed.

 

Here is story in Virginia on the Dulles / IAD corridor that connects to the airport to the beltway, 17 years ago.

When I saw a cop behind me, the person next to me, who I knew was not feeling quite well, told me to let her take care of this. She lowered the back rest 3/4 way down and "proceeded" to have severe lower abdominal pains. After we stopped and I had brief conversation with the officer, she begged the officer to hurry with tickets etc. so she can get medical attention. She also asked what was the "safest" way to get to an emergency room. I noticed she named the officer at least twice during the conversation. The officer thought momentarily, took our names and asked us to follow him. After about a couple of miles (or so) he indicated we turn right on to an exit ramp. For some unknown reason we kept driving and reached the hospital. When we went into the ER and registered we were notified that a "concerned" officer had called ahead and asked to be notified if we do not show in 10-15 minutes.

PS: Don't know who is reading this post, but I made all this up.

 

[quote=thomashpsn;3500512]My best advise is if you have a moment of the stupids, don't do it in Virginia.]

Unreal. It's a money thing.... obviously.

I recall being at Ferrari / Lambo of Wash and being cognizant of how fascist the road rules were and are being enforced there in VA and thinking "most of products they sell here shouldn't even be legal"

Good luck man. It will all work out in the end. Just maybe the "car culture" has a casualty as far as someone wanting to come out and play, but i personally fully understand. What a bummer

 

Please let me know where you get your mary jane from.

 

Check out the potential penalties for driving over 80 mph on a public roadway. He was driving almost 3 times the posted speed limit. He could have had his car taken away, jailed for up to one year instead of most of his sentence being reduced, $500 fine - low, was allowed weekend service of his sentence and his suspension could have been doubled - or revoked for life. Careless driving is - careless. You don't drive in that manner on a public roadway. Simply driving 20 miles an hour over the posted speed limit can get you more than what he got. He was extremely fortunate. Period. Public safety on the roadway has nothing to do with revenue when he could have easily been fined much more.

 

I don't think anyone is debating that the laws are on the books. When I said punishment doesn't fit the crime, I meant:

Him driving that particular car, that speed, on that road, doesn't deserve the penalty he received. The law doesn't take into account if it's a box truck or a supercar with a pro racecar driver behind the wheel... there is an obvious difference.

A friend of mine received less punishment for a DUI, and certainly *ANYONE* texting on I-95 at even a legal speed is so much more of a risk to other drivers it isn't even worth considering.

It doesn't fit the crime, it is however, extremely easy to punish and vilify a speeding ticket like that because it isn't going to happen often.