Virginia residents
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TECH Junkie
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From: Fall River, MA
Virginia residents My girlfriend got pulled over and got caught doing 84 MPH in a 65. They are charging her with reckless driving. She has no intention to attend the court hearing cause she lives is Mass. Will this affect her Mass driving record?? Should she just spend the money and hire a lawyer to attend the hearing?? Should she just pay the fine and Mass will never get wind of it??
I was under the impression that a surchargeable offense in another state wouldn't affect your Mass driving record. Does anyone know what we should do?? JLee any thoughts??
Marco
I was under the impression that a surchargeable offense in another state wouldn't affect your Mass driving record. Does anyone know what we should do?? JLee any thoughts??
Marco
Do your homework on this, Marco. Both the Commonwealth of Ma. and the Commonwealth of Va. do some strange things regarding reckless driving vs. speeding. Could possibly hurt her insurance rating big-time. Make sure you talk w/someone who's positively in-the-know. 
WJ
WJ AFAIK, driving records are shared across state lines so MA could very well find out about it. Regardless, it will most likely be useless to hire a lawyer for reckless here in VA. It's pretty damn strict in certain parts. Where exactly did she get the ticket?
On The Tree
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From: Just Around the Corner
Her insurance company will most definitely find out and her rates will really increase.
Reckless driving is a serious offense. Your girlfriend should go to court and pay the fine. Virginia is not that far.
Reckless driving is a serious offense. Your girlfriend should go to court and pay the fine. Virginia is not that far.
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TECH Junkie
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From: Fall River, MA
I'm not sure where exactly in Virginia it happened. Some lawyer sent her a letter stating he would represent her in this case. I guess I am gonna recommend she hire the lawyer to appear. Does anyone have a good lawyer they could recommend, again I'll find out what town the courthouse is in.
Marco
Marco
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Originally Posted by tbyrne
How did the lawyer get her info? Talking to a lawyer would be helpful, especially if the charge can be reduced to something like speeding.
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TECH Resident
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Marco...I had this exact same thing happen. I got a RD in VA, and am also a MA resident. It will follow you home. I got a lawyer, he went to court, cost me 300 bones, but got it reduced to "improper driving" wich is similar to a basic speeding ticket. It will still go on your record, but not as bad. And if I remember right you HAVE to either go to court or have a lawyer go for a reckless. I got 76 in a 55 (Driving the Bay bridge tunnel at 1am coming back from jersey to Norfolk). Either way, bite the bulllet and get the lawyer.
As far as I know reckless is mandatory court appearance in VA. May 2005 I was doing 86 in a 60 and it was mandatory to appear. You are allowed one extension...just send them an email and they'll give you one. Can give you a month or two depending on when the stupid cops next court date is. Mine was reduced slightly but still got a reckless and 6 points. $210 fine including court costs. Luckily I didnt get my license suspended like the other 3 girls that were ahead of me in court that got pulled over by the same sucky state trooper.
-Michelle
-Michelle
Originally Posted by Krazy98Z28
I'm not sure where exactly in Virginia it happened. Some lawyer sent her a letter stating he would represent her in this case. I guess I am gonna recommend she hire the lawyer to appear. Does anyone have a good lawyer they could recommend, again I'll find out what town the courthouse is in.
Marco
Marco
I got those too and found out how the lawyers get that info. Lawyers can look through the upcoming court appearances for any traffic violatations. All they do is just look through them find the defendants and then send out thier info to them. Their almost like Ambulance Chasers!
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From: Fall River, MA
Originally Posted by Whip
Marco...I had this exact same thing happen. I got a RD in VA, and am also a MA resident. It will follow you home. I got a lawyer, he went to court, cost me 300 bones, but got it reduced to "improper driving" wich is similar to a basic speeding ticket. It will still go on your record, but not as bad. And if I remember right you HAVE to either go to court or have a lawyer go for a reckless. I got 76 in a 55 (Driving the Bay bridge tunnel at 1am coming back from jersey to Norfolk). Either way, bite the bulllet and get the lawyer.
We will be hiring a lawyer to appear. so far she only got one letter in the mail from a lawyer, I guess we'll decide who to hire. Hopefully they can get it reduced also, I really hope she doesn't have to appear cause that means I'll have to take a day out of work to drive her down there
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From: Fall River, MA
Originally Posted by Flamin' bird
I got those too and found out how the lawyers get that info. Lawyers can look through the upcoming court appearances for any traffic violatations. All they do is just look through them find the defendants and then send out thier info to them. Their almost like Ambulance Chasers!
If you need a lawyer I can give you my landlord's info. She is totally cool and really nice. I just moved in to her townhouse late July. She does traffic offenses . Just let me know. BTW what county was she caught in? If it's in Fairfax, Loudon or Prince William she can represent her.
Michelle
. Just let me know. BTW what county was she caught in? If it's in Fairfax, Loudon or Prince William she can represent her.Michelle
Originally Posted by Flamin' bird
If you need a lawyer I can give you my landlord's info. She is totally cool and really nice. I just moved in to her townhouse late July. She does traffic offenses . Just let me know. BTW what county was she caught in? If it's in Fairfax, Loudon or Prince William she can represent her.
Michelle
. Just let me know. BTW what county was she caught in? If it's in Fairfax, Loudon or Prince William she can represent her.Michelle
I think I would feel more confortable going with her over the guy that sent an offer for his services. Yeah, it's helpful in a way but I was also thinking Ambulance Chaser.
Good luck in hiring a lawyer. A lot of times if it's in a strict county (for example fairfax or prince george's) they couldn't care less who you have to represent you. When I got a reckless a couple months ago, it was my first ticket ever (i was 22 and been driving since 16) so that was the only luck I had on my side. Everyone else in court that date got stuck with their reckless, even some people with good excuses. One guy got a reckless from a cop going the other way on I-295 that "visioned" him going faster than the speed limit, and the dude even had cruise control set on 65 supposedly. On top of that he stated that the trooper didn't have his hat on either which legally means the cop can't write a ticket and the cop didn't argue it. The judge didn't care, the dude still got the ticket. It all depends on the judge and county. Personally, I think getting a judge for a reckless is overkill and a waste of money. The bottom line is the judge is going to issue what he is going to issue. There is not much to argue in a reckless citation. You were speeding, and speeding well over the limit, not just by a small margin. The main thing is to just show up and plead your case. Worst case scenario is you still get the ticket, but at least you didn't shell out $300-$500 to find that out.
Last edited by ArcticZ28; Sep 20, 2006 at 11:38 AM.
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TECH Junkie
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From: Fall River, MA
what gets me is , just because 84 in a 65 is considered reckless in virginia why should it pertain to Mass? Mass doesnt doesnt charge you with it doing that speed. Can't we play the dum tourist and say well I'm sorry it wasn't a law I was aware of, in my state we get a speeding ticket which we can appeal and win. How the **** is my girlfriend supposed to know shes commitiing a criminal offense when shes not from this ******* state.... **** I should go there and defend her.
Originally Posted by Krazy98Z28
what gets me is , just because 84 in a 65 is considered reckless in virginia why should it pertain to Mass? Mass doesnt doesnt charge you with it doing that speed. Can't we play the dum tourist and say well I'm sorry it wasn't a law I was aware of, in my state we get a speeding ticket which we can appeal and win. How the **** is my girlfriend supposed to know shes commitiing a criminal offense when shes not from this ******* state.... **** I should go there and defend her.
I got a ticket for 87 in a 65 in va but got lucky and he knocked it down to 84 in a 65 so i didnt get the reckless. That was in my escort though, i didnt even know it went 87 mph, lol