My question involves a traffic ticket from the state of: Virginia
Hi everyone, I'm a 31-year-old Maryland resident with a totally clean driving record except for one ticket 4+ years ago in Virginia for doing 65 MPH in a 55. I was issued a ticket and paid it immediately. Other than that, no other tickets in my life.
Last night I was running very late heading back home to Maryland and was steadily doing about 62-63 MPH in a 55, on a rural single-lane road in Virgnia. I passed by a marked police car who immediately turned around and chased me down. He threw on his lights, so I put my right signal on and pulled onto the entrance to a road 8 seconds or so after he put on his lights so we can both be out of danger due to the lack of shoulder on the road we were traveling on. I immediately shut off the ignition, lowered my window, and put my hands on the wheel so he would feel safe. He approached my car and immediately advised me that our conversation was being recorded, and that he is required to tell me that. I was asked for my driver's license and was asked if the car was mine. I offered my registration but he didn't want it. He advised me I was doing 66 in a 55 MPH and I would be getting a summons. I'm not familiar with the law (I stay out of trouble and don't have experience with tickets) so wasn't really sure what that meant. I kindly apologized and advised him I thought I was only doing around 62 MPH, but admitting I knew I was doing a little more than 55 MPH. He responded it that it may have been due to the downhill dip in the road when he passed by me. He said it in a relatively kind way and said he'd be back.
The officer returned to my car several minutes later and had me sign the paper for the summons. It stated I was doing 66 in a 55 as he previously verbally told me, which I don't feel to be totally inaccurate. The officer told me if I appear in court on that date the judge may not escalate things if I have a relatively clear driving record in Maryland (which the record is totally clear there). But now I'm not sure what to do in regard to the summons. I have to return to Virginia in May for the summons and from what I have read so far it seems suggested to consult a lawyer on how to plea. It seems as if a summons is a bit serious from my reading, which makes me wonder why I was issued a summons for the speed I was doing, with my good driving record. I was very polite to the officer, pulled over in a safe location for us, and tried to make him feel as safe as possible after I pulled over. I stayed totally still in my car with my hands on the wheel, window down, and ignition off as I mentioned before... everything I could think of to do to not upset the officer or make him feel unsafe. He was even relatively polite back toward me, so not sure with all of that said why I was issued a summons instead of a simple ticket.
Anyhow, more importantly, does anyone have any suggestion as to how I should proceed with things. Do I really need to contact a lawyer? How do I plea? Will I get points on my license if I choose to pay the fine in advance rather than appear in court? Will I get points if I choose to go to court and the judge chooses to enforce the ticket and have me pay a fine? Is there anything else I should know? Thank you in advance.
Hi everyone, I'm a 31-year-old Maryland resident with a totally clean driving record except for one ticket 4+ years ago in Virginia for doing 65 MPH in a 55. I was issued a ticket and paid it immediately. Other than that, no other tickets in my life.
Last night I was running very late heading back home to Maryland and was steadily doing about 62-63 MPH in a 55, on a rural single-lane road in Virgnia. I passed by a marked police car who immediately turned around and chased me down. He threw on his lights, so I put my right signal on and pulled onto the entrance to a road 8 seconds or so after he put on his lights so we can both be out of danger due to the lack of shoulder on the road we were traveling on. I immediately shut off the ignition, lowered my window, and put my hands on the wheel so he would feel safe. He approached my car and immediately advised me that our conversation was being recorded, and that he is required to tell me that. I was asked for my driver's license and was asked if the car was mine. I offered my registration but he didn't want it. He advised me I was doing 66 in a 55 MPH and I would be getting a summons. I'm not familiar with the law (I stay out of trouble and don't have experience with tickets) so wasn't really sure what that meant. I kindly apologized and advised him I thought I was only doing around 62 MPH, but admitting I knew I was doing a little more than 55 MPH. He responded it that it may have been due to the downhill dip in the road when he passed by me. He said it in a relatively kind way and said he'd be back.
The officer returned to my car several minutes later and had me sign the paper for the summons. It stated I was doing 66 in a 55 as he previously verbally told me, which I don't feel to be totally inaccurate. The officer told me if I appear in court on that date the judge may not escalate things if I have a relatively clear driving record in Maryland (which the record is totally clear there). But now I'm not sure what to do in regard to the summons. I have to return to Virginia in May for the summons and from what I have read so far it seems suggested to consult a lawyer on how to plea. It seems as if a summons is a bit serious from my reading, which makes me wonder why I was issued a summons for the speed I was doing, with my good driving record. I was very polite to the officer, pulled over in a safe location for us, and tried to make him feel as safe as possible after I pulled over. I stayed totally still in my car with my hands on the wheel, window down, and ignition off as I mentioned before... everything I could think of to do to not upset the officer or make him feel unsafe. He was even relatively polite back toward me, so not sure with all of that said why I was issued a summons instead of a simple ticket.
Anyhow, more importantly, does anyone have any suggestion as to how I should proceed with things. Do I really need to contact a lawyer? How do I plea? Will I get points on my license if I choose to pay the fine in advance rather than appear in court? Will I get points if I choose to go to court and the judge chooses to enforce the ticket and have me pay a fine? Is there anything else I should know? Thank you in advance.
Speeding Tickets: Issued a Summons by State of Virginia. Now What
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