Sucks To Be A Virginia Driver

[Flying Headbutt]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/22/AR2007062201781.html?hpid=topnews

And I've now added that to the list of states I may never be able to live in the rest of my life again, just in case. And I have a great driving record right now, but still. This is obscene.

 

[amraeder]

Man that's insane! At what point does it become cruel or unusual?

 

[Football_Bat]

Not to worry. Texas beat Virginia by at least two years. It'll be that much sooner this gets struck down by SCOTUS. Not even Scalito would agree this is due process.

 

[John]

There is certainly an element of bull**** in this, but if you don't drive 20 mph over the limit or commit any other serious infractions, then it really shouldn't be a problem for you.

 

[Cadet]

Hee hee... when you look at this topic from the main board it's abbreviated to "Sucks to be a Virgin..."

 

[pallister]

With my driving record, I should probably stay out of Virginia.

 

[2muchcoffeeman]

Not to worry. Texas beat Virginia by at least two years. It'll be that much sooner this gets struck down by SCOTUS. Not even Scalito would agree this is due process.

Exactly. The key point here is that it doesn't apply to out-of-state drivers ticketed in Virginia.

That said, I have no problem at all with a punishing fine for first-conviction DUI.

 

[zeke12]

Yes, but at least they didn't raise taxes...

 

[playthrough]

Hey, someone go mess with the gal who blew .50 and tell her to move to the Commonwealth...she's probably still drunk...

 

[93Devil]

80 mph is not uncommon on 95.

In fact, so many people do it, you do not get caught. It's the people going 90 and over that get zapped. More accidents are caused by people weaving around people doing 65 (the speed limit) than people driving faster but driving straight forward.

We have had a couple nasty fatal wrecks here involving tracktor trailers in the past few months, but the real bad one was caused by a cop chasing a motorcycle.

The cycle was pulled over and fled. In the persuit, the cop clipped a car and the hit car went airborn from the outer loop to the inner loop and into oncoming traffic. I think five people died and 15 or so were injured. It was a complete fubar by the cop.

They did a crackdown on 95 this weekend and I saw four people pulled over and two other cops in a 14 MILE STRETCH!!!

Yeah, Virginia roads need some help.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

95 in Virginia is bad. 81 is worse. Two lanes in bad shape and many, many trucks. Every car and truck is many miles from their destination, and driving like it.

 

[expendable]

Oh you have to love the Communistwealth of Virginia, the state that banned radar detectors. The problem on the Virginia interstates is not Virginia drivers for the most part. Case in point: I've tried, but I've never, NEVER been able to pass a car with Maryland plates on a clear stretch of interstate.

 

[Moderator1]

Pursuit, but your point is valid.

I don't see a need to drive more than 80. If you stay under 80 - as someone said above - you should be fine.
My son bitched about a speeding ticket once and I gave him my best fatherly advice.
Don't speed.

 

[Hustle]

Devil's right on. Additionally, there was an accident that killed four girls who were either in college or had just graduated HS (like that day), caused by a quick weave in front of a semi who had nowhere to go. Though alcohol seems to have played a major factor in that wreck too.

I've seen people act like I'm doing 55 when I'm doing 75, so hopefully it's those people that get nailed (says the perennial speeder).

 

[write then drink]

i don't see what's wrong with these fines

might get some assholes to drive safer

might save some lives

 

[lono]

I thought this thread was going to be about Ward Burton.

 

[Mystery_Meat]

Say you are driving 78 mph on the Capital Beltway and a state trooper tickets you for "reckless driving -- speeding 20 mph over."

Perhaps the writer forgot the decimal between 7 and 8.

 

[Big Buckin' agate_monkey]

i don't see what's wrong with these fines

might get some assholes to drive safer

might save some lives

Exactly. Are they eye-opening numbers? Yep.
But clearly the $75-$150 fine isn't changing anything.

 

[SixToe]

These fees don't have anything to do with due process. You still can argue your case in court and pursue it.

The fines are pretty steep, but don't break the law and it won't affect you.

I believe D.C. may have the worst traffic and some of the worst drivers I ever have seen.

 

[fanboy]

One of the problems with is is that Reckless Driving is a really broad charge in Virginia. It's not just about speeding 80 or above. Improper lane changing could be construed as Reckless if the cop wanted to push it. I know someone who went off the road after a blowout and was charged with it even though there was no evidence they were speeding because of some provision in the law that gave a cop too much discretion.