Richmond Speeding Ticket Frequently Asked Questions
In Richmond, speeding tickets are issued in variety of ways and places. The most common places, however, are Interstate 95, Interstate 195, Interstate 64, which are all the main thoroughfares in and around the city. In addition to these Richmond law enforcement is very active in enforcing speed limits on secondary roads like Broad Street, Cary Street, and on the various bridges throughout the city.
If you have been pulled over and cited for speeding the following is information you should know regarding the different types of speeding offenses, where you can pre-pay your ticket (if you so choose), and the difference between speeding and reckless driving in Richmond. To learn more or seek legal counsel call and schedule a consultation with a Richmond speeding ticket lawyer today.
What Are The Different Types of Speeding Offenses in Virginia?
There are a number of speeding offenses in Virginia. The basic type of speeding offenses are simple speeding tickets like 1 to 9 over the speed limit, 10 to 14 over the speed limit, or 14 to 19 over the speed limit.
If you are charged with going 20 mph over the speed limit or more law enforcement officers have the discretion to charge you with reckless driving, which carries more severe penalties and can impact your license. This charge is especially common if you are pulled over going 20 miles over the limit in a high traffic area.
In addition to these speeding offenses there are charges that deal with location such as speeding through a school zone or work zone, both of which routinely come with increased fines.
What Level of Offense is Speeding in Virginia?
Speeding is a basic infraction in Richmond, Virginia which means it does not come with any jail or any license suspension. In most cases it comes with a maximum fine of $250; however the fines can be elevated if the ticket is in a work zone, school zone, or a safety corridor.
The main consequence that comes with a speeding ticket in Virginia are the points that will be added to your DMV record upon a conviction. Accumulation of too many points can result in a license suspension by DMV. It can also result in increased insurance premiums which can cause a long-term financial hardship.
Can I Prepay a Speeding Ticket in Virginia?
You can prepay speeding ticket in Virginia, however, if you do prepay a speeding ticket in Virginia, you are pleading guilty and will receive the standard fine and costs plus all the DMV points associated with the infraction.
What Is The Difference Between Reckless Driving and a Speeding Ticket?
Even though reckless driving is often charged as a result of excessive speeding, it is not a speeding ticket. The biggest difference between the two is that reckless driving is a class 1 misdemeanor, while a speeding ticket is a mere traffic infraction. Due to this distinction the penalties are very different as a speeding ticket carries fines and some demerit points, while reckless driving charges carry a $2,500 fine, up to 6 months loss of license, 6 DMV demerit points, and up to 12 months in jail.
Why Is It Important To Seek An Aggressive Virginia Speeding Ticket Lawyer?
It is important to seek out an aggressive speeding defense lawyer in the city of Richmond because of the possible implications these tickets can have especially over the long term. Accumulations of these types of tickets can result in DMV suspensions, they can result in increased insurance premiums, and so what you need is an attorney that is capable of challenging these charges and/or resolving them in a way that does as little harm as possible to your record. You need an attorney that will actively and aggressively negotiate on your behalf with the prosecutors to try and get the matter reduced, dismissed, or possibly amended to a non-moving violation that would not permanently harm your record.