easy dude.
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FYI: I went 75 in a 55 (speed trap) and they the officer reduced it to 56 in a 55. $390 fine with points reduced to $80 with no points
Friend went 80 in 65. Showed up and got 70 in 65. no points and reduced fine
You should expect the above seeing as how the officer flat out told you to just show up
Dude (
),
75 in 55 is not a speed trap, that is just reckless - though to be fair to you I would like to hear how that was a speed trap. Getting caught 65 in 55 maybe.
Not sure how your laws are - but 20 or above in Virginia is reck less driving (which can be a felony or misdemeanor).
In the end, just obey the law and there will be no problems....
Reckless Driving (Felony or Misdemeanor)
Reckless driving - speeding in excess of 80 mph (11 years)
Reckless driving - speeding 20 mph or more above the posted speed limit (11 years)
Reckless driving - racing (11 years)
Reckless driving - passing or overtaking an emergency vehicle (11 years)
Reckless driving - passing a school bus (11 years)
Reckless driving - passing on the crest of a hill (11 years)
Reckless driving - passing at a railroad crossing (11 years)
Reckless driving - passing two vehicles abreast (11 years)
Reckless driving - driving two vehicles abreast (11 years)
Reckless driving - driving too fast for conditions (11 years)
Reckless driving - failing to give a proper signal (11 years)
Reckless driving - faulty brakes/improper control (11 years)
Reckless driving - on parking lots, etc. (11 years)
Reckless driving - with an obstructed view (11 years)
Reckless driving - generally (11 years)
Speeding 20 mph or more above the posted speed limit (5 years)
The years noted are how long the points stay on the license.
I am old enough to remember when people did not speed as much as they do today, and obeyed other traffic laws better. One, there were a lot more cops enforcing traffic laws. Two, the judges were much more strict in following the traffic laws. Three, there was much more respect of civil order - none of this "I am better than others" attitude.
And I have said here before in these forums about traffic tickets - we need to take the approach of some other countries - and base the fine on the income of the individual. May sound socialist; but think about it before anyone gets their knickers in a twist.
The purpose of a fine is to deter one from breaking the law to begin with. So using your example of the $390 for the ticket that you received. That $390 could either be a major hit or just a drop in the bucket.
Yes, I have gotten some traffic tickets over the years. The first couple were well deserved - and I paid it (see my number three above). In other cases I was using prudent judgement. One was for running a stop sign in DC on a dark rainy night - went to court with pictures showing that the sign was set too far back from the corner for the low light conditions.
In another case, I was tagged for speeding. But I was on a road trip to test out MPG's in my new car so I was doing the speed limit. This was a speed trap as you would call it. I went in to court with my gas receipts and the MPG's I was getting. Along with a map of the road I was tagged on, a corner in the road. And got the judge to get the officer to admit that there was a semi that passed just before he "clocked" me. Case dismissed.
