Legal Question in Traffic Law in Virginia

Speeding ticket - worth going to cout?

This is my first speeding ticket since I started drving and the other ticket I received was in 1998 and for violation of highway sign. I am thinking of going to court and plea bargain with the prosecutor but a friend of mine said that I should just pay it and take a traffic school. That way it will offset the points that I will be having (which is 4 points for doing 10-19 mph above the posted limit) and save a trip and time. I just want to have a clean record so that my insurance premium wouldn't go up. Is paying up the best way in this situation?


Asked on 9/16/05, 11:28 am

2 Answers from Attorneys
Jonathon Moseley Jonathon A. Moseley

Re: Speeding ticket - worth going to cout?

If in fact your last ticket was in 1998 and was

not for reckless driving or DUI (which stay on

your record for 11 years) then it WILL NOT SHOW

on your record at all, and you will have a

perfect +5 score. Go to the DMV and see if you

have forgotten about any tickets, however.

If you have a perfect +5, it is worth going to

the court and telling the prosecutor that you

would agree to speeding 0 to 10 over the speed

limit. The prosecutor is going to want a

conviction for something, not to let you go

scot free. But the prosecutor may split the

difference becuase of your perfect +5 record.

I think that there is a good chance of that,

and it is worth the trip.

Speeding 0 to 10 will have fewer points and

will mean less to your insurance.

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Answered on 9/19/05, 5:59 pm
Michael Hendrickson Law Office Michael E. Hendrickson

Re: Speeding ticket - worth going to cout?

With a charge of 10-19 mph over the posted limit, there's not a whole lot to bargain about.

Your friend, probably, has it about right.

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Answered on 9/16/05, 11:57 am


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