Speeding Tickets in Virginia
Speeding tickets are relatively common, but that does not mean that they should be taken lightly. Speeding tickets in Virginia can come with fines, fees, and other consequences that can seriously affect your life. You cannot ignore a speeding ticket, and it often makes sense to fight it instead of just paying the fine. To find out what makes the most sense for your situation, you should contact a skilled speeding ticket attorney for help.
Fines and Fees
Speeding tickets come with a number of potential fines and fees in Virginia. The standard court fee is $62 and that will be on top of any other fines you get from the court. Generally, the court will fine people $6 for each mile over the speed limit that they are caught going. Therefore, someone ticketed going 10 miles above the posted speed limit will be charged $60 on top of the $62 fee for a total of $122. This does not include any additional fees for speeding in a school zone or other increased penalty area.
Longer Term Consequences
However, when it comes to speeding tickets the original fines and fees are the tip of the iceberg. Speeding tickets can also come with demerit “points” that will increase the cost of insurance. On average, in Virginia getting a speeding ticket will raise your insurance almost $65 each year. According to the website Nerdwallet, “The true cost of a speeding ticket in Virginia is 2.38 times the cost of the actual ticket—drivers pay an average of $335.84 in total for a $141 speeding ticket.”
It is possible to reduce the amount of demerit points on your license by taking a driver improvement course. These cost approximately $75.
Reckless Driving
None of the above fees include the possibility of a reckless driving charge. Reckless driving is a criminal charge in Virginia and can be a misdemeanor or even a felony in some cases. Virginia’s reckless driving statute includes a special provision for speeding. Speeding in Virginia is considered reckless driving if you are going 20 miles or more over the speed limit or you are driving over 80 miles an hour. If you are charged with reckless driving you can face even higher penalties, and a criminal record that can affect your ability to get certain jobs. In some cases you can even serve jail time for reckless driving.
Do I Need an Attorney?
If you get a speeding ticket, you have a choice. You can either plead guilty and pay the fine (and face the long term consequences as well), or you can plead not guilty and go to court. While you technically do not need an attorney, it is often worth it to pay an attorney to get the best outcome.
Contact Our Leesburg Attorneys for Help
If you receive a speeding ticket anywhere in Northern Virginia, you should contact a knowledgeable attorney as soon as possible to help you dispute the charge or get the penalties reduced. Our experienced speeding ticket attorneys at Simms Showers, LLP in Leesburg, Virginia can help you fight your ticket.
Resource:
nerdwallet.com/blog/insurance/true-cost-speeding-ticket-virginia-va-insurance/
