Nissan 370Z Forum - Need advice on a reckless ticket in VA

Nissan 370Z Forum (http://www.the370z.com/)

- Mid-Atlantic Region (http://www.the370z.com/mid-atlantic-region/)

- - Need advice on a reckless ticket in VA (http://www.the370z.com/mid-atlantic-region/37548-need-advice-reckless-ticket-va.html)

Seems like very sound advice. Good luck.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jessobear (Post 1155261)

I did some research and the most reasonable advice I found was to show up in court with no lawyer and attempt to speak with the officer and/or the commonwealth attorney prior to court. It was felt that you could very often make a deal with them where you would agree to plead guilty to a lesser charge (careless driving or speeding).

If you were unable to speak with either of them or they were unwilling to make a deal, you file for a continuance and then hire a lawyer.

The general feeling was that hiring a lawyer was an unnecessary expense that resulted in no additional good in most cases. There was no risk in trying to make the deal yourself because you could always request a continuance and still hire the lawyer. The only thing wasted was your time.

The one exception where you always hired the lawyer was if you were trying to get the ticket dismissed, which I'm not trying to do.

This is not legal advice. I am not qualified to provide legal advice.
I've only been a "customer" of the VA traffic court legal system(aka Revenue Generation System).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jessobear (Post 1155261)

show up in court with no lawyer and attempt to speak with the officer and/or the commonwealth attorney prior to court. It was felt that you could very often make a deal with them where you would agree to plead guilty to a lesser charge (careless driving or speeding).

It is my understanding at least in some VA counties that plea deals can only be made by your lawyer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jessobear (Post 1155261)

There was no risk in trying to make the deal yourself because you could always request a continuance and still hire the lawyer.

Showing up and asking for a continuance because you cannot make it to court probably will not work.

Calling ahead and requesting a continuance (before the deadline) can be good for lessor charges. Several years ago I got two continuances(finals week and summer finals week) and ended up in court more than 3 months after the original court date and the officer lost my paperwork. Case dismissed.

Your lawyer can also show up and ask for a continuance if he knows the judge/ada does not reduce anything. Then you show up at the next court date with a hopefully favorable judge/ada.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jessobear (Post 1155261)

unnecessary expense that resulted in no additional good in most cases

Additional Good:
My lawyer got the RD ticket reduced to speeding and no traffic school required. Friend of mine's lawyer just got his RD dismissed totally(I'm fairly irritated, and wouldn't expect that to happen again).

What county were you in?

It sounds like there are all kinds of options you can choose from, choose wisely.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red__Zed (Post 1153989)

I agree for the most part, but every judge is different. It is often helpful to watch how they respond to earlier people.

That is exactly what I did, I saw the the ones that argued got hammered hard and the ones that admitted guilt got off easier. So I admitted my infraction, charges were dropped to a lesser infraction, payed like $25 and went on with my life. :tup:

Quote:

Originally Posted by PapoZalsa (Post 1156951)

IANAL, but I would just note that in VA they take reckless pretty seriously. They may reduce the fines/points on lesser infractions, but they tend to treat reckless as especially egregious. I would definitely talk to someone about this. I know a couple people who had high MPH tickets that were reckless in NoVA who both thought going in without a lawyer would be fine. Each one got screwed (and we are talking about the no lube up to your elbow type).

Now NoVA is different than Richmond, so I don't know how they handle it there.