Legal Question in Traffic Law in Virginia

First Speeding Ticket - Also my last!

It was 9PM, clear weather and there were three other people in the vehicle with me. I was pulled over for doing 75 in a 60 MPH area and the officer asked me where I was going and I let him know the department store. He said ''What?'' Then I clarified by saying ''Target.''

He then asked me was there any reason I was speeding and I said ''No, officer.'' I guess that was me admitting to the offense.

I intend for this to be my last ticket. I'm 20 years old and will turn 21 on December 26, 2005. The court date is set at Jan 18th, 2005. A couple months ago, because I'm blessed to have a good job, I purchased a new car and pay full coverage on it.

The only other times I have been pulled over, but not ticketed, was for a license plate light out and forgetting to put my registration stickers on my license.

Questions:

Will this first time speeding violation affect my insurance?

Is a trip to court (Greene County) worth it? If so, what should I bargain for (traffic school, etc.)

Should I pay the ticket now or wait until after I turn 21?

Should I skip the whole court thing and take traffic school to get more VA driving points back? Will this even out the insurance hit?

Thank you so much!


Asked on 12/15/05, 2:12 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys

Michael Hendrickson Law Office Michael E. Hendrickson

Re: First Speeding Ticket - Also my last!

As long as the charge is not reckless driving,

you might as well pay it now and remember it as

a cautionary instruction for the future.

I see no point whatsoever in waiting until your age 21 to dispose of this matter and, yes, it may have some effect for a while on your insurance premiums(depending upon which predatory carrier you're contracted with).

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Answered on 12/17/05, 12:00 pm
Jonathon Moseley Jonathon A. Moseley

Re: First Speeding Ticket - Also my last!

I don't know Greene County. But in some smaller

counties like that, you might very well be able

to plead guilty to 70 or 69, which would be a

lower category of seriousness, and have less

impact on his insurance, if you actually go and

show up. It is also possible that showing up

will make no difference. But I think if you

show up and plead guilty to 69 or 70, there is a

very good chance you will get a lower category of

ticket, with less impact.

For a simple ticket, I don't believe that traffic

school would make any difference, however it

would add 5 points to your point balance on

your license and this may be helpful later on

for insurance and any future trouble that arises.

The decisions of the insurance company are

private decisions that each individual insurance

company can take. Therefore, it is really not

possible to say. The insurance company does

not have to pay attention to traffic school if

they don't want to.

Also, I don't think it would make any difference

whether you wait until you turn 21.

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Answered on 12/18/05, 8:57 pm


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