Practice Areas

Speeding

Speeding Tickets in Virginia

Traffic violations and speeding tickets can have serious consequences beyond embarrassment and the immediate cost of the ticket. A speeding ticket can affect your insurance rates for years to come.

If you're a professional truck driver, limo driver, or taxi driver—someone whose livelihood depends upon a commercial driver's license—that speeding ticket can show up on your driving record. More than one speeding ticket and you could lose your livelihood.

Given the long-term costs of a speeding ticket, it's disturbing that most people don't even try to defend themselves in traffic court. Hiring a speeding ticket lawyer now can save you money in the long run. Contact the law office of John J. Rice; I'm a Newport News speeding ticket lawyer.

Speed Traps & Speeding Tickets

Speeding in Virginia is defined as going over the speed limit by more than 1 mph but less than 20 mph. More than 20 mph and you will be charged with reckless driving.

Speeding tickets are a great revenue source for the highway patrol, the city, and the state. Speed traps abound, particularly around Williamsburg and Emporia, and along highways 58, 301, 460 (the Sussex Highway), and Route 13 along the Eastern Shore. Remember, radar detection devices are illegal in Virginia.

Drivers License Point System

Like many states, Virginia operates on a point system. Your drivers license can be suspended (and your insurance rate increased), if you accumulate too many points (18 points in one year or 24 points over 2 years)

Fines and Drivers License Suspension

For a speeding ticket 1 to 19 miles per hour over the speed limit, expect to be fined $5 for every mile over the speed limit, plus court costs.

The maximum penalty for reckless driving is twelve months in jail, $2500 (plus court costs), and the loss of your drivers license for one year. Under some circumstances you may be able to get a restricted license. With this license a driver is only permitted to drive for (i) travel to and from his place of employment; (ii) travel to and from an alcohol rehabilitation or safety action program; (iii) travel during the hours of such person's employment if the operation of a motor vehicle is a necessary incident of such employment; (iv) travel to and from school if such person is a student, upon proper written verification to the court that such person is enrolled in a continuing program of education; (v) travel for health care services, including medically necessary transportation of an elderly parent with a serious medical problem upon written verification of need by a licensed health professional; (vi) travel necessary to transport a minor child under the care of such person to and from school, day care, and facilities housing medical service providers; (vii) travel to and from court-ordered visitation with a child of such person; (viii) travel to a screening, evaluation and education program entered pursuant to § 18.2-251 or subsection H of § 18.2-258.1 of the Virginia Code; or (ix) travel to and from court appearances in which he is a subpoenaed witness or a party and appointments with his probation officer and to and from any programs required by the court or as a condition of probation.

Commercial Drivers

If your livelihood is on the line, it's essential to work with an experienced Newport News speeding ticket lawyer. You can be disqualified from operating a commercial vehicle if you have 2 or more serious traffic violations within a 3 year period. Traffic school is no longer an option for Virginia truck drivers.

As a Newport News traffic violation lawyer, I may be able to help you minimize the negative consequences of getting a speeding ticket.

To learn more about traffic violations, see:

• Traffic Violations
• Reckless Driving
• Out-of-Town Drivers
• Military Personnel Facing Traffic Charges
• Traffic Violations Information Center