Insurance question for VA

[manny]

I have a bel sti and lets say god forbid, I do get pulled over and the cop writes me a RD possession ticket. I know its not a moving violation with no points. But that ticket will stay on my record. Do insurance companies increase your rates or drop you if they see that?

Thanks for your help

[Cherokee Driver]

Well make sure you have that STi mounted where a cop will not notice it. Atleast you have the correct RD for that area. Your question would be on a company by company basis.

[manny]

Oh its mounted high and hardwired (on my visor with a visor clip). I just wanted to know because I really can't afford to have my rates go up nor have my policy canceled. Does anyone have any experience with nationwide in particular? Because that's my insurance provider.

[hollywoodpc]

Oh man ! If you get caught , you will get a ticket for it . And , ready ?.......it will stay on your record for 5 years AND it is treated by the insurance company as Reckless Driving . And , do NOT cancel your insurance because most companies will not write you a policy . They CLAIM that you are a Reckless driver even though in any other state it is ok . Go figure . Do NOT get caught . It will hurt . Big time ! The ticket will be for " use of device to detect radio and/or micro waves " . Detectable or not , turn it off when you see the Police .

[MEM-TEK]

Whatever happened to the thread where some VA resident took his RD citation to court and the judge tossed out the citation after the dude stated that RDs are regulated by the FCC and therefore could not be regulated by the State of VA? Anyone find out if that story was true?

[hollywoodpc]

The problem with that is , it is illegal to use it . Period . I have yet to see that hold up in court . Many have tried . You cannot use a device to detect micro waves in Virginia . The reason it is not upheld due to the FCC is because it is not used to emit . This is why citations are worded the way they are . Also , Virginia is not a State . It is a Commonwealth which means that they can make laws that do not have to follow any specific guideline . Although the FCC regulates certain devices , the Commonwealth retains the right to quantify a detector . The Commonwealth law that prohibits the use of a device to detect micro waves supercedes due to the wording . If a judge throws out this type of citation , it is due to some other reason/s . State laws are usually in compliance with Federal law but , a Commonwealth does not have to . I hope that makes some sense

[MEM-TEK]

Well, if VA is a Commonwealth and not a State, then they shouldn't have seats in the Senate or the House, and the United States of America should be 49 rather than 50 States.

[manny]

well that sucks

[Just1n]

Only moving violations are chargeable against your insurance.

Equipment violations are not.

[hollywoodpc]

Sorry Justin .
Points are not at issue . Insurance companies look at this in Virginia as Reckless Driving . Your insurance will go up and it will be very difficult to get insurance with another company . It is the same as points for Reckless as this is how it is figured . I totally disagree with it but , it is how it works . Botom line is , do not get caught . Now , Nationwide may do what Allstate does . That is , if you have been with them for at least two years , they do not profile your record . They only pull , at random , 1 % or so of there total drivers records . If they do , you have a very strong chance of not getting caught as they will never know it is on your record . The best advice is , just turn it off as soon as you see a police car . Almost exclusively State Police . MOST locals will not care much . I can assure you that if you pay attention and turn it off when you see a Police car , you will almost assuredly NOT get caught . It really is that easy . Be diligent with your eyes as anyone should be anyway .