When you're caught...

[iamareplicant]

Beginning Sunday, Virginia is adding new civil charges to traffic fines. They range from $750 to $3,000 and will be added to existing fines and court costs. The civil penalty for going 20 mph over the speed limit will be $1,050, plus $61 in court costs and a fine that is typically about $200.

Thats a joke right? Penalty for 20 over is $1050?

OK, since in an of itself, going 20 over PSL means nothing (say you are alone on the road), what is the penalty for tailgating, which, regardless of speed, is actually a danger (if both cars are going, say 20 UNDER the psl, and the tailgater is, like most drivers in my town, less than 10 feet of the bumper ahead, if the first car stops suddenly, the rear car will guarenteed hit the driver ahead)

[CJR238]

Don't worry. The new VA fines only apply to VA residents. Out of state drivers have nothing to worry about. If I weren't moving to AZ soon, I'd seriously consider registering everything in PA.

thank God, i was freaking out.

That's where im on my 10th our of my trip I do every year and I want to get through VA as fast as possible.

[Rick Lee]

Beginning Sunday, Virginia is adding new civil charges to traffic fines. They range from $750 to $3,000 and will be added to existing fines and court costs. The civil penalty for going 20 mph over the speed limit will be $1,050, plus $61 in court costs and a fine that is typically about $200.

Thats a joke right? Penalty for 20 over is $1050?

OK, since in an of itself, going 20 over PSL means nothing (say you are alone on the road), what is the penalty for tailgating, which, regardless of speed, is actually a danger (if both cars are going, say 20 UNDER the psl, and the tailgater is, like most drivers in my town, less than 10 feet of the bumper ahead, if the first car stops suddenly, the rear car will guarenteed hit the driver ahead)

Oh, were you under the impression that speed enforcement has something to do with safety?

[focalcivic]

I was pulled over doing 60 in a 30 (didn’t have a RD back then) and he asked to search my car. My 1st time ever being asked to search I didn’t know better so I said ok. He tore the whole thing apart but found nothing of real importance, he even searched me.
After he was done he let me go with out even giving me a ticket. I think he felt bad for torturing me and tearing apart my car.

See, that's the scenario I'm wondering about. Getting the cop to let you out of the ticket is WAY better than fighting it in court.

You would have to be crazy to consent to a search period. Thinking that you made it easier on him, and maybe he would give you a break on a ticket? Believe me I have gotten off many times without a search, I think it just depends on the cop.

Overall, they need probable cause to search, like something in plain view, or if they bring a drug sniffing dog that alerts the cop to something suspicious.

Make your life easier and do not let them search.

Disclaimer: I am not an attorney, and these are personal opinions, please do your own research before doing anything you feel is right for you.