Well... I'm screwed

bizlur · #1 (**permalink**) 07-08-2007, 09:45 AM

The other night I got arrested for wreckless driving speeding and wreckless driving racing.

I was driving my M3 with 2 people with me and driving along side my friend in his A4. We were just driving together basically, yes we got going really fast but we weren't racing. When we started to speed up if one of us started to get ahead we'd just let off so the other could catch up. But that's beside the point I guess.

Being arrested sucks big time!

This Wednesday I have to go to court for the thing where they appoint you a lawyer if you need one, I'm not sure when the real court date is going to be though.

I have a crappy record, most of the stuff is from when I was 16->20. I got a speeding ticket last August in my 328 for 55 in a 40. The ticket before that was wreckless driving back in November 2003. Between those 2 tickets I have got 2 tickets for not displaying my front license plate, no big deal.

Bad thing is, on July 1st Virginia upped all the fines for tickets. What my friend and I believe is that since this is to help fund new road construction etc that punishments aren't increasing, just the fines.

I am going to have a lawyer. My gf's step uncle inlaw is a local judge/lawyer and I am hoping he can help me out. He helped be out before when the cop made an error on the ticket. Talked to the cop before court session and got the cop to tell the judge to dismiss it because of his error.

I know it's not looking good, but I am sure that just the fact that I have a lawyer will help some.

I am not doubting that I will loose my license for at least 6 months.

I am wondering what sort of factors will cause the judge to restrict my license instead of fully suspending it. I work full time (Kroger) and there are only 2 other people there that can do what I do (accounting). Without me they would be forced to train somewhere else and probably have overtime which they hate.

I am (summer off, starting back in September) a full time student at JMU. I live close so I can bike or take the bus to school, but work is about 35 miles away. If I can't get suspended my school will be screwed and I will have to transfer to the store that I am close to. That's bad for me because I would be the new guy, and wouldn't have the reputation that I have at my store.

Any help or advice?

PS: DON'T RACE OR GO OVER 100, Going to jail is not worth it. My friend and I were bailed out before we even got to the cell, but still, that was the worse experience in my life. I will never do that again. It was totally different than just getting a ticket... totally. Tickets I pay and go on, this experience shocked me, I NEVER want this to happen again.

PS: If I can't get a restricted license, I will probably end up having to sell my car to pay rent/bills/fines until I can drive again.

BadMannersGod · #2 (**permalink**) 07-08-2007, 10:27 AM

I have a restricted lisence as well for kinda the same reasons, but as long as your well spoken with the judge and explain the car is for school and work, then they'll most likely grant it to you. I had an easier time to get mine because I work as a assitant mechanic and testing cars for suspension problems and sounds requires a lisence. Talk to your lawyer, he should be able to help you out and look over the tickets a few times and make sure everything is correct. Any mistakes usually mean something else could be mistaken and therefore instant dismisal.
Good luck with it, keep us posted.

bbancsov · #3 (**permalink**) 07-08-2007, 11:17 AM

Wow that sux, i just got my first ticket last month and that was pretty damn bad, but arrested... ouch

James · #4 (**permalink**) 07-08-2007, 03:57 PM

Definitely hire a lawyer. The new laws are for raising revenue to build new roads. With some help from the judge and a good lawyer, you should hopefully be able to keep your license. Virginia is definitely not the place to be speeding and/or racing - it's like our version of California in terms of the legislature overstepping it's boundaries.

bergie_318is · #5 (**permalink**) 07-08-2007, 05:25 PM

hahah we dont have all that bullshite lawyer stuff. firstly you get pulled over if speeding, then you get a ticket, and a amount of points taken off your licence, if you run out of points you get a suspended licence. simple. if your not speeding and do for example a burnout we just go to a 30 minute hearing and the judge decides what to do based on what you say and your record.

but we dont get put in jail unless traveling at like a rediculous (sp?) speed or if you abuse the cop or somthing, then they would probly take you to jail for a night or somthing. ive seen on the show "cops" that in america that when a cop askes you to step out of your car they always just put you in hand cuffs? whats up with that?! but im not sure thats all the time ive just seen it on a show :P

polizei144 · #6 (**permalink**) 07-08-2007, 06:36 PM

good luck with that

i don't really know any legal stuff. just be polite and professional for the judge and hope for the best.

bizlur · #7 (**permalink**) 07-08-2007, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bergie_318is

ive seen on the show "cops" that in america that when a cop askes you to step out of your car they always just put you in hand cuffs? whats up with that?! but im not sure thats all the time ive just seen it on a show :P

They do that for their own protection when they are searching you. They don't want to be in a compromising position searching you and have you go off on them.

bizlur · #8 (**permalink**) 07-08-2007, 07:56 PM

I talked to my judge friend today... good news, bad news situation.

Good news... he is good friends with the cop that issued the tickets to both of us. He said we are lucky that he was the cop and not one of the other cops that was with him. He is going to talk to him tomorrow and see if he can work some stuff out.

Bad news... he said that he and any other judge in our jurisdiction would throw me in jail for going 100 without thinking about it. Both tickets are class 1 misdemeanor's which are maximum 12 months jail time a piece. (Anyone want to make some "free brian" t-shirts and protect like they did for dado? lol).

I'll keep you posted. Hopefully I'll have some good news when he talks to the cop.

polizei144 · #9 (**permalink**) 07-08-2007, 08:10 PM

well that's better than nothing.

what happened to dado?

maxx · #10 (**permalink**) 07-08-2007, 09:47 PM

lol its impossible to drive a fast car.. slow..
eh?

bizlur · #11 (**permalink**) 07-09-2007, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by polizei144

well that's better than nothing.

what happened to dado?

on one of those gumball rally/player's run (I can't remember which teck movie it was in), he got pulled for speeding and taken to jail in Arizona I believe, so they made shirts that said "SAVE DADO" or "FREE DADO" or something like that and they had his face on them. It's been a couple years.

bizlur · #12 (**permalink**) 07-09-2007, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maxx

lol its impossible to drive a fast car.. slow..
eh?

I'm doing ok now, 65 on the interstate, cruise control on.

With speeding tickets before I was like eh, I'll just pay it and be on my way. Jail is completely different, it scares you, I never want that to happen again.

bizlur · #13 (**permalink**) 07-09-2007, 11:43 AM

If they are going to take my car away I'll buy a 318 real quick and swap the motors and parts out so they will tow away a M3 with a 318 engine.

mtechnik · #14 (**permalink**) 07-09-2007, 01:41 PM

Oh noes! Sorry to hear.

Did you get manhandled too, or was it simply being put in cuffs?
In either case getting cuffed has got to suck, always fear that.

caracas_e30 · #15 (**permalink**) 07-09-2007, 10:23 PM

I hate to break it to you...but you are going to jail without the slightest doubt. Just make sure you tell work/school that you wont be present for some time.

Get a lawyer and hope for the least amount of time. I dont know about 12 months in jail a piece...but you are surely going to jail.

sorry bud