Portsmouth Speeding Ticket for Out-of-State Drivers
It is important for every person driving in Portsmouth, and Virginia as a whole, to understand the rules of the road due to the fact that they are still legally responsible for following them even if they are not aware. If an individual is charged with speeding, they should consider contacting a Portsmouth speeding ticket lawyer to ensure they have the opportunity to combat the charges against them and to avoid the penalties of their offense.
A qualified attorney can use their knowledge of Portsmouth traffic laws, as well as their experience in similar cases. If an attorney is experienced in previous Portsmouth cases, they can have an understanding of what to expect from Portsmouth courts and how the case can potentially play out. This can be especially helpful for an out-of-state driver who may not know the rules of the road in Virginia and may not know how to proceed. An experienced attorney can ultimately provide helpful legal guidance for out-of-state drivers facing a Portsmouth speeding ticket.
First Steps
The first thing that an out-of-state driver should do when they are pulled over is to make sure that they are being charged with a speeding ticket and not reckless driving. If they are certain that they are being charged with a speeding ticket, then they have the option of either contesting the ticket in person by going to court or by pleading guilty to the offense and pre-paying the fine online.
The best thing that an out-of-state driver can do is hire an attorney. Oftentimes, an attorney is able to appear on the driver’s behalf, even for reckless driving, which usually requires a mandatory court appearance. However, it typically depends on how fast the speed was. For example, if the driver’s speed was over 30 mph, then usually this option is not available, but for speeds under that, then it is usually acceptable for an attorney to appear on the driver’s behalf.
In the case that an out-of-state driver received a Portsmouth speeding ticket, by having an attorney’s representation, they can possibly avoid traveling from out-of-state to Portsmouth just to go to court. This is especially helpful for people who normally live in states that are a flying distance away from Virginia. A person should be aware, though, that they are required to come back to Virginia if they have been issued a ticket for reckless driving.
Impact on An Out of State Driver’s License
An out-of-state driver will be subject to the same consequences as an in-state driver in Portsmouth. Virginia will send a notice to the out-of-state driver’s home state, which will explain the offense and the consequences that Virginia would issue. At this point, it is up to the driver’s home state to decide what actions to take. Generally, if they have a similar charge in the home state, then the home state will give the driver the consequences that would have happened had the out-of-state driver’s incident happened in the home state. If they do not have a substantially similar charge in their home state, then sometimes the state will not do anything.
If the driver has a similar charge in the home state, then typically the home state will give them the consequences that would have happened had the out-of-state driver’s incident happened in the home state. If they do not have a substantially similar charge in their home state, then sometimes the state will not do anything.
Unaware of Virginia Traffic Laws
Being unaware of Virginia’s traffic laws is not an acceptable defense in this case. The laws have been put in place for safety reasons, and it is understood that anyone who is driving on Virginia’s roads is responsible for knowing Virginia’s laws.
For example, if a person did not know that 80 mph or more is excessive speeding, and therefore a Class 1 Misdemeanor in Portsmouth, they are still subject to the same consequences as someone who was aware.
Every out-of-state driver, however, should know that speeding tickets in Portsmouth are no joke. They should also be aware that it is very likely to be charged with a Class 1 Misdemeanor for driving too fast on the Commonwealth’s highways. Portsmouth not only has harsh laws, but it is also very proud of this fact, especially since Virginia has one of the lowest accident rates on highways in the entire country.
Judges here are not lenient on speeders and they do not dismiss tickets easily. They have heard a wide variety of excuses, as speeding is easily the most common type of case that appears in front of them—whether it is a speeding infraction or a speeding reckless driving charge. For this reason, a person should understand completely what it is that they are being charged with and the resulting consequences of these charges. By hiring an attorney, a person has the opportunity to learn more about the charges they are facing, as well as what steps they should or should not take.