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Wednesday, July 31, 2013

They're Making it Worth Running

In my state (Virginia) you can be cited for “reckless” driving for exceeding any speed limit by more than 20 MPH. It sounds like a lot, but it really isn’t – because so many speed limits are preposterously low to begin with. I’ll give you an example: I-581 near Roanoke is (as the “I” plainly concedes) an Interstate highway. It is three lanes each direction and limited access (i.e., no traffic lights – just on and off ramps). Yet it is posted an absolutely ridiculous 55 MPH. Which means, driving a mere 76 MPH is sufficient to draw a “reckless” charge.Meanwhile, 70 is perfectly legal on adjacent I-81 (which, incidentally, is only two lanes each direction). The same 76 MPH on that road would be – at most – a minor ticket.

However, Virginia has another nasty surprise in store for the unwary: Anything more than 80 on any road, anywhere in the commonwealth is also statutory “reckless” driving.

79 MPH – just a ticket.

81 – “reckless.”

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8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Aaaand if you use a radar detector in that commonwealth you're subject to additional citations - even though the supreme court has already ruled that private reception of broadcast signals is legal.

Anonymous said...

VA has some of the worst drivers so its hard to feel sorry for them but on the hand its all about revenue generation, not safety.

Now if someone could just tell me why all virginia drivers think they own the left lane in our state.

Anonymous said...

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$


Nuff said?

Anonymous said...

Sorry 4:17 Delaware has them beat all to heck.

Anonymous said...

I comute to wallops ...4:17..exactly these idoits have not read the drivers manual slower traffic keep right..appears va idiots are clueless about the trail of traffic they block ...and every dam town on 13in VA..is 45 ...when the heck are we gonna get an interstate

Anonymous said...

Now now, it's the PA "visitors" that take the cake if you ask me. Some of the towns in VA on 13 are 50 mph zones, and in the lower county you better watch out. They are worse than Fruitland.

Anonymous said...

By contrast, NJ & NY drivers will just plow you over or ride your bumper if you don't move out of the "fast" lane. On the NJ Turnpike if you're doing 70 or so, you feel like you're standing still. You get passed by every other vehicle on the road.

Anonymous said...

PA has the worst. Closely followed by Delaware. I used to think it had something to do with their tags being blue/green and gold.....but that is not the case now.