By Kenric Ward
A reckless-driving law that imposes fines up to $2,500 for driving 81 mph on an interstate highway will continue to punish motorists in Virginia.
Delegate Jeffrey Campbell, R-Marion, tried to revise the “reckless” threshold, which was not changed when the state raised its highway speed limits years ago, but his House Bill 1317 never made it out of the Courts of Justice Committee.
Campbell’s measure previously cleared the Transportation subcommittee and passed the Transportation Committee, 15-7.
Watchdog.org reported last December that Virginia law allows police to issue $2,500 tickets to motorists driving more than 80 mph. Classified as a Class One misdemeanor, just below a felony, the offense can also carry up to a year of jail time.
“Virginia raised its speed limits a few years ago, but failed to raise the reckless-driving threshold accordingly, so the state’s current reckless-driving law is a real ‘gotcha’ law,” said John Bowman, spokesman for the National Motorists Association.
“Most drivers would be surprised to learn that exceeding the posted interstate speed limit by 11 mph is considered reckless driving.”
Bowman called 85 mph “a more reasonable standard.”
“It would have been a step in the right direction for Virginia motorists, who are already subject to some of the most oppressive traffic enforcement in the country,” he said.
Kenric Ward is Virginia bureau chief of Watchdog.org, where this post originally appeared. Reprinted with permission.
