Virginia House Makes Rolling Right Turn Reckless Driving

2theextreme · 02-15-2011, 12:58 PM

.....discuss away.....

Virginia House Makes Rolling Right Turn Reckless Driving

Virginia passes bill imposing up to $2500 fine and possible jail time for boulevard stops.

The Virginia House of Delegates and a state Senate committee approved legislation that would make a rolling right-hand turn on a red light a reckless driving offense. On Thursday the Senate Transportation Committee unanimously approved a bill introduced by Delegate Bill Janis (R-Glen Allen) which the lower chamber had approved by a 67 to 31 margin on February 4.

"Any person who drives a motor vehicle in violation of Section 46.2-833 is guilty of reckless driving," House Bill 1993 states.

Under current law, Section 46.2-833, as referenced above, makes it an infraction either to turn right without stopping on a red light or to enter an intersection a fraction of a second after the light changes to red. The effect of the bill would be to change the penalty for a California stop into a class one misdemeanor carrying six license points, a fine of up to $2500, up to one year in jail and a six-month driver's license suspension. US Department of Transportation statistics show that rolling stops rarely cause accidents (view report).

This outcome is clearly contemplated by the House Courts of Justice Committee which amended the original version of the bill which only sought to impose the reckless penalty on anyone who "unintentionally causes the serious bodily injury or death of another" through red light running. The committee also struck a provision ensuring that the reckless penalty is not applied to infractions detected by a red light camera.

Virginia lawmakers are notorious for turning what other states treat as ordinary traffic infractions into serious misdemeanors. For example, the offense of driving as little as 10 MPH over the limit on some rural interstates may only be charged as reckless driving. Section 46.2-860 of the state code allows police to cite motorists who fail to use a turn signal with reckless driving. In an interview with TheNewspaper, senior Virginia State Police officials confirmed that there are no written guidelines covering offenses that can be treated either as infractions or as reckless driving, leaving police officers free to cite under the reckless statute at their discretion.

The issue came to light in 2007 when the state attempted to impose a mandatory $1050 tax on reckless driving convictions which turned out primarily to involve minor speeding offenses. A bicyclist in Newport News was charged with reckless driving for pedaling too fast. In practice, the state uses the reckless charge to discourage motorists from challenging citations by forcing a plea bargain that is favorable to the state.

FuszNissan · 02-15-2011, 01:00 PM

I have learned one thing from all you Virginian's............Virginia laws suck

shadoquad · 02-15-2011, 01:04 PM

seriously

I'm never coming out to FFX again!

GM_Traitor3.5 · 02-15-2011, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FuszNissan

I have learned one thing from all you Virginian's............Virginia laws suck

yeah, at least they increased the speed limit on most interstates here to 70mph though!

shadoquad · 02-15-2011, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GM_Traitor3.5

yeah, at least they increased the speed limit on most interstates here to 70mph though!

Problem is, they expect you to actually do the limit. In MD, they say 65 and mean roughly 75 to 80 before you get pulled over.

lol jk don't try this at home.

GM_Traitor3.5 · 02-15-2011, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadoquad

Problem is, they expect you to actually do the limit. In MD, they say 65 and mean roughly 75 to 80 before you get pulled over.

lol jk don't try this at home.

Yeah, I'm sure I'll probably find that out the hard way at some point in time

sucasa · 02-15-2011, 01:41 PM

VA is a police state.. sucks to drive here..

4r3s · 02-15-2011, 01:49 PM

Wait, someone remind me why/how maryland is worse to live in than virginia?

Jeffblue · 02-15-2011, 01:50 PM

failginia

spinhead · 02-15-2011, 02:21 PM

NoVa is ******* crazy with cops. I wind up driving there every other weekend or so and it's scary man. Cops eeeverywhere. There are even cops watching the HOV lane constantly. Always at least one person pulled over on 65. Needless to say, I refuse to speed even by 1mph when I'm there.

2theextreme · 02-15-2011, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadoquad

Problem is, they expect you to actually do the limit. In MD, they say 65 and mean roughly 75 to 80 before you get pulled over.

lol jk don't try this at home.

You, sir, are quite honest in your statement. I remember driving home one night from the OC car show. It was at least midnight or a little later and I was exiting off one highway and merging onto another. I had a MD state cop so far up my arse off the exit (I was doing 65 as posted earlier then down to the posted exit speed) that once he had the chance, he actually went around me on the drivers side using what little bit of curb there was. I was like

WHOA! Really now?

dropped1 · 02-15-2011, 03:00 PM

Man! Another reason why VA sucks...

Falcor · 02-15-2011, 03:35 PM

i drive from coast to coast in the summer for work, all over each state from WA to ID to OR to CA to NV to AZ to NM to CO to OK to MI to KY to VA then home. I can tell you with no reservation that VA is definitely the worst for cops. I am on the road for 3 months until i get to VA and every time I get pulled over for something harmless.

shadoquad · 02-15-2011, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falcor

i drive from coast to coast in the summer for work, all over each state from WA to ID to OR to CA to NV to AZ to NM to CO to OK to MI to KY to VA then home. I can tell you with no reservation that VA is definitely the worst for cops. I am on the road for 3 months until i get to VA and every time I get pulled over for something harmless.

Hookers in the trunk isn't considered "harmless" on the east coast, Falcor.

ZCarMan · 02-15-2011, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2theextreme

You, sir, are quite honest in your statement. I remember driving home one night from the OC car show. It was at least midnight or a little later and I was exiting off one highway and merging onto another. I had a MD state cop so far up my arse off the exit (I was doing 65 as posted earlier then down to the posted exit speed) that once he had the chance, he actually went around me on the drivers side using what little bit of curb there was. I was like

WHOA! Really now?

I'm sure it had nothing to do with the car you were driving though.

02-15-2011, 12:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
2theextreme RIP Tony :( (1969-2015) Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 18,802 Drives: '14 Mustang GT/CS Rep Power: 67	Virginia House Makes Rolling Right Turn Reckless Driving .....discuss away..... Virginia House Makes Rolling Right Turn Reckless Driving Virginia passes bill imposing up to $2500 fine and possible jail time for boulevard stops. The Virginia House of Delegates and a state Senate committee approved legislation that would make a rolling right-hand turn on a red light a reckless driving offense. On Thursday the Senate Transportation Committee unanimously approved a bill introduced by Delegate Bill Janis (R-Glen Allen) which the lower chamber had approved by a 67 to 31 margin on February 4. "Any person who drives a motor vehicle in violation of Section 46.2-833 is guilty of reckless driving," House Bill 1993 states. Under current law, Section 46.2-833, as referenced above, makes it an infraction either to turn right without stopping on a red light or to enter an intersection a fraction of a second after the light changes to red. The effect of the bill would be to change the penalty for a California stop into a class one misdemeanor carrying six license points, a fine of up to $2500, up to one year in jail and a six-month driver's license suspension. US Department of Transportation statistics show that rolling stops rarely cause accidents (view report). This outcome is clearly contemplated by the House Courts of Justice Committee which amended the original version of the bill which only sought to impose the reckless penalty on anyone who "unintentionally causes the serious bodily injury or death of another" through red light running. The committee also struck a provision ensuring that the reckless penalty is not applied to infractions detected by a red light camera. Virginia lawmakers are notorious for turning what other states treat as ordinary traffic infractions into serious misdemeanors. For example, the offense of driving as little as 10 MPH over the limit on some rural interstates may only be charged as reckless driving. Section 46.2-860 of the state code allows police to cite motorists who fail to use a turn signal with reckless driving. In an interview with TheNewspaper, senior Virginia State Police officials confirmed that there are no written guidelines covering offenses that can be treated either as infractions or as reckless driving, leaving police officers free to cite under the reckless statute at their discretion. The issue came to light in 2007 when the state attempted to impose a mandatory $1050 tax on reckless driving convictions which turned out primarily to involve minor speeding offenses. A bicyclist in Newport News was charged with reckless driving for pedaling too fast. In practice, the state uses the reckless charge to discourage motorists from challenging citations by forcing a plea bargain that is favorable to the state. __________________ SpinTech Mufflers, Airaid CAI, JBA H-Pipe, Lethal Performance Over Axle Pipes, MMD Quarter Panel Louvers, Cervini's Ram Air Type IV Hood, Carbon Fiber Radiator Cover, GT500 Rear Valance, Quad Exhaust Tips

02-15-2011, 01:00 PM	#2 (permalink)
FuszNissan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: St. Louis Posts: 14,275 Drives: Pure Sex Rep Power: 542	I have learned one thing from all you Virginian's............Virginia laws suck __________________ Mods: Too Many to list! LouFuszNissan ZDAYZ 2012

02-15-2011, 02:21 PM	#10 (permalink)
spinhead Base Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: N. Bethesda, MD Posts: 162 Drives: 09 370z BS 6MT Rep Power: 3388	NoVa is ******* crazy with cops. I wind up driving there every other weekend or so and it's scary man. Cops eeeverywhere. There are even cops watching the HOV lane constantly. Always at least one person pulled over on 65. Needless to say, I refuse to speed even by 1mph when I'm there. __________________ Consequences will never be the same.

02-15-2011, 03:00 PM	#12 (permalink)
dropped1 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: VA Beach Posts: 302 Drives: SOLD 40th Z #104 Rep Power: 258	Man! Another reason why VA sucks... __________________ Aaron Do you own a 40th anniversary? Join the club!

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02-15-2011, 01:04 PM	#3 (permalink)
shadoquad A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: . Posts: 42,608 Drives: . Rep Power: 3886	seriously I'm never coming out to FFX again!

02-15-2011, 01:41 PM	#7 (permalink)
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02-15-2011, 01:49 PM	#8 (permalink)
4r3s A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: MD Posts: 2,077 Drives: Touring 370z Rep Power: 24	Wait, someone remind me why/how maryland is worse to live in than virginia?

02-15-2011, 01:50 PM	#9 (permalink)
Jeffblue A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: NY Age: 36 Posts: 9,192 Drives: Z32TT & 335xi Coupe Rep Power: 37	failginia

02-15-2011, 03:35 PM	#13 (permalink)
Falcor Enthusiast Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: North Wilkesboro, NC Posts: 347 Drives: 2010 370 CFR edition Rep Power: 15	i drive from coast to coast in the summer for work, all over each state from WA to ID to OR to CA to NV to AZ to NM to CO to OK to MI to KY to VA then home. I can tell you with no reservation that VA is definitely the worst for cops. I am on the road for 3 months until i get to VA and every time I get pulled over for something harmless.