GOOGLE SCREENEDIf you’ve visited Virginia from Maryland, it’s likely you’ve discovered one of our local speed traps as you drove through Northampton County, Virginia. Within and near this county are the city of Exmore and Eastville. Travelers frequently get tickets in Northampton County or Exmore as these areas are diligently patrolled by local, county, and state police and the speed limit drops quickly as you enter the county. Most people hardly realize they’ve entered a populated area or reduced speed limit zone before they see the blue lights flashing. Exmore and Northampton are well known for efficient speed enforcement, and if you are ticked there, you will be summoned to appear in the General District Court which is located in Eastville.
In Northampton, the officer will ticket you for speeding if you were going faster than the speed limit, but not more than 20 MPH faster. If you were going 20 MPH or more over the speed limit, the officer might elect to ticket you for Reckless Driving rather than speeding. You should know that Reckless Driving is a criminal offense, not merely a traffic infraction like speeding. You need an Attorney to protect your criminal record, otherwise this offense may become a permanent part of your criminal history.
Do I have to come back to Virginia for my ticket in Northampton?
If you were cited for Reckless Driving, you may be wondering if you can avoid coming back to court. Usually the answer is no. Reckless is a criminal offense with the potential of jail time, therefore you must appear in person at the General District Court in Eastville, VA for trial. However, a Virginia Reckless Driving Attorney can often get that requirement waived, and appear in court on your behalf so that you do not have to travel back here. Contact us for a free consultation, and we’ll let you know whether your reckless driving ticket is one that we can handle in Northampton without you there. If you got a speeding rather than reckless ticket, we can appear on your behalf without you coming back. You should discuss this decision with us to determine what is the best course of action for your case.
Should I prepay my Northampton ticket?
Reckless Driving and Speeding both have defenses and ways to keep your record clean or at least minimize the impact a conviction would have on your record. Generally you cannot pre-pay a reckless driving ticket. You can pre-pay a speeding ticket, but be aware that pre-paying any ticket is a guilty plea, and the ticket will go on your record in that case.
If you’re one of the many who’ve been ticketed in Northampton County or Exmore, give us a call. We are experienced with that court, and can help with your case.
