points:

-pulled over about 3 months ago for speeding 39-25
-i am under 21
-first speeding ticket ever
-paid ticket on time and did NOT take the driver improvement class

-03/13/06 pulled over at 645am on braddock
-officer gave me warning for expired registration
-ticket for driving on suspended (and when i asked him how i would be notified that my license was suspended he said he didnt know, "it just happens")

SHOULD I GET A LAWYER FOR DRIVING ON SUSPENDED or not??

if i dont i was gonna represent myself
here are my points

-first ticket 39-25
-paid on time
-need my car since i am a commuter student at GMU
-and to commute to work
-didnt know my license was suspended (ignorance is not a good reason)
-the day after i got my license taken away i attended the driver improvement class the night after
-and im gangster

thank you

 

Where is this?

I was at court escorting one of my students Monday and there was someone there who got a reckless on the beltway (Fairfax) who also got hit for driving on a suspended.

He pleaded guilty for the reckless but not guilty for the suspended because he claimed no notification. The judge was in a really good mood because he dropped the charges on the suspended and even lowered the cost of his reckless. He was self-represented...AND he was black! (That was a joke, people).

Anyway, a lawyer won't improve your hcnaces anymore than being respectful and honest with the judge and hoping for the best.

 

Under 21 doesn't matter. Under 18 is a different story. They give jail sentences for Driving on Suspended license in VA, so I would get a lawyer. I thought I read elsewhere that Kaine was trying to raise the fine and penalty for this offense as well as others to prevent raising the gas tax, so a lawyer would be good.

I'm sure there are people here who beat that charge or got off with just a slap on a wrist without a lawyer, but with VA on anything more serious then 10 over the limit I go with a lawyer just because the state government is a bitch and likes to hang people for every traffic offense known to mankind.

 

i got pulled over a couple weeks ago on backlick for a susp DL. the cop said that it was susp because i owed arlington money for an old ticket. i was completly in shock, and the cop told me that if i came to court with a valid DL he would drop the charge. i dont know if all cops will do this but you should call the officer that gave you the ticket and see if he will do the same

 

he would have been arrested on the spot and taken to jail. the judge isn't gonna send him to jail for this.

intialEK4, no lawyer needed for this one. just take proof that you made the payment, bring proof you corrected your registration, take your document saying you took the driver improvement class (overkill for 1st ticket but ok) and take your last gmu grades transcript to show your in school (if he asks, they like to see your doing well in school, hope you are). they really like to see people that are prepared, it makes things go much smoother.
be very respectful saying "yes sir your honor" and "no sir your honor" (feed their power trip), dress decent (optional but sometimes helps, shows you respect the court/judge enough to dress up, again feed their power trip) and you'll come out with no problems.

 

Fairfax General District

im not sure if its 21 or 20 or 25 but if your under that age and get a speeding ticket you HAVE to take this driver improvement class to keep your license

another thing:
-since im broke, thinking about taking BOTH
-the driver improvement class (which im already in)
-AND the wreckless class
and trying to go into court representing myself

THE ONLY THING SCARYING ME is my driving teacher for defensive driving is telling me ill get fucked without one cuz shes a volunteer for fairfax general district and she's seeen a lot of judges fuck people over

 

I got a speeding ticket for 63 on a 45 on Arlington Blvd and I HAD to take the Driver Improvement Class. I paid my ticket and took the class to prevent my license from getting suspended.

I think your license is suspended because you did not take the class. You are required to take the class if you are over 18 and under 21. If you do not take the class within the period of time that they give you, your license will be suspended (even if you paid the ticket off).

Hope this helps a bit.

 

Well, I have no idea what the name of the judge was, but he has an older white judge with a nice demeanor and big square glasses in FFX courthouse.

If you got him, you'll be gravy if you show up with the valid license and reciept from the DMV saying you took care of stuff. They give you the opportunity to explain yourself (EVEN IF YOU PLEAD GUILTY) and if you show him that and explain that you honestly didn't know you had been suspended, you'll be ok. Don't waste your time with the lawyer.

 

go to court without a lawyer, show the judge your valid driver's license. And find out what day your license got suspended and what day the notice got sent out, and if you had proper notice your license got suspended. If they still find you guilty appeal it and try again. Worth a shot

 

agreed, thats what i see alot when ive gone to court and it worked for me