The Virginia DWI Blog » Traffic Law

Ever been charged with driving without proof of insurance in Virginia? | Prince William Traffic Attorney

admin — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 08:10:04 +0000

Some drivers in Prince William County and throughout Virginia have been charged and convicted for failing to provide proof of car insurance at a traffic stop and paid hefty fines for committing an offense that does not exist.

There is no law in Virginia that you have to carry proof of car insurance with you. Actually, you are not required to have car insurance at all and can get out of having insurance by paying the annual $500 uninsured motor vehicle (UMV) fee to the Virginia DMV.

Apparently there is some major confusion with law enforcement as the Virginia State Police and other Virginia prosecutors have confirmed that drivers will be charged for failing to have an insurance card at traffic stops using Code § 46.2-707. But the crime would be a Class 3 misdemeanor if you fail to do one of the following: have car insurance, pay the $500 UMV fee, or flat out lie about having done either.

If you lie about having insurance or paying the UMV fee, then this offense is considered a “crime of moral turpitude” and can cause serious repercussions such as barring you from security clearances or employment in certain occupations.

That is not the worst of it. Upon conviction under Code § 46.2-707, you could face having your driver’s license, license plates, and registration certificates suspended. You would also need to fork out $500 along with filing a proof of financial responsibility for 3 years with DMV at which time your car insurance company will really love to soak your wallet or may possibly drop you with a SR-22. Pretty amazing considering no crime was actually committed so it would be a good idea to fight a ticket for failing to provide proof of insurance under Code § 46.2-707.

If you have been charged with speeding, reckless driving, suspended license, drunk driving DUI / DWI, or other serious traffic offense in Prince William County, Virginia, contact the Parrish Law Firm for a free evaluation of your traffic case.

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Fatal Car Accidents Kill Nine in Virginia Thanksgiving Weekend 2011 | Stafford Car Accident Attorney

admin — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 10:16:14 +0000

Virginia State Police released that during the reportable Thanksgiving holiday weekend from 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, November 23 through midnight Sunday, November 27, 2011, that they investigated 884 traffic accidents with nine people killed on Virginia’s roads during the weekend. Of the nine that were killed, five were reported as not wearing their seatbelts. Also, alcohol was considered a factor in two of the fatal car crashes reported. This is down from the 10 killed in Virginia during the same reported Thanksgiving weekend in 2010.

“Sadly, half of the traffic crashes involved victims who weren’t buckled up. As we begin this holiday season, public safety responders are strongly encouraging driver and passenger to take two seconds and fasten your seatbelt – it costs nothing and could save your life.” – Colonel W. Steven Flaherty, Virginia State Police Superintendent

Virginia State Police were out in full force looking out for drivers misbehaving on Virginia’s roads this Thanksgiving. It is reported that 103 drunk drivers were arrested as well as 8,526 speeders and 2,898 reckless drivers cited during the five day period.

If you have been charged with speeding, reckless driving or drunk driving DUI / DWI in Stafford or along I-95, Virginia, contact the Parrish Law Firm for a free evaluation of your traffic case. Click here for your free copy of our DUI / DWI Special Report Charged with DWI and don’t know what to do? for helpful tips on how to handle your DUI / DWI charge.

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Northern Virginia Traffic: What would you do with 3 spare days? | Northern Virginia Traffic Lawyer

admin — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 21:34:56 +0000

Feel like wasting time? Believe it or not commuters in the Washington, D.C. area already wait a shocking 74 hours in traffic. WUSA 9 reports that you would waste 37 gallons of gas and $1,495 a year during this three day period. This makes you want to kick yourself for not ordering the hybrid with the nicer stereo. Shortly after the release of the report from the study by the Texas Transportation Institute, a number of bloggers and media outlets have been speculating on what you would do if you had this time to spare instead of wasting away in your car being herded like cattle along the highway. So what would you do if you did not have this time ripped from your life?

This study apparently only took into account “freeway” travel and counted congested periods when speeds reached 45 mph or less. Personally, I am a little confused as to how they came up with just under 1.5 hours per week for commuters in the Washington, D.C. area as it can take over 30 minutes on any given day just to go a few miles down I-66 or I-95. Did they only consider commuters that live in Arlington that only travel one exit down I-66 to and from work or conduct this study on a federal holiday when traffic is lighter? It is all too common to hear drivers in areas of Northern Virginia such as Manassas, Gainesville, Centreville, Woodbridge, Stafford, Reston and the parking lot also known as Tysons Corner complain that each work day it takes an hour or more to get to work and an hour or so to get back home on the interstate alone much less the side roads. This adds up to 520 hours in traffic each day and 21 days wilting in your car playing tag poker. Where did all the time go?

If you have been charged with speeding, reckless driving, DUI / DWI or other serious traffic violation, contact the Parrish Law Firm for a free evaluation of your traffic case.

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Police are Warning of Red Light Camera Scam in Virginia | Vienna Traffic Attorney

admin — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 06:29:03 +0000

Vienna Police are warning of a phone scam involving people being called about a false claim of an overdue red light camera ticket. The scam starts with a call to a victim at which time they are informed that they were supposedly caught on a red light camera and have an overdue red light camera ticket. Then the caller demands immediate payment by credit card over the phone or threatens the victim that they will be arrested. The caller is hoping that the victim is not aware of how the red light camera ticketing system works and falls for the threat by freely giving out their credit card information.

If the caller states that you have an overdue ticket in Vienna, Virginia, be aware that the red light cameras in Vienna have not been operational for years.

If you get a call from any one claiming that you have an overdue red light camera ticket and question its validity, you should ask the caller in which county or city this supposedly occurred and hang up. Then contact the non emergency number for the police department for the area the caller claimed you ran the red light camera to report that you received the call and to confirm whether or not you indeed have an outstanding ticket on file so you can properly take care of it.

If you have been charged with speeding, reckless driving, DUI / DWI or other serious traffic violation, contact the Parrish Law Firm for a free evaluation of your traffic case.

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Former D.C. Mayoral Candidate Sulaimon Brown Arrested for Suspended License | Arlington Suspended License Lawyer

admin — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 09:17:00 +0000

Early Monday morning, former D.C. mayoral candidate Sulaimon Brown was pulled over for a broken headlight on his Mercedes but by the time the police were done, Suliamon was arrested for having a suspended Maryland driver’s license and failing to obey the officer’s order during the traffic stop. Although Brown is claiming that police action was taken as backlash for his recent fallout with Mayor Vincent Gray, the police arrest report tells a different story.

When D.C. Police pulled over Brown on Florida Avenue in the District, police said that Brown “…refused to comply and immediately rolled up all his vehicle windows, locked all four doors and grabbed his cell phone and made a phone call.” Brown claims that he called 911 to confirm that the men in the unmarked cruiser were really police officers and further claims that the dispatcher had no record of the traffic stop and told him to stay in the car.

Brown’s attorney reported that the driver’s license was suspended due to doubled parking tickets. To add insult to injury, Brown is also having to explain why he has a Maryland driver’s license and tags while claiming to be a resident of the District of Columbia.

Have you been charged with driving on a Virginia suspended driver’s license? Don’t face this serious charge unrepresented in court. Put our experience to work for you! Contact the Parrish Law Firm for a free evaluation of your traffic case at (571) 229-1800.

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Teenager desperate to avoid speeding ticket leads police chase | Spotsylvania Speeding Ticket Attorney

admin — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 20:01:17 +0000

August 3, 2011 – After a 16-year-old driver was clocked at 82 mph by a Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Deputy on Courthouse Road in the Bloomsbury subdivision area, he tried to flee leading the police on a 31 mile chase. The teenage driver was reported allegedly driving at excessive speeds, changing lanes abruptly and running red lights while deputies were close behind him. Further reports indicate that the teenage driver also nearly drove into oncoming deputies during the chase. To stop the never ending 31 mile chase, deputies used a spike strip to blow the suspect’s tires. Apparently, the teenage driver was scared out of his mind and was trying to avoid getting into more trouble as he had just received a speeding ticket the week before.

Have you or your teenage driver been charged with speeding, reckless driving or DUI / DWI? Contact the Parrish Law Firm for a free evaluation of your traffic case. Click here for your free copy of our guide Faced with Reckless Driving and don’t know what to do? for helpful tips on how to handle your reckless driving charge.

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NBC Washington DC – 16-Year-Old Leads Deputies on High-Speed Chase to Avoid More Trouble

Is your E-ZPass an eye for Big Brother and tracking you? | Fairfax Traffic Attorney

admin — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 03:36:19 +0000

We are not big on the conspiracy theory stories but this one about the possibility of E-ZPass tracking driving behaviors such as speeding on toll roads caught our attention. For years there have been concerns about privacy and the use of E-ZPass to quickly zip through toll stations and with good reason. While the E-ZPass catching the speeders part is still a hoax, that little E-ZPass box is keeping tabs on you when you are traveling on toll roads such as day and time because you willingly gave your name, address, car registration and credit card information to use the service. So basically you gave up your personal information and privacy for the chance to save a minute or two at a toll booth.

While the Internet floods of Big Brother conspiracy theories to catch speeders using the E-ZPass, “the concerns about E-ZPass tracking are certainly justified,” reports Daniel Solove, a professor at George Washington University Law School. With the sour economy, it is only a matter of time before the government sees this as an easy money generator to fill the budget void. It would be an easy math calculation to determine if a driver was speeding between two toll booths and they can take notes from other countries such as England who already has such a speed trap in place. Cameras to catch red light runners and speeders are already being used, why not take advantage of that little box to catch speeders on toll roads?

If you have been charged with speeding, reckless driving, DUI / DWI or other serious traffic violation contact the Parrish Law Firm for a free evaluation of your traffic case.

Source:
AOL Autos – Is The E-ZPass Box A Trojan Horse For Privacy Invasions? It’s only a matter of time before government realizes it can use existing technology to identify speeders

HOV Cheaters in Northern Virginia Beware! | Virginia Traffic Attorney

admin — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 19:40:59 +0000

HOV lanes in Virginia were intended to encourage carpooling, reduce gas consumption, and ease heavy traffic that is seen daily in the D.C. metropolitan area. If you are lawfully traveling in the HOV lanes in Northern Virginia, it does not take long to spot a HOV violator with too few occupants during posted HOV hours. It is not even surprising to see a HOV violator trying to pass off a mannequin as an occupant. Since HOV violations are on the rise and causing serious congestion on HOV lanes, the Virginia State Police is targeting HOV violators on I-66, I-95, I-395 and the Dulles Toll Road by showing no mercy and taking no excuses by ticketing all HOV violators. So unless you are operating a motorcycle, have the correct number of occupants in your car or drive a hybrid with the clean fuel license plate, prepare to get a ticket!

View more videos at: http://www.nbcwashington.com.

If you are caught violating HOV rules in Northern Virginia, the HOV fines and penalties are:

First offense: $125
Second offense: $250 plus 3 points on your driving record
Third offense: $500 plus 3 points on your driving record
Fourth offense: $1,000 plus 3 points on your driving record

If you have been charged with speeding, reckless driving, DUI / DWI or other serious traffic offense, contact the Parrish Law Firm for a free evaluation of your traffic case. Click here for your free copy of our guide Faced with Reckless Driving and don’t know what to do? for helpful tips on how to handle your reckless driving charge.

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Will that traffic ticket affect my car insurance rates? Yes! | Prince William Traffic Attorney

admin — Fri, 13 May 2011 19:24:16 +0000

You just got pulled over and you are thinking – Will that traffic ticket affect my car insurance rates? The simple answer is, yes it will and you may be surprised at how much. Your driving record is as important as your credit report when it comes to saving money on your auto insurance. When it is time to renew your auto insurance policy, your car insurance company will request a copy of your driving record to see if you have been a naughty driver as getting tickets for moving violations considers you to be a higher risk and will raise your insurance rates accordingly. Every moving traffic violation has a point value and the more points you have on your driving record, the higher your car insurance rates will be. So, if you think that one traffic ticket will cost you just the fine, think again. And if you add more than one traffic ticket to your record in a short period of time, that build up of points and tickets can cost you considerably out of pocket and possibly the loss of your driver’s license.

Before you decide to lead foot it down I-66 or the Prince William Parkway, consider the total costs of getting caught for speeding. In addition to the fines and court costs, you may lose your good driver discount (up to 15%) and your car insurance rates would go up which would be locked in for several years. Yes, I said years. Even worse, your car insurance company could drop your coverage completely based on the charge of the ticket(s), the number of points you have accumulated, or how frequently you are getting the traffic tickets. If you work in an industry that provides you with a company car or you need a good driving record to keep your job such as a CDL license, then you may get in trouble with your employer. And if you build up too many points, the state may suspend your license.

The best thing you can do if you get a traffic ticket for serious violations such as speeding, reckless driving or DUI / DWI is to seek legal counsel to evaluate the situation and represent you in court. Some serious traffic violations are considered criminal charges. With this in mind, an attorney may be able to help you get the ticket dropped or have your fine or other penalties reduced. A traffic lawyer may also help you find ways to reduce the points on your driving record to help lower your insurance rates and in the worse case scenario get your driving privileges back.

If you have been charged with speeding, reckless driving or DUI / DWI, contact the Parrish Law Firm for a free evaluation of your traffic case. Click here for your free copy of our guide Faced with Reckless Driving and don’t know what to do? for helpful tips on how to handle your reckless driving charge.

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ACLU: Michigan Police Unlawfully Downloading Driver’s Cellphone Data? | Prince William Traffic Ticket Attorney

admin — Mon, 02 May 2011 21:03:43 +0000

The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan – ACLU is questioning the Michigan State Police after receiving from what the ACLU said was a credible tip alleging that Michigan State Police were misusing a data extraction device by unlawfully obtaining data from driver’s cellphones during routine traffic stops.

The ACLU is pushing this issue citing that the Michigan State Police may be violating Fourth Amendment protection against unlawful searches during traffic stops and just wants to confirm that the Michigan State Police are not using the data extraction device without the driver’s consent, reasonable cause or proper search warrants.

ACLU of Michigan April 13, 2011 letter to Michigan State Police

Michigan State Police April 20, 2011 response

They don’t say anything about their past behavior. It’s a carefully crafted statement.
- Kary Moss, executive director of the ACLU of Michigan

Since 2008, the ACLU has been trying to get information to no avail from the Michigan State Police MSP through the Freedom of Information Act (FIOA) on how they are using the data extraction devices, one known to be manufactured by CelleBrite, that can quickly copy and download data from a driver’s cellphone to include contacts, call history, photographs, videos, and text messages without the driver being aware. But Michigan State Police are sending a bill to the ACLU for $544,680 to release the records in response to the request for actual use reports and logs.

We should not have to go on expensive fishing expeditions in order to discover whether police are violating the rights of residents they have resolved to protect and serve. Transparency and government accountability are the bedrocks of our democracy.
- Mark P. Fancher
ALCU of Michigan Racial Justice Project staff attorney

Contact the Parrish Law Firm if you have been issued a traffic ticket for offenses such as speeding, reckless driving, DUI or DWI, or driving on a suspended license. Please download for FREE our DUI/DWI Special Report.