What's with Virginia and speeding?

Question

Planes fly overhead looking for speeders. Radar detectors are illegal. Why is this apparently more important here than in any other state in the union?

Answer 1

Speeding is illegal in every state of the Union. Radar detectors are becoming illegal in more and more states every year. Traffic enforcement from airplane is common in almost every state.

I hear the most whining about Virginia traffic laws coming from people who have the most disregard for the speeding limits. So often, people from NY or NJ come down and they get clocked at 100+ MPH on the interstates. Well, in Virginia, that is called reckless driving, which is an arrestable offense. So, said speeders are trucked off to jail. Often, they are released on a Personal Recognizance.

I also realize that many laws are ignored or not enforced in NJ and NY. We have a lot of people in VA from there who are on Probation/Parole. They may not drink alcohol or take drugs while on Parole. But they do, and they get violated in Virginia and go to jail. They are always upset and indignant because "NY or NJ would never take me to jail for that." Thus, they are used to breaking the law and not being held accountable.

Thus, the traffic laws are really "normal," it's just that in Virgina, they are holding people accountable. Except for the three year tax on Virginia residents who are convicted of Reckless Driving. The politicians came straight out and said that they were using that to raise money.

Answer 2

Virginia has passed new laws which inflict harsh fines on speeders. Some comments in this forum have described these laws as "unconstitutional." They are not unconstitutional, but they are severe. Don't speed!

Answer 3

It's not alot of states do that, but you have to remember I-95 runs through VA, that is called the drug highway.

Answer 4

State Revenue :)