General Car Conversation 2025 - Part 1
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,918
Likes: 4,121
From: Maryland
In Virginia, where I live, anything 20 or more over the posted limit, or more than 80 regardless of the limit, is considered Reckless Driving.......a Class One Misdemeanor, up one year in prison, six month-suspension of driving privileges, six points on your driving record, and a criminal conviction. And that is nothing new in Virginia....it has been like that for many years.
Translation: Think twice before pushing that right pedal too far.
Translation: Think twice before pushing that right pedal too far.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,571
Likes: 265
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
Anyhow, whether it is 80 or 85, the message is basically the same: Slow down. Because the law in VA is so strict, while we do have a mild speeding problem on the Beltway and Interstates, it's mostly in the 75 MPH range or so......in my experience, it's rare (or at least uncommon) to see scofflaws doing triple-digit or close to triple-digit speeds, even when traffic is light.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,918
Likes: 4,121
From: Maryland
Its 85, not in question lol.
I see no difference in average speeds in MD vs VA vs anywhere else around here. I don't think the reckless driving penalty is a deterrent. People who drive 100 MPH on a public road are totally self centered and unconcerned with safety, a potential reckless driving charge isn't stopping them.
I see no difference in average speeds in MD vs VA vs anywhere else around here. I don't think the reckless driving penalty is a deterrent. People who drive 100 MPH on a public road are totally self centered and unconcerned with safety, a potential reckless driving charge isn't stopping them.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 17,235
Likes: 538
From: Knoxville, TN
In VA you'll literally get thrown in jail for doing 100.
I once was driving through it and wondering why nobody was speeding, and then saw for myself like 15 cars pulled over over the next couple hours.
I googled "Don't speed" and google filled it out with "in Virginia" lol.
I once was driving through it and wondering why nobody was speeding, and then saw for myself like 15 cars pulled over over the next couple hours.
I googled "Don't speed" and google filled it out with "in Virginia" lol.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,918
Likes: 4,121
From: Maryland
I can promise you that you won't be thrown in jail for doing 100 unless you have a record. You'll get a really bad ticket you'll go to court and plea down. I know many people who have gotten tickets for over 85 in VA or who have kids that have etc. None of them have been arrested. They CAN arrest you, doesn't mean they WILL.
I have found that up and down the mid-atlantic there is really no reason to have to go faster than 80. I travel all through MD, VA and WV and PA and NJ and DE and I always set my cruise control at 80 on the highway if the limit is at least 65 and I am the fastest car on the road 95% of the time. When you cross the WV line from VA that stays the same, so people aren't slowing down or speeding up because of the reckless driving law.
I have found that up and down the mid-atlantic there is really no reason to have to go faster than 80. I travel all through MD, VA and WV and PA and NJ and DE and I always set my cruise control at 80 on the highway if the limit is at least 65 and I am the fastest car on the road 95% of the time. When you cross the WV line from VA that stays the same, so people aren't slowing down or speeding up because of the reckless driving law.
Last edited by SW17LS; May 13, 2025 at 10:04 AM.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 8,417
Likes: 370
From: Las Vegas
Here in Nevada, it's 30 above the limit before it becomes a criminal charge. There's no alternate minimum speed that triggers this, it's simply 30 above the posted limit.
In Utah, the posted speed limit on the interstate is commonly 80 MPH. So traffic tends to flow at about 85-90.
In Utah, the posted speed limit on the interstate is commonly 80 MPH. So traffic tends to flow at about 85-90.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 6,293
Likes: 494
From: Long Island
i'd much rather that left side of the gauge cluster be split up to have an oil temp and supercharger boost gauge (for instance), more like how they used to split up that left side of the cluster
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 6,293
Likes: 494
From: Long Island
In VA you'll literally get thrown in jail for doing 100.
I once was driving through it and wondering why nobody was speeding, and then saw for myself like 15 cars pulled over over the next couple hours.
I googled "Don't speed" and google filled it out with "in Virginia" lol.
I once was driving through it and wondering why nobody was speeding, and then saw for myself like 15 cars pulled over over the next couple hours.
I googled "Don't speed" and google filled it out with "in Virginia" lol.
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Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 6,293
Likes: 494
From: Long Island
i really do consider the radar detector to be in a similar category as a dashcam... if the goal truly is safety (we know it's not but just for the sake of discussion) then cops should look fondly on them since they really do get you to slow down and be more alert
if cops wanna be sneaky and hide in the dark waiting to catch someone i don't see the issue with trying to level the playing field
if cops wanna be sneaky and hide in the dark waiting to catch someone i don't see the issue with trying to level the playing field
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,571
Likes: 265
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
As I stated in the reply, yes,I agree. My point was that AI prides itself on accurate information, yet published outdated info.
Originally Posted by mmarshall
yes, I had heard that, too (and the present code verifies that), but AI still shows the threshold at 80.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,571
Likes: 265
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
It's not so much that they s**k. It's that, in VA, the dangers of excessive speed are taken seriously. In some states, primarily out West, they aren't.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,571
Likes: 265
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
You can always level the playing field by slowing down. Don't give the cops any reason to pull you over. Not only that, but most cops and most speed-cameras, for several reasons, won't nab you if you are doing less than about 10-11 MPH over the posted limit.
Last edited by mmarshall; May 13, 2025 at 12:06 PM.
Lead Lap
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 3,958
Likes: 409
I can promise you that you won't be thrown in jail for doing 100 unless you have a record. You'll get a really bad ticket you'll go to court and plea down. I know many people who have gotten tickets for over 85 in VA or who have kids that have etc. None of them have been arrested. They CAN arrest you, doesn't mean they WILL.
I have found that up and down the mid-atlantic there is really no reason to have to go faster than 80. I travel all through MD, VA and WV and PA and NJ and DE and I always set my cruise control at 80 on the highway if the limit is at least 65 and I am the fastest car on the road 95% of the time. When you cross the WV line from VA that stays the same, so people aren't slowing down or speeding up because of the reckless driving law.
I have found that up and down the mid-atlantic there is really no reason to have to go faster than 80. I travel all through MD, VA and WV and PA and NJ and DE and I always set my cruise control at 80 on the highway if the limit is at least 65 and I am the fastest car on the road 95% of the time. When you cross the WV line from VA that stays the same, so people aren't slowing down or speeding up because of the reckless driving law.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,918
Likes: 4,121
From: Maryland
i really do consider the radar detector to be in a similar category as a dashcam... if the goal truly is safety (we know it's not but just for the sake of discussion) then cops should look fondly on them since they really do get you to slow down and be more alert
if cops wanna be sneaky and hide in the dark waiting to catch someone i don't see the issue with trying to level the playing field
if cops wanna be sneaky and hide in the dark waiting to catch someone i don't see the issue with trying to level the playing field
Road speeds are much faster down there agreed.