Multiple Reckless Driving Charges

[Comatoast]

My question involves traffic court in the State of: Connecticut

I have a pending Reckless Driving charge that I used Accelerated Rehab for (1 time use). One of the requirements is a 1 year of "probation" where I cannot get a ticket. This morning I got pulled over for 75 in a construction zone (limit was 45) and I got another reckless driving charge. I was in morning traffic and sped up slightly to get past a slower vehicle in the right lane to get to my exit. The construction crew was behind me at this point (still coned off where they would eventually get to later today) and I was only about 5 MPH faster than traffic around me as there was no room for me to "recklessly drive". The officer asked for my social security number, so I asked him "Why?". He said I was doing more than 26 over the posted limit and I was being arrested (court date) for Reckless Driving, so I asked what the posted limit was (45). I never admitted guilt or said anything to indicate speed or knowledge of doing anything against the law.

The Accelerated Rehab requirements for the first case are:
A $250 fine
No moving violations for 1 year
Driver retraining course

I paid the fee and have not taken the course yet. I have been trying to get a hold of the Probation Monitor all day with no success, but I am sure this will result in the case going back to court. The first Reckless Driving case was for 102 in a 55 (late at night, no other cars around. I am an extremely safe driver, regardless of what you may initially assume based on this charge).

My questions are:
1. Do I need a lawyer? (I am buying a condo in 2 days and getting married in 3 months - I have NO money right now)
2. What is most likely to happen, with a court appointed attorney compared to a private lawyer?
3. What actions should I take to prevent losing my license (or to avoid jail)?


The most aggravating part of this is I had no idea he was even coming after me, I thought he was going to a call or something until he got right behind me and followed me off the exit. Usually when you are Recklessly Driving, you know it.

[cmre3456]

- snip- This morning I got pulled over for 75 in a construction zone (limit was 45) and I got another reckless driving charge...

...The first Reckless Driving case was for 102 in a 55 (late at night, no other cars around...

I am an extremely safe driver, regardless of what you may initially assume based on this charge).

First, we have another thread going, started by another "very good and safe" driver, and you may read that one.

LINK

Second, I'm tired of people doing 102 in a 55 in a construction zone and then telling me they are "extremely safe drivers." I'm tired of excuses. Attitudes count.

There's nothing I can do to help you. You need a major change in attitude, and I want you in jail for my own safety.

And yes, you need a lawyer. It isn't an option even if you have to put off everything else.

[free9man]

I was in morning traffic and sped up slightly to get past a slower vehicle in the right lane to get to my exit.

And you couldn't slow down and get behind them? Go to the next exit and come back? Should have been planning ahead to be in the proper lane to exit before it became necessary to exit.

You need a lawyer, period. Your accelerated rehab on the first charge is gone. Kiss it good-bye. You will now being facing full penalties on 2 charges that, if convicted, will leave you with a permanent criminal record. You also face a minimum 30 day/ maximum 90 day suspension of your driver's license for each charge.

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Usually when you are Recklessly Driving, you know it.

Actually a lot of people charged with legitimate reckless charges would swear they were perfectly fine.

[Comatoast]

Second, I'm tired of people doing 102 in a 55 in a construction zone and then telling me they are "extremely safe drivers." I'm tired of excuses. Attitudes count.

There's nothing I can do to help you. You need a major change in attitude, and I want you in jail for my own safety.

Just to clarify, I was not doing 102 in a construction zone. I was going marginally faster than surrounding traffic, in a construction zone, past the crew. This is not an extreme case of wild disregard for safety. This is merely an unfortunate "could happen to anyone" situation.

[Dogmatique]

102 in a 55?

That is not safe driving. Neither is 75 in a 45. These are not "could happen to anyone" situations. Your attitude is frankly quite worrisome. If you can't see how that those are actually perfect examples of a disregard for safety, I must concur with cmr - I don't want you on the roads.

You need an attorney.

[Comatoast]

And you couldn't slow down and get behind them? Go to the next exit and come back? Should have been planning ahead to be in the proper lane to exit before it became necessary to exit.

Actually a lot of people charged with legitimate reckless charges would swear they were perfectly fine.

Traffic slowed for the crew, then accelerated once we passed it. There is no way to reliably plan ahead for such a situation (see: Chaos Theory). I have no problem going to the next exit if i can't make it, I see people do stupid things all the time because of that. When it comes down to either go 5mph faster and make the exit, or pass it, most people would have made the same decision. Slowing down was not an option as there was a line of cars behind the car I went in front of. And before you think I'm just another flailing dbag with blatant disregard for laws, please note that I have been driving for 12 years and have no accidents (except being backed into, while I was stopped, in a parking lot.) I do NOT take risks when driving. I frequently drive fast, usually on back roads, so I can become a better driver. I have learned a LOT about driving and vehicular physics because of this. I do NOT endanger other people's lives.

You need a lawyer, period. Your accelerated rehab on the first charge is gone. Kiss it good-bye. You will now being facing full penalties on 2 charges that, if convicted, will leave you with a permanent criminal record. You also face a minimum 30 day/ maximum 90 day suspension of your driver's license for each charge.

Thank you for the advice!

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102 in a 55?

That is not safe driving. Neither is 75 in a 45. These are not "could happen to anyone" situations. Your attitude is frankly quite worrisome. If you can't see how that those are actually perfect examples of a disregard for safety, I must concur with cmr - I don't want you on the roads.

You need an attorney.

The 102 in a 55 is not perfectly safe, correct. I'm not saying that. My car was new at that point and I needed to see the handling characteristics. It was late and no one was around, and was "relatively" safe. Not legally safe, not safe for the average untrained driver, but if something went wrong, I was alone and would only hurt myself. And I got caught, went to court, paid the fine, was going to do the class, fine. What I am trying to say is that this is not an "attitude" issue - if it was, then there's about a hundred people that were in front, next to and behind me all with the exact same attitude problem. If I was doing 20 or even 15 mph faster, I could understand that. But this was a marginal increase. I've been driving slower since the first incident because I didn't want to get into this situation.

[PTPD22]

People, I strongly suspect that "Comatoast" is also "Astrodude" from this post. Even if not, the attitute is the same...I don't want "Astrodude" free on the streets around people's underage daughters and I don't want "Comatoast" free to be on the same roadways as any of my loved ones or I!

Comatoast, you are a public menace and are either too arrogant or too stupid to realize it. I am very happy that your license is almost assuredly going to be suspended (although not nearly long enough for my comfort).

[cmre3456]

Did Google somehow list us in the "calling all irrational rationalizers" section in the past few days?

We have people who can rapidly and four times be "first time offenders" but are very good drivers, people who are child molesters but ripped off by being charged with it, and people who drive 102 mph in a 55 but are "very good drivers." All of them blame the system, and none understands paying the penalty.

[free9man]

Traffic slowed for the crew, then accelerated once we passed it. There is no way to reliably plan ahead for such a situation (see: Chaos Theory).

Absolutely...wrong. The CZ doesn't stop where the crew stops. It stops where it is marked as stopping. Chaos theory has nothing to do with it. In less time than it takes to drink a glass of water, I came up with:
- You know you are in a construction zone and need to exit soon, stay in the right lane and go the speed limit.
- Just plain stay in the right lane because you will need to exit, regardless of CZ, and do the speed limit.
- Slow down and put on your blinker a ways before your exit, believe it or not someone could let you in. Did you even try?
- Go to the next exit, which you said you were fine with.

I have no problem going to the next exit if i can't make it,

So why didn't you?

When it comes down to either go 5mph faster and make the exit, or pass it, most people would have made the same decision.

And? Still illegal and dangerous at those speeds. What would you do if the person decided to be a Lane Ranger and accelerate to block you?

Slowing down was not an option as there was a line of cars behind the car I went in front of.

See above about using a standard piece of automotive equipment called a blinker/turn signal.

And before you think I'm just another flailing dbag with blatant disregard for laws, please note that I have been driving for 12 years and have no accidents

Whoopee. Doesn't change the fact you have a blatant disregard for laws. Lots of folks with the same affliction can go 12 or more years without an accident.

I do NOT take risks when driving.

Yes you do. 102 in a 55 is risky, very risky.

I frequently drive fast, usually on back roads, so I can become a better driver.

Bull-droppings. You do not need to drive fast to become a better driver, unless you want to be a race car driver. The place for that kind of training is a track. There is no legal reason for a civilian to operate a motor vehicle at almost twice the legal speed limit, well actually anything over the speed limit. That's why it's the speed limit.

I do NOT endanger other people's lives.

Yes you do. You just don't want to recognize the fact.

The 102 in a 55 is not perfectly safe, correct. I'm not saying that.

You are inferring it.

My car was new at that point and I needed to see the handling characteristics.

Absolutely a humongous pile of bull-droppings. You DO NOT need to drive a car, new or old, at 100MPH to see its handling characteristics because there is NO time when you are legally allowed to drive that fast on the road. You want to see how it handles at that speed? Go to a track.

It was late and no one was around, and was "relatively" safe.

No it wasn't.

Not legally safe, not safe for the average untrained driver, but if something went wrong, I was alone and would only hurt myself.

It's not safe for any driver who has not had the proper professional training to operate at those speeds.

If I was doing 20 or even 15 mph faster, I could understand that. But this was a marginal increase. I've been driving slower since the first incident because I didn't want to get into this situation.

Almost twice the legal speed limit is NOT a marginal increase. You're lucky by the way. Down here in the South, unless you are famous, that speed would get you tossed in jail. How'd that driving slower work out for you?

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People, I strongly suspect that "Comatoast" is also "Astrodude" from this post.

I was kinda sad to see that one get closed before I got back to it. My apparently socially disabled self used the wrong term in there and it took on a life of it's own. I haven't laughed at my own mistake that much in a long time and I wanted to thank everyone for that.

[cmre3456]

I had to settle for popcorn and a Coke. If I were in the South I could have had an RC Cola and a Moon Pie,
darn it.