Linda L. Johnson, P.C.

Shaun @ Tru6 · 07-16-2014, 09:53 AM

I drove a car I bought for my grandfather in FL up to CT on July 3rd and 4th. The speed limit for SC and NC and VA was 70mph until I got to Petersburg, VA. That's where it dropped to 55, which I didn't notice and was stopped for 71 in a 55, got a ticket.

I'm trying to find out if there's reciprocity between the two, neither the VA court system nor DMV has any idea if they report tickets to MA and I still have to make some MA calls. I don't mind paying the ticket, I just don't want the point and my insurance to go up for 6 years.

Anyway, yesterday I got a letter from Linda who is an attorney in Petersberg and she understands I got a ticket in Peterberg and I have a court date on 8/21. It's odd that the officer assigns a court date when he gives you a ticket, even more so that Linda knows about it.

She's writing to let me know she can represent me for $120 for simple speeding. She says there are no guarantees, but "I promise my best efforts in trying to guide you through this process."

My options are:
Pay the ticket

Go to court myself and try to at least get it knocked down to a non-moving violation, pay the original fine I image

Have Linda represent me

Anyone have experience with the VA traffic court system?

Baz · Baz's Garage

Not sure what the exact protocol is in Petersburg, Shaun, but sometimes you can plead "no contest" (or the equivalent) and just pay a fine with no points assigned to your record. You could call the Petersburg clerk of court and they would know.

Good luck!

dad911 · 07-16-2014, 10:04 AM

Public info, she monitors police reports and sends out letters to drum up business. We get them in NJ too. I despise 'ambulance chasers' like that. We also get form letters from tax appeal attnys.

Hopefully someone from VA will chime in.....but if I was hiring an attorney, I'd be looking for local referrals.

tuxdu · tuxdu's Garage

From my experience on a couple of motorcycle rallies over the last few years, was advised that anything over 15 mph in the state of VA DOES require a court appearance as its considered reckless driving offense. A fellow rider had one and he had to hire an attorney to fight/discount the speed but still had to pay the fine after the mitigation.

My offer of advice is to call the courthouse and or prosecuting office to find out for sure.

peppy · 07-16-2014, 10:39 AM

Linda can probably have it reduced to improper equipment. You pay the fines for speeding and there will be no points, and Linda gets $250. Sorry, but VA needs your money.

VA does send info to NC.

Shaun were you coming up I85 or I95? I live close to I85.

VaSteve · 07-16-2014, 10:40 AM

I think there are blocks of dates assigned by the court for traffic violations. That's how they know the dates in advance. She pulled your info off the public record as was stated.

Shaun @ Tru6 · 07-16-2014, 10:47 AM

Thanks everyone!

I just talked with the MA DMV, the person responsible for points, and they said the only way they would know about it is if VA posts the ticket on the National Driver Register.

National Driver Register (NDR) | National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

So I have to find out if VA posts 71 in a 55 on the NDR. If they don't, I'll just pay the ticket.

If they do, I'll have to hire a lawyer and/or show up in court on August 21. Will make a vacation out of it, have been wanting to go to DC for a while now.

My guess is they do.

Shaun @ Tru6 · 07-16-2014, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peppy

Linda can probably have it reduced to improper equipment. You pay the fines for speeding and there will be no points, and Linda gets $250. Sorry, but VA needs your money.

VA does send info to NC.

Shaun were you coming up I85 or I95? I live close to I85.

95 the whole way, took two days from FL to CT.

island911 · 07-16-2014, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tuxdu

..anything over 15 mph in the state of VA DOES require a court appearance as its considered reckless driving offense. ...

Dang. A reckless driving offense on the heels of a horrific crash.

But lets pretend that insurance companies are out of line for raising your rates.

Shaun @ Tru6 · 07-16-2014, 11:22 AM

Why would you think my insurance went up after my crash? For the 84 full coverage, E320 and Tundra basic, I pay about $1K per year.

You'll have to try harder Glenn.

Z-man · Z-man's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by dad911

Public info, she monitors police reports and sends out letters to drum up business. We get them in NJ too. I despise 'ambulance chasers' like that. We also get form letters from tax appeal attnys.

Hopefully someone from VA will chime in.....but if I was hiring an attorney, I'd be looking for local referrals.

This. Linda sounds like a nice lady, and she may be able to assist you, but then again, she may just take your $120, show up in court, and say "Guilty as charged" on your behalf.

-Z

URY914 · URY914's Garage

I would ask for Linda's picture before making any decisions on the matter.

Just saying.....

Paul_Heery · Paul_Heery's Garage

I looked her up for you. I think you'll be fine.

gacook · gacook's Garage

I've never seen a ticket that DIDN'T have a court date on it. Generally, it's pay the fine before this time, or show up in court.

Not sure about the points thing...when I was living in MA, I got a ticket in NY. I paid the fine, and I don't believe the points ever got assessed on my license.

Z-man · Z-man's Garage

Linda Johnson's Linkedin account

Linda Johnson's Facebook page

Her other Facebook page

Linda Johnson's Lawyer's rating (Overall rating of 5.0 on a scale of 1 to 5.)

This website rates her 6.5 out of 10. Her middle name is Lucille.

Looks like her firm has a total of 1 employee. (herself)

You can dig further if you wish to find out more of this person - who is apparently the president (and only employee) of her law firm.

Amazing what you can find on the interwebs theses days...

-Z-man.

dad911 · 05:27 AM

Nevermind..... I Can Be So Juvenile at Times...

I need to step away from OT for a few days....

Googam · Googam's Garage

I just went through this with my son. Speeding in VA no less. His ticket, court date & fine were posted on the VA Court system site by County You can plead guilty & pay online. Luckily we live in GA which has no reciprocity, but it appears CT does. He also got at least 3 "fishing" letters from VA lawyers, it's a "racket".
Which states have reciprocal agreements about tickets? | CarInsurance.com

DanielDudley · 07-17-2014, 02:01 AM

If I couldn't show up, I would lawyer up.

Z-man · Z-man's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by dad911

Nevermind..... I Can Be So Juvenile at Times...

I need to step away from OT for a few days....

What you posted was all good -- I've never been Rickrolled before... (At least that's what came up on my tablet when I checked the links last night...)

-Z

M.D. Holloway · 07-17-2014, 06:04 AM

eradicated adjudication or is it interrupted ejaculation...anyway eitherway irregardless and nevertheless...just say'n

I think your gonna have to pay but you may not have to pay the full amount. I've gotten speeding tickets in other states and didn't show up in court - rather called their court house and they explained my options. I paid and they never showed up on my driving records. I've gotten 8 tickets in the past 15 years. My insurance has gone down every year. I don't know why and I don't ask why...