chaz_042688
New member
I have my first ever court hearing of any kind tomorrow for a traffic violation back in early May. It was an accidental HOV violation and when I say accidental I do mean it as anyone new to the area where I live would fall in the same trap. It's in my story below. For those who don't want to read the story basically here are my core questions I really need answered.
Do I plead guilty or not guilty? (I personally don't feel guilty as this was most likely unpreventable and a big misunderstanding due to clarity). I guess I am guilty of the crime (as in I was behind the wheel) but I don't feel guilty.
Do I say guilty of the charge due to extenuating circumstances and ask to explain my plead?
What do I wear?
Ok my story is below for those who want to understand my situation.
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I'm new to commuting in the Northern Virginia area through DC as previously I lived about 50 miles south. On May 22nd of this year when driving to work around 8am I decided to try a new route by getting on I-66 east. The entrance ramp was accessible upon making a left turn at a light. Upon entering the entrance ramp I noticed a cop car with lights on about 50 ft ahead and slowed down thinking someone got pulled over or there was an accident.
As I slowly started passing one of them motioned for me to pull over too and I rolled down the window and he asked me to pull over to the shoulder so I complied in confusion. (I say them because from what I remember the guy that motioned to me didn't look like a cop in uniform as I saw only one cop in uniform issuing others a ticket behind my car.)
As I sat there for about 5 minutes and a few cars drove by and some more were asked to pull over as well. (this was before even entering the freeway). Eventually the guy asked me for my license and registration which I gave him and he walked away and about 10 minutes later the cop in uniform (not the other guy) came back with a ticket along with my license and registration and said I was in violation of Virginia Code § 33.1-46.2. After asking him what that was and what I was being pulled over for, I told him that I didn't know the entire I-66 freeway was a carpool lane as I live south of the area where the carpool lane on I-95 is clearly marked and has two lanes of it's own and has clear signs and this one doesn't.
He just said sign there and call this number to find out the fine and have a nice day. Going back checking the signs, I noticed that it wasn't clear at all that the entire freeway was a carpool lane and I had no clue the state of Virginia can even do that. I wonder what people driving east from 70 miles west do?
I decided that I am not guilty as I did not know this information prior and had thought the carpool lane was separate and accessible AFTER entering the interstate like it is everywhere else in the Washington DC area from what I've seen. I also noticed that the big old sign was on top of the entrance ramp so even if I saw it and realized it in a split second (maybe 1 out of 1000 people do) I still would have been trapped with the police 50 yards ahead of me because I can't just reverse out of the entrance ramp with cars entering behind me without causing an accident.
The fine is $180 dollars as this is my first traffic citation in my life on my otherwise clean record. I have little money and I only have a summer job.
The signs were there but they clearly weren't very clear in communicating all lanes of I-66 vs just one or two lanes. After having been here for 2 months it's clear enough now especially having driven on I-66 a few times after HOV hours but I was new to the area when this happened and it's not clear to new people here.
I don't have any nice clothes as my shirt and ties are at my parents house 3 hours away.
(My summer internship doesn't require shirts and ties and slacks)
Do I plead guilty or not guilty? (I personally don't feel guilty as this was most likely unpreventable and a big misunderstanding due to clarity). I guess I am guilty of the crime (as in I was behind the wheel) but I don't feel guilty.
Do I say guilty of the charge due to extenuating circumstances and ask to explain my plead?
What do I wear?
Ok my story is below for those who want to understand my situation.
*********************************************************************************
I'm new to commuting in the Northern Virginia area through DC as previously I lived about 50 miles south. On May 22nd of this year when driving to work around 8am I decided to try a new route by getting on I-66 east. The entrance ramp was accessible upon making a left turn at a light. Upon entering the entrance ramp I noticed a cop car with lights on about 50 ft ahead and slowed down thinking someone got pulled over or there was an accident.
As I slowly started passing one of them motioned for me to pull over too and I rolled down the window and he asked me to pull over to the shoulder so I complied in confusion. (I say them because from what I remember the guy that motioned to me didn't look like a cop in uniform as I saw only one cop in uniform issuing others a ticket behind my car.)
As I sat there for about 5 minutes and a few cars drove by and some more were asked to pull over as well. (this was before even entering the freeway). Eventually the guy asked me for my license and registration which I gave him and he walked away and about 10 minutes later the cop in uniform (not the other guy) came back with a ticket along with my license and registration and said I was in violation of Virginia Code § 33.1-46.2. After asking him what that was and what I was being pulled over for, I told him that I didn't know the entire I-66 freeway was a carpool lane as I live south of the area where the carpool lane on I-95 is clearly marked and has two lanes of it's own and has clear signs and this one doesn't.
He just said sign there and call this number to find out the fine and have a nice day. Going back checking the signs, I noticed that it wasn't clear at all that the entire freeway was a carpool lane and I had no clue the state of Virginia can even do that. I wonder what people driving east from 70 miles west do?
I decided that I am not guilty as I did not know this information prior and had thought the carpool lane was separate and accessible AFTER entering the interstate like it is everywhere else in the Washington DC area from what I've seen. I also noticed that the big old sign was on top of the entrance ramp so even if I saw it and realized it in a split second (maybe 1 out of 1000 people do) I still would have been trapped with the police 50 yards ahead of me because I can't just reverse out of the entrance ramp with cars entering behind me without causing an accident.
The fine is $180 dollars as this is my first traffic citation in my life on my otherwise clean record. I have little money and I only have a summer job.
The signs were there but they clearly weren't very clear in communicating all lanes of I-66 vs just one or two lanes. After having been here for 2 months it's clear enough now especially having driven on I-66 a few times after HOV hours but I was new to the area when this happened and it's not clear to new people here.
I don't have any nice clothes as my shirt and ties are at my parents house 3 hours away.
(My summer internship doesn't require shirts and ties and slacks)