Washington DC Mayor Adrian Fenty recently got cited for speeding. His mayoral ride, the tiniest little thing you've ever seen, is one of those smart cars. It really represents a big departure from what we normally see politicians driving. In fact,
according to an article in the Washington Post, his previous car was a Lincoln Navigator, one of those big bohemoth SUVs featuring maximum luxury and minimum gas mileage. The funny thing is that it seems like a calculated move to appeal to "greens" and show your part for saving Mother Earth.
What is ironic is that the good mayor is still driving the Lincoln back and forth from home to the office, only using the 2-seater smart car for daytime (i.e., "photo opportunity") journeys during his workday. I guess the greens will just have to take what they can get. At any rate, the mayor's car was ticketed as a result of one of those foolish little speed cameras that have become a pox upon the drivers of the District.
According to this report, the car was "caught" going 43 in a 30 MPH zone. OMG!!! That is 13 MILES PER HOUR OVER THE SPEED LIMIT!!! THIRTEEN! Hizzoner is lucky, because in Virginia, thirteen miles per hour over the speed limit can get you charged with a CRIME, which is not just any old civil infraction or non-jailable misdemeanor. It is a First Class Misdemeanor just like DUI, possession of marijuana, and shoplifting! As my readers know, Virginia law says that anybody travelling 81 in a 70 (eighty one miles per hour in a seventy mile per hour zone) on I-85 South of Petersburg can (and will) be charged with reckless driving. That's only eleven miles over the limit, and people are charged with reckless driving for thirteen miles over
every day. Of course the mayor wasn't going 81 miles per hour. But on the other hand, he was at 143% of the speed limit. At 81 in a 70, a driver is only at 116% of the limit.
One of my clients recently fell into this unfortunate group at an alleged speed of 86 in a 70. She didn't get convicted, but many of the people caught in the Virginia reckless driving racket never even show up for court. They just figure they are beat from the start and never even bother to fight the charge. That's not really true, depending on the quality of the case you and your attorney can prepare before going to court. But especially for out of state drivers, the trip back to VA combined with the cost of the ticket if they lose is prohibitive. Wait 'til they find out some of the prohibitions of having a permanent criminal record!
While the mayor was not charged with a crime (and his driving would not constitute a crime in Virginia either), the point is that everybody speeds.
