Penalty for Speeding in a Highway Work Zone in Virginia

A Virginia speeding ticket is punished with a fine and DMV demerit points.  Certain areas in Virginia have increased penalties for speeding, such as highway work zones, school crossings and school zones, and residential districts.  This post focuses on the penalty for speeding in a highway work zone in Virginia.

Penalty for Speeding in a Highway Work Zone in Virginia

There is an increased penalty for speeding in a highway work zone in Virginia.  The penalty for speeding in a highway work zone in Virginia applies if the offender exceeded the speed limit in a highway work zone when workers were present and the work zone had appropriately placed signs displaying the maximum speed limit and the penalties for speeding.

Penalty for Speeding in a Highway Work Zone in Virginia: Fines

One penalty for speeding in a highway work zone in Virginia is a higher possible fine.  The fine can be pre-paid (Va. Code §46.2-878.3) and is usually $7 for every mile per hour over the speed limit the offender was driving.

Many drivers are surprised to learn that pre-paying the fine for speeding in a highway work zone in Virginia (or pre-paying the fine for any traffic infraction) is admitting guilt and will result in a conviction on the offender’s Virginia driving record.

In addition to the higher pre-payable fine, the maximum fine for speeding in a highway work zone in Virginia is higher than the maximum fine for speeding in most other areas in Virginia.  The maximum fine for speeding in Virginia is usually $250, but the maximum fine for speeding in a highway work zone in Virginia can be as high as $500.

Penalty for Speeding in a Highway Work Zone in Virginia: DMV Demerit Points

Another penalty for speeding in a highway work zone in Virginia is automatic DMV demerit points.  After a driver is convicted of speeding in a highway work zone in Virginia, the DMV adds demerit points to the offender’s Virginia driving record.  The number of points depends on the driver’s speed.

Speeding 1-9 miles per hour over the speed limit will result in 3 DMV demerit points.  Speeding 10-19 miles per hour over the speed limit will result in 4 DMV demerit points.  Speeding more than 20 miles per hour over the speed limit will result in 6 DMV demerit points.

Accumulating too many DMV demerit points in a short period of time could result in penalties imposed by the DMV, including driver’s license suspension.

For more information on Virginia speeding tickets and DMV demerit points, click here.

Penalty for Speeding in a Highway Work Zone in Virginia: Conviction on Virginia Driving Record

Another penalty for speeding in a highway work zone in Virginia is a conviction on the offender’s Virginia driving record.  Pre-paying a fine for a Virginia speeding ticket-or being convicted in court of speeding-will result in a conviction on the offender’s Virginia driving record.  This conviction will remain on the offender’s driving record for 5 years.

Drivers in Virginia need to be mindful of how many traffic convictions they have on their driving records.  The more convictions a driver has on his driving record, the less likely police and the courts are to be lenient if the driver is charged with another traffic infraction in the future.

 

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