Is America too punitive? Trigger warning..

[venomous]

Not to be heavy, but I need to rant about "the system" for a second. I was pulled over for first offense speeding. No priors of any kind. Under 90 on a highway. Got a reckless driving charge.

Lawyer tells me I'm looking at 1-7 days in jail. I'm sort of irate. I almost don't even care about the incarceration. I do, ofc, but the strip search thing is making me really livid.

I have sexual hangups over past traumas. I'm a student. A hard worker. I don't even show my ass on cam, let alone...the inner parts...just typing that disgusts me. But if I did, at least I'd have control.

I volunteer with the elderly, at hospice, the SPCA. I'm a good friend, good daughter. I try to be a good person. Someone tell me this is fair! Because it feels really unfair

Why is America so punitive?

 

[Deleted member 37064]

Not to be heavy, but I need to rant about "the system" for a second. I was pulled over for first offense speeding. No priors of any kind. Under 90 on a highway. Got a reckless driving charge.

Lawyer tells me I'm looking at 1-7 days in jail. I'm sort of irate. I almost don't even care about the incarceration. I do, ofc, but the strip search thing is making me really livid.

I have sexual hangups over past traumas. I'm a student. A hard worker. I don't even show my ass on cam, let alone...the inner parts...just typing that disgusts me. But if I did, at least I'd have control.

I volunteer with the elderly, at hospice, the SPCA. I'm a good friend, good daughter. I try to be a good person. Someone tell me this is fair! Because it feels really unfair

Why is America so punitive?

There's a lot of bullshit laws out there. But, that being said, it's hard to decide one way or the other in your case.

How far over posted were you going?
Was there any other cars?
Were you swerving to get around them?
Were you doing something else such as texting, eating, singing, etc. to partially distract you?

You get the picture. Did they strip search you right there? or, are you talking about the strip search when going to jail? That's a common occurrence for entry into jail, as they want to ensure no drugs, weapons, etc are coming in.

IMO, there's far to many specific laws which can be covered under a broader law.

 

[SMuser69]

Justice is NOT designed to be fair it's designed for you not to break the law or at least not flaunt that you're breaking the law. Everyone drives above the limit but 'offensive driving/reckless driving' usually means the officer thought you were being a complete ass to others on the road.

The lawyer is telling you what the penalty for reckless driving. Unless you were truly being an asshole driver to others on the road speeding tickets are usually pleaded down to a lesser charge so you don't get points on your license either. If you haven't been to your hearing yet I'm surprised the lawyer didn't mention about pleading down charge? Here they usually plead you down to littering or failure to signal so you don't get points but then hit you with $300-600 fines for something like this.

 

[Deleted member 37064]

Was it an actual lawyer of yours? Or, was it a court appointed mediator?

 

[Bocefish]

Incarceration for 1st offense of speeding with no other priors?

There must be something else or you definitely need a better lawyer.

 

[venomous]

There's a lot of bullshit laws out there. But, that being said, it's hard to decide one way or the other in your case.

How far over posted were you going?
Was there any other cars?
Were you swerving to get around them?
Were you doing something else such as texting, eating, singing, etc. to partially distract you?

You get the picture. Did they strip search you right there? or, are you talking about the strip search when going to jail? That's a common occurrence for entry into jail, as they want to ensure no drugs, weapons, etc are coming in.

IMO, there's far to many specific laws which can be covered under a broader law.

That hasn't happened yet. The officer didn't arrest me. The lawyer said I could expect 1-7 days in jail depending on the judge's mood, basically, and said if I did go to jail they'd most likely do a search because it's a class 1 misdemeanor.

I was (allegedly) going 30 over which is very fast, but I honestly didn't even notice. It was Christmas Eve, so I was stressed and tired and just ugh.

Also, no swerving, no texting, nothing like that. He only cited me for the speeding. I was very polite and even thanked him when he handed me the ticket. The road was pretty quiet.

I respect the law, but nobody got hurt. I also don't see much point in handing out jail time over minor offenses. Haven't seen anything to say it's effective, either.

Justice is NOT designed to be fair it's designed for you not to break the law or at least not flaunt that you're breaking the law. Everyone drives above the limit but 'offensive driving/reckless driving' usually means the officer thought you were being a complete ass to others on the road.

The lawyer is telling you what the penalty for reckless driving. Unless you were truly being an asshole driver to others on the road speeding tickets are usually pleaded down to a lesser charge so you don't get points on your license either. If you haven't been to your hearing yet I'm surprised the lawyer didn't mention about pleading down charge? Here they usually plead you down to littering or failure to signal so you don't get points but then hit you with $300-600 fines for something like this.

Literally, what the fuck? Justice isn't designed to be fair? Try looking up the definition of justice.

I'm super liberal and always have been. Even before this. The criminal justice system is so vengeful. It's about getting even not keeping people safe.

We throw people in jail for drug possession even though studies say this is an ineffective policy. Everybody just wants their pound of flesh.

And it really is very easy for y'all to sit and support this when I'm sure you've gone that much over for a second, yourselves, and not gotten caught.

I've made mistake, but this is not fair. Fine me? Sure. Even suspend my license. But jail time? It's just silly.

 

[Phoenix4987]

On vacation, I drove through Georgia and got tagged doing 17 over. Mandatory court appearance, bla bla. Hired a traffic attorney online for $400. Kept delaying the hearing, delaying the hearing and when we couldn't do that anymore, my attorney met with the judge before the hearing and it got thrown out.

 

[venomous]

Incarceration for 1st offense of speeding with no other priors?

There must be something else or you definitely need a better lawyer.

Nope! That's ALL. Welcome to Virginia! Where not long we threw the Lovings in jail for being an interracial couple.

Also, my lawyer is considered the best for this kind of stuff in the area.

 

[venomous]

This whole thing leaves me no room to feel sorry about going that fast. Because I WAS very contrite with the officer, and he was very sympathetic. I even thanked him when he handed me the fucking charge.

But when you're throwing out jail time as a possibility, given the circumstances...I feel sorrier for myself. It honestly puts me in a position where I can't help but feel like I'm the one being wronged.

A scolding, a fine and a license suspension would do the trick. The judge would get a sincere apology. But the punishment they're talking about isn't fitting the crime.

 

[NerdieBirdie]

"This whole thing leaves me no room to feel sorry about going that fast."

As someone permanently impacted by a reckless driver let me tell you how absolutely disgusting and selfish you sound making that statement. I'm not here to debate this or discuss this any further past making this post but I just needed to say that. How lucky you are that you didn't impact someone else's life that day or kill them. What an absolute disgusting statement.

 

[CharlieCharma]

I've lived in VA. I've been pulled over in VA. You need a better lawyer or there is more to this story. If there is nothing more to this story and you were going under 20 over the speed limit, you have a huge reason to sue.

Ok, sorry, after typing that I scrolled up. 30 over? Yeah, 1 to 7 days is deserved and warranted. 30 over is where you get to losing control and killing someone. It is reckless and stupid. You shouldn't of gotten a speeding ticket, you should of gotten a reckless driving or something similar kind of ticket. 1 to 7 days for risking the lives of all those around you is deserved. Nobody got hurt, but people don't always get hurt when a driver is texting, when someone is drunk, when a kid isn't in the carseat. That isn't how the law works. You put lives in danger and if we just punished people after others got hurt, or worse, killed, there would be a lot more traffic fatalities.

 

[Bocefish]

A class 1 misdemeanor!?

Jail is certainly a possibility... as a MAXIMUM punishment. The judge has several options and seriously doubt he or she will give you the max for you for speeding unless you were recklessly endangering others. Very seldom do first offenders receive the maximum possible punishment.

A fine, probation and community service instead of incarceration is likely what you're looking at.

 

[CharlieCharma]

This whole thing leaves me no room to feel sorry about going that fast. Because I WAS very contrite with the officer, and he was very sympathetic. I even thanked him when he handed me the fucking charge.

But when you're throwing out jail time as a possibility, given the circumstances...I feel sorrier for myself. It honestly puts me in a position where I can't help but feel like I'm the one being wronged.

A scolding, a fine and a license suspension would do the trick. The judge would get a sincere apology. But the punishment they're talking about isn't fitting the crime.

You could have killed someone you daft cunt. Going 30+ over is fucking insane. You deserve 1 to 7 days in jail. That is less than a week of your life. That is less than what you could have taken from someone else with your reckless behavior.

 

[Magnolia]

I lost my childhood best friend to a speeding driver. Take your punishment and LEARN FROM IT. 30 over is ridiculous, I have no sympathy. Don't feel sorry for yourself, feel guilty for putting YOUR life and OTHER PEOPLE'S lives in danger! Feel guilty enough to never ever do it again.

 

[CharlieCharma]

DP. Don't care. You are driving a machine that has the ability to kill. Think about the last time you saw someone so disfigured they were unrecognizable in the news. IT was probably from a car accident. Drive the fucking speed limit. You get no pity for acting like a fool, One mistake, one bad move, and you have ruined or taken a life. A car is a loaded gun that everyone owns in America. Treat it with some goddamn respect you fucking heathen.

 

[JickyJuly]

Did... did you tell the officer that you don't show your inner ass on cam? That you volunteer with puppies?

Seriously though, driving 30 over should lose you your license for a year in my opinion. No reason for it. No excuse. Just crappy driving and lack of consideration for others. America is too punitive in plenty of ways. There are people who've stolen TVs and stayed in jail 20 years over it. That's not you. Stop playing victim and be honest with yourself. What you're experiencing isn't unfair or unjust. It sounds like you're probably just not used to consequences.

 

[venomous]

"This whole thing leaves me no room to feel sorry about going that fast."

As someone permanently impacted by a reckless driver let me tell you how absolutely disgusting and selfish you sound making that statement. I'm not here to debate this or discuss this any further past making this post but I just needed to say that. How lucky you are that you didn't impact someone else's life that day or kill them. What an absolute disgusting statement.

I'm sorry that you were impacted by reckless driving, but you clearly took that comment out of context.

Number one, reckless driving as a "catch all term" makes poor sense. Driving 30 over the limit--which I did NOT realize I was doing--on an empty road is not the same thing as going...say, 100 in a school zone.

Something more similar to what a politician from state did, but got it down to faulty equipment.

Number two, clearly, in your case, somewhat got hurt. If I was going that fast, it couldn't have been more than a minute when he caught me and I probably would have caught it myself and slowed down if he hadn't.

LASTLY, and most importantly, I felt very sorry about it the night it happened! A friend of mine was killed when she crossed the median not even a year ago. Yes, I clearly saw the connection.

Which is why I'm saying I DO deserve to feel guilty. But when you give someone a week in jail when nobody got hurt, you're overdoing it. Literally NO other state except NC would put someone in jail for going 30 over.

If you want to call me disgusting for that, then fine. You want to hate and to blame and I understand that. But it's misdirected.

I don't support jail as punishment as a RULE. I have made a point of being very vocal about that. I NEVER said I didn't deserve to be punished.

Taking away my license for 6 months would severely impact my life and teach me an adequate lesson. Taking $2,500 from me. Putting me with murderers for a week? No. Not just.

 

[venomous]

Did... did you tell the officer that you don't show your inner ass on cam? That you volunteer with puppies?

Seriously though, driving 30 over should lose you your license for a year in my opinion. No reason for it. No excuse. Just crappy driving and lack of consideration for others. America is too punitive in plenty of ways. There are people who've stolen TVs and stayed in jail 20 years over it. That's not you. Stop playing victim and be honest with yourself. What you're experiencing isn't unfair or unjust. It sounds like you're probably just not used to consequences.

I don't disagree with losing my license. I think that easily fits the offense.

Y'all keep piling on and I really wonder if you hear yourselves. I didn't kill anybody. Not your friends, not anybody. Nobody was hurt.

It wasn't speeding for the sake of getting somewhere faster. I was lost in thought and literally didn't realize. That's the truth.

You want to say I deserve jail time for that? Fine, but tell me you haven't done something worse in your whole life in a moment than go over the speed limit.

And yes, the fact that I do community service voluntarily DOES matter and if I get out of jail time...that will probably be the reason why.

Lastly, if it wasn't for the strip search, I really wouldn't care. LIKE I said. If I was ONE class of misdemeanor lower, they wouldn't perform it. It would be illegal in my state. It just doesn't make sense.

 

[JickyJuly]

Putting me with murderers for a week? No. Not just.

You'll be in a city or county jail not prison. You'll be surrounded by alcoholics, addicts, thieves, folks who don't have enough $ to pay fines... people who are more dangerous to themselves than to society.

 

[venomous]

You'll be in a city or county jail not prison. You'll be surrounded by alcoholics, addicts, thieves, folks who don't have enough $ to pay fines... people who are more dangerous to themselves than to society.

Nope! You're wrong. There will likely be murderers awaiting transfer. I will be housed with offenders of every degree.

 

[JickyJuly]

Nope! You're wrong. There will likely be murderers awaiting transfer. I will be housed with offenders of every degree.

I hope you are. You obviously believe yourself to be above the law. If you feel "piled on" talking about this on a forum filled with internet porn folks siding with police, you really do need to rethink your stance. I'm hoping that you're very young. That's the only way this could be anything less than pukeworthy. If you are very young, I hope that the people in your life let you be held accountable for this instead of stunting you further.

 

[venomous]

I hope you are. You obviously believe yourself to be above the law. If you feel "piled on" talking about this on a forum filled with internet porn folks siding with police, you really do need to rethink your stance. I'm hoping that you're very young. That's the only way this could be anything less than pukeworthy. If you are very young, I hope that the people in your life let you be held accountable for this instead of stunting you further.

So, you think that person was justified in getting 20 years for stealing a TV?

 

[Lexi Emerson]

Nobody was hurt THIS TIME. You very easily could have hurt someone or literally taken away someone’s life. Every person who hit something or someone I am sure thought “a little over isn’t a big deal” or “I didn’t hurt anyone”. 30 miles over is not something to shrug at, what the fuck? And then to act like you’re being treated unfairly?! Holy hell girl, you sound selfish as fuck.

 

[JickyJuly]

So, you think that person was justified in getting 20 years for stealing a TV?

Obviously not.
I think it's vile that you're calling yourself persecuted when actually persecuted people are there. Someone who is driving 30 miles over the speed limit is breaking the law. They're wasting an officer's time. It's selfish kid stuff, and kids don't deserve to be driving with the rest of us. To be anything other than ashamed of yourself here is wild to me.
Breathe. Think outside of yourself before reading.

 

[Bocefish]

A car is a loaded gun that everyone owns in America. Treat it with some goddamn respect you fucking heathen.

LOL

Should she really be burned at the stake for her first offense of speeding?

Now I'm curious what she was driving.

 

[venomous]

Guess what? I'm already going to jail. Because I was driving too fast, because that's the kind of person I am. I make mistakes. And I'm crazy. I have problems, yes. But I try to do the right thing and I think I've been a good person most of my life.

Yes, someone could have been hurt. But they weren't. Either way, I'm coming to an Internet forum that's supposed to be women supporting women saying...not even that I don't want to go to jail, so much as I don't want to be strip searched because I have issues about my body because a 65 year old man stuck his tongue in my ass when I was 7.

I don't care. Put me in jail. I just don't want to be strip searched, but it's going to happen. I just wanted to rant about but maybe you're right. Maybe being called a cunt and a monster and getting thrown in jail for speeding...maybe that'll help. Thanks

 

[CharlieCharma]

LOL

Should she really be burned at the stake for her first offense of speeding?

Now I'm curious what she was driving.

30+ over the speed limit. That is some serious recklessness.

Also, with the lack of self awareness and general stupidity of OP I have to believe she/he is a troll.

 

[venomous]

30+ over the speed limit. That is some serious recklessness.

Also, with the lack of self awareness and general stupidity of OP I have to believe she/he is a troll.

You're just being nasty. You're going way too far.

 

[CharlieCharma]

I'm coming to an Internet forum that's supposed to be women supporting women saying...

I don't have to support reckless and self centered women just because of their gender. Sorry about the shit you went through, but being a woman does not automatically garner sympathy for dumb behavior.

 

[CharlieCharma]

You're just being nasty. You're going way too far.

You were just being reckless. And you were going way too fast. These are the consequences.