1. United States
2. Va.
3. Letter

Virginia has among the strictest speeding laws in the country. Speeding tickets are very often labeled as reckless driving, simply based on the premise of speeding. It is unreasonable that people be charged a misdemeanor simply for going fast. Reckless driving should be a charge given when a driver is disturbing, endangering, and threatening others on the road with their driving. It is unjust and practically cruel that this state would criminalize innocent people for simply for applying an extra pound or two of pressure to a gas pedal. It is shameful even! You keep this unjust law on the books, clogging up the courts, with perhaps the full intent of criminalizing people of color in particular!! The Department of Criminal Justice Services found that Black and Hispanic drivers accounted for 40% of the state's traffic stops in 2023, despite making up less than 30% of Virginia's driving-age population. “The bias exists,” explained Rob Poggenklass, Executive Director of Justice Forward Virginia. Change the laws immediately!!! No more automatic reckless driving for speeding!!! Shame on you!