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NoMoOmentumMan t1_jarj83h wrote

Reply to comment by [deleted] in WSP ended pursuit of speeding driver near Ellensburg. An hour later, 2 kids were killed in a wrong-way crash near Sunnyside by MarianCR

>20 over the speed limit needs to be a felony traffic violation, on any road, period. It is in most states...

20 over is not a felony in most states, in fact, I don't think it's a felony in a single state. Also, advocating for creating more felons, by way of traffic infractions, is one of the dumbest things I've ever heard.

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hyrailer t1_jarm2ee wrote

At 20 over, the violator knows what he or she is doing, and that's why it is, in fact, a criminal traffic offense (yes, a felony) in many states, requiring a mandatory appearance before a magistrate. It's way above a simple "sorry officer, but I didn't know I was speeding".

So 90 in a 70 is acceptable to you; what's the acceptable punishment for you when you are doing 111 in a 70? I'm curious to know where you feel you should be held accountable.

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timesinksdotnet t1_jarxl94 wrote

DUI is only a misdemeanor in most situations. Speeding is usually just a traffic infraction, even at 20 over, unless they can also prove reckless driving (which is criminal, but also generally only misdemeanor criminal).

In CA, the fines double at 15mph. Anecdotes suggest they rarely even bother people going less than 15 over and often write tickets for more than 15 at the lower level anyways. They actually have a law that makes exceeding 100mph considered reckless driving.

Then we get further away into NV, UT, ID, MT, they have higher speed limits (75 and 80) to begin with. NV, speeding is a misdemeanor (fine no more than $20 per mph over the limit capped at $1000 which implies misdemeanor charges for going 50 over!). UT's reckless driving law kicks in at 105mph. ID doesn't have anything super clear on the subject, but there doesn't appear to be any explicit excessive speeding statute. Similar in MT, though school and work zones can upgrade the infraction to a misdemeanor. No mention of felonies in any of those states...

I think you have some incorrect perceptions on how things work in other states.

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NoMoOmentumMan t1_jarq9hb wrote

>that's why it is, in fact, a criminal traffic offense (yes, a felony)

Citation needed.

20mph over the posted limit isn't a felony ANYWHERE in the US.

I'm not arguing for or against speeding, I'm merely pointing out you are saying and repeating a falsehood.

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SheMovesLikeThis t1_jas9mdo wrote

Most traffic offenses that require court appearances, including speeding, are misdemeanors, not felonies.

In some states, including WA, speeding while evading police is a felony and there are a few other specific conditions where driving at high speeds can turn into a felony (e.g. speeding resulting in manslaughter). But the act of speeding alone is not a felony, i.e., if you’re tagged for doing 25 over at a speed trap but you pull over when directed, you’re getting a citation and court appearance but not a felony charge.

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