speeding virginia
Penalty for greatly exceeding the speed limit in Virginia
<p>This question is inspired by my GPS being overly literal-minded, and complaining about the fact that the airplane I was riding in was going somewhat faster than the speed limit for the road it was flying over.</p>

<p>Say your airplane really did get pulled over for going 471 miles per hour in a 45 zone.  What penalty would you be facing?</p>

<p>According to <a href="https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title46.2/chapter8/section46.2-868/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Virginia law</a>, </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Every person convicted of reckless driving under the provisions of this article is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>That speed <a href="https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title46.2/chapter8/section46.2-862/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">easily qualifies</a> as reckless driving:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>A person shall be guilty of reckless driving who drives a motor vehicle on the highways in the Commonwealth (i) at a speed of twenty miles per hour or more in excess of the applicable maximum speed limit or (ii) in excess of eighty miles per hour regardless of the applicable maximum speed limit.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>The <a href="https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title18.2/chapter1/section18.2-11/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">punishment</a> for a class 1 misdemeanor is "confinement in jail for not more than twelve months and a fine of not more than $2,500, either or both."</p>

<p>But wait!  An airplane is heavy, so <a href="https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/46.2-113/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this</a> may also apply:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>If it is found by the judge of a court of proper jurisdiction that the violation of any provision of this title (i) was a serious traffic violation as defined in § 46.2-341.20 and (ii) that such violation was committed while operating a vehicle or combination of vehicles used to transport property that either: (a) has a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 or more pounds or (b) has a gross combination weight rating of 26,001 or more pounds inclusive of a towed vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds, the judge may assess, in addition to any other penalty assessed, a further monetary penalty not exceeding $500.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>By the way, I couldn't find a general reckless endangerment statute (unrelated to specific objects like firearms or specific results like injury or death) in Virginia law.  The closest thing I could find was <a href="https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title18.2/chapter9/section18.2-415/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">disorderly conduct</a>, which is also a class 1 misdemeanor.  It's possible I just don't know where to look.</p>
