Where to get speedometer checked

You can get it calibrated at almost any auto mechanic shop. Sometimes, charges can be reduced when it is clear that the speed was more comparable to a speeding charge than a reckless driving charge. Other times, speedometers can be calibrated incorrectly, and display a different speed than the one you were going at. In this instance, it can act as a mitigating factor in your reckless driving charge.

Consulting with a Virginia reckless driving attorney will help you in arguing your case before the prosecution. Over in Europe a speedometer isn't allowed to under-read at all. But wherever your car comes from, the speedo still needs to be reasonably accurate. This is especially useful after getting new tires or wheels; even the same size tires can be slightly different diameters if they are different brands.

This a fairly straightforward exercise, but you will need a stopwatch and luckily most smartphones have one built in and a 5 to mile stretch of highway where there are mile markers along the shoulder. You can use nearly any freeway, or limited access expressway, or even a less-traveled state or county road. While it is possible to do this yourself, it might be a good idea to enlist an assistant so you can drive without distractions.

With the stopwatch or wristwatch, time your vehicle for several miles over a stretch of road at a steady speed If your car has cruise control, use it. To determine your actual speed, you divide the number of minutes it takes you to drive the distance into 60 the number of minutes in an hour and then multiply this figure by the distance you traveled. You may now plug this figure into the following equation:. A Fairfax reckless driving attorney will be able to explain if your case is one in which the speedometer calibration could make a positive difference.

An attorney with experience can help someone determine if a speedometer calibration would be valuable for your defense. Virginia Reckless Driving Lawyer. Any reputable mechanic who records results properly and can produce a valid report may run a speedometer calibration on your vehicle. Though, in this scenario, the driver will still face consequences for speeding, the penalties could be much less severe than what he would have faced on a reckless driving charge.

When your speedometer is high, a calibration report could have the opposite effect.