The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel is a 23 mile long bridge and tunnel that connects the Delmarva Peninsula of the Eastern Shore of Virginia with Virginia Beach and the greater Hampton Roads area. It is a beautiful scenic drive. While driving on the bridge, you may not see any land in sight. You will feel like you are driving over the middle of the ocean.

Drivers are often surprised by Chesapeake Bay Bridge police who camp out at special emergency pull off sections of the bridge, which occur every few miles. Drivers often don’t realize how fast they are going since there are no buildings or landmarks to help a driver perceive their actual speed. Understandably, police are concerned about safety on the bridge and officers that are assigned specifically to patrol the bridge spend a lot of time there.

Many drivers, be they vacationers from out of state or locals, are unaware of the strictness of Virginia’s laws and find themselves charged with reckless driving by speed for going 75 or above on the bridge, which has a 55 mph posted speed limit. Reckless driving is a serious charge and the possibility of jail time is real. The police officers will either summon you to appear in court in Virginia Beach General District Court or Northampton General District Court for reckless driving. Each court has its own distinctives. For example, Virginia Beach has many judges in the General District Court while Northampton has only one General District Court judge.

If you were charged with reckless driving on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, I would be glad to offer you a free consultation to discuss with you what you can expect in court and how you can prepare for court.