As a follow-up to my experience two years ago, I tried to fight the ticket but could get no information by "discovery" (city broke the law). I tried to get a lawyer but was told local lawyers supported police efforts to stop speeders and would not represent me. Out of town lawyer said his retainer was $500 and we would have to appeal, nobody wins in Summersville. I wrote the Governor who served in Congress at the same time a friend of mine served. I said Summmersville is giving W. VA. a bad name. He wrote back and said that was not his problem, I should write the Mayor. I wrote the Judge in the next highest court and he never even acknowledged my letter. The municipal court sent me a letter saying I did not show up in court or pay my fine. I called his clerk and told them where my check was in the office and they found it. Nevertheless, a few months later they still had not cashed my check, but they notified my state DMV to lift my license under a Interstate Compact provision to which both states belong. I had to ask my state senator to intervene to keep this travesty of justice from happening. Otherwise it would have cost $300 to get my license back. S’ville then cashed my check. Let’s get rid of the Compact, too.
To the locals who defend the speed limit on this site, I was not speeding, the charges were false. If you want your streets safe, speeding is the 7th leading cause of accidents, so put you police on more constructive and effective duties. Stop degrading the law enforcement profession and taking money you didn’t earn. PS I have not and will never go to or through W VA again. Twice since then I have already gone out of my way to avoid W VA. Don’t tell me it is not about the money in Summersville, Iraq., oops, er, W.VA.