In The Fast Lane

HARRISONBURG — Police will usually give a pass to motorists going anywhere from 5 to even 10 miles per hour over the speed limit.

But 67 mph over? Not a chance.

A Harrisonburg man found that out the hard way earlier this month when a city police officer pulled him over for speeding. According to the citation, the officer clocked Dale Robbins, 29, driving 127 mph in a 60 mph zone on Interstate 81 in Harrisonburg.

Rockingham County Sheriff Bryan Hutcheson, who patrolled the interstate for years as a trooper with the Virginia State Police, said 127 mph is one of the highest speeds he has seen.

“I’ve got them in the 120s,” he said. “It’s not frequent. Any time you get one over 100, it’s rare.”

Sources say a Harrisonburg police officer spotted Robbins’ vehicle speeding on Port Republic Road on Dec. 19.

Robbins then got onto Interstate 81 northbound. The officer continued to follow his 2006 Lexus.

Robbins exited the interstate onto East Market Street, where the officer made the traffic stop.

Another police officer issued Robbins a citation for reckless driving on Dec. 8 while he was riding a 2007 Suzuki motorcycle.

Robbins, who couldn’t be reached for comment, is due in court on Jan. 15 for trial in the speeding case. The reckless driving charge is scheduled for Jan. 10.

In previous local cases, attorneys say, judges typically handed down a jail sentence — usually three days for exceeding 100 mph.

While driving above the speed limit is always risky, Hutcheson said, a mishap that might mean a minor crash while traveling 70 in a 60 mph zone could prove deadly with triple-digit speeds.

“Even if there are no vehicles around, if a deer jumps out or you blow a tire, you still have a big problem,” he said.

Contact Pete DeLea at 574-6278 or pdelea@dnronline.com