NORFOLK, Va. — Daryl Jordan Simmons Jr., 41, has been sentenced to nine months in jail after pleading guilty to a DUI and driving on a suspended license. Earlier this year, he was caught speeding through the Norfolk State University (NSU) campus on a moped, clocking in at 57 mph in a 25-mph zone.
The incident happened on June 10, when an NSU Police officer conducting radar speed checks on Park Avenue spotted Simmons on the moped. After pulling him over in a nearby parking lot, the officer noted that Simmons smelled of alcohol and had bloodshot eyes. Simmons admitted to drinking but attempted to downplay the amount, mentioning he had diabetes. Field sobriety tests, however, indicated clear signs of intoxication, and a breath sample revealed a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.14—almost twice the legal limit of .08.
This marked Simmons’ third DUI in a decade, and his license was still suspended from previous convictions. He was charged with felony DUI, driving on a revoked license, reckless driving, and lacking proper licensure to operate a motorcycle. Simmons waived his preliminary hearing and agreed to plead guilty to felony DUI and driving on a revoked license in exchange for the dismissal of the other charges.
Judge Mary Jane Hall approved the plea agreement, sentencing Simmons to nine months in jail and suspending an additional one year and nine months on the condition that he maintains good behavior and adheres to supervised probation for three years post-release.
“While a moped is not a car, it is still a motor vehicle under Virginia law, and one traveling at 57 miles per hour could easily injure or kill a pedestrian or bicyclist,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “Mr. Simmons should not have been operating a moped at all, let alone while drunk. He knew better, and he will now serve a sentence that reflects how dangerously he was acting.”