Improvements in Virginia brought to you by new fines on speeders
So they're not out to break a speeder's bank like Indiana, but Virginia has created a host of civil fines for speeders that will pay for the state's new annual $1 billion transportation package. That means that after July 1, not only will you get a bill from the judge for speeding, you will then get a much larger bill from the state. Fr'instance, drive without a license, pay $75 to the court and $900 to VA. Do 20 mph over the limit, pay $200 to the court, pay $1,050 to VA. We really love this one: if you have eight points on your license and get a speeding ticket, you'll pay an additional $75 for every point above eight, and another $100 for simply having more than eight points. That smacks of double jeopardy to us, but what do we know?
For the record, almost no one -- and not just speeders -- likes it. Court clerks are expecting to face the anger when people find out about the new fees at the courthouse window. Defense attorneys are getting ready for legal challenges. Judges are expecting people to start pleading not guilty to avoid paying the fees. Which means prosecutors will face more trials.
The "abuser fees" are only for "major" infractions, and only paid by Virginia residents. The new revenue will pay for building roads, snow removal, pothole repair, and grass mowing. David Albo, one of the legislative sponsors of the bill, took New Jersey's similar fee system as a template, and called it "a voluntary tax." After all, "if you don't commit a crime ... you don't pay anything."
Thanks for the tip, Josh
[Source: Washington Post]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Jason 10:42AM (6/27/2007)
"I forgot my wallet at home..."
"Sorry, that'll be $975."
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PeakVT 10:49AM (6/27/2007)
"That smacks of double jeopardy to us, but what do we know?"
Not much, apparently. Double jeopardy is when one is tried twice for the same crime.
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l.i.dave 10:51AM (6/27/2007)
Note to self:
Don't vacation in Virginia this Summer?
They'll lose two dollars in tourism for every dollar in fines.
Very short sighted.
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nanotube 10:54AM (6/27/2007)
Tourism (and business and trucking...) is probably why the new ta..err, fees, are only for VA residents. Tourists won't pay the ta...err, fees.
david 10:55AM (6/27/2007)
Actually, vacationing in VA is safe, if you don't live in VA. The "special" tax only applies to VA residents.
nanotube 10:52AM (6/27/2007)
This is giving up control of tax rates to the highway administration, no? Budget not so balanced this year? No problem, just lower the speed limits by 10mph, enforce it more, collect a few more hundred or thousand dollars from each motorist.... sha-bang, budget balanced!
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testa di cazzo 11:00AM (6/27/2007)
yes these new rulings are scandalous. the washington post had made a pretty big fuss about them, and it will be a big stink at first. but what will the virginians be able to do? the politicians will say "we're fining people with bad driving records to keep our roads safe" or some crock like that...
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Ligor 11:03AM (6/27/2007)
wow!
i'd get the hell out of VA asap
this seems so stupid and it demonstrates what this country is all about
money, and nothing more.
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Jugs 11:14AM (6/27/2007)
Time to keep a good lawyer on retainer.
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rem83 11:24AM (6/27/2007)
It sucks that no one differentiates between reckless driving and speeding. For instance, I see nothing wrong with going 30 over the limit on an empty highway, but I do have a problem with people doing 15 over the limit on a heavily trafficked highway resulting in them weaving in between traffic. You can also be driving recklessly without speeding - like putting on makeup, eating, talking on a cell phone or using a passing lane when not passing anyone. VA should try to ticket some of these offenses rather than just focusing on speed if they really want to raise some income.
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testa di cazzo 11:46AM (6/27/2007)
"like putting on makeup, eating, talking on a cell phone or using a passing lane when not passing anyone."
yes. please. that last one. i HATE people who use the left lane and drive slowly. they seriously cause danger to the rest of the road-users. Just move over to the right lanes and keep driving at your merry speed!
Lithous 11:25AM (6/27/2007)
"Virginia motorists convicted of minor traffic violations will face a new, multi-year tax beginning July 1. Led by state Delegate David B. Albo (R-Springfield), lawmakers slipped a driver responsibility tax into a larger transportation funding bill signed by Governor Tim Kaine (D) in April. Albo, a senior partner in the Albo & Oblon, LLP traffic law firm, can expect to see a significant increase in business as motorists seek to protect their wallet from traffic tickets that come with assessments of up to $3000 in addition to an annual point tax that tops out at $700 a year for as long as the points remain."
(source: http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/18/1818.asp)
It is down right criminal. Fed lawmakers probe big oil for price hikes but state lawmakers can raise fees by 10 times overnight and it is OK.
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Jon 11:29AM (6/27/2007)
I gotta get out of this state.
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Hans 11:31AM (6/27/2007)
NY does a similar thing, but the state "surcharges" are only about a third of the total fine. All the local courts were opposed to it (they viewed it as a loss of their God given Thruway speed trap revenue). Their solution was to plea bargain every moving violation down to "parking on the highway" and fine you $150 or more for that. I haven't gotten a point on my license since that started back in the 80's, and I even get the safe driver discount on my car insurance.
It's all about money, and government selling its credibility.
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freckles 11:36AM (6/27/2007)
that sucks!!
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FC RX7 Driver 11:36AM (6/27/2007)
This is ridiculous, considering that speedometers are only required to be within 10% accuracy. Even those of you who argue "don't speed", think about these laws for a minute. The speed limits established are archaic, there haven't been any actual studies proving what a "safe speed" is. I say go after people using cell phones to text message not the guy going 10 mph over.
I would propose a V.S.L. (variable speed limit) where the speed limit is determined by the density of traffic and the conditions and relayed to drivers via digital speed limit signs, we have the technology to do so.
The increased fees are all about revenue nothing more, the government just wants your money, this is a way to tax people indirectly. If they really cared about safety the money collected would be reinvested into the highway system but most of the money isn't.
I would also like to see a privatized cross country super-highway with no speed limits but with increased rules of the road (like Germany).
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BKadalur 11:37AM (6/27/2007)
"Jon @ Jun 27th 2007 11:29AM
I gotta get out of this state."
me too
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TomH 5:57PM (6/27/2007)
Ditto that!!!
epp_b 11:44AM (6/27/2007)
[That smacks of double jeopardy to us, but what do we know?]
More like double-dipping. The government are a bunch of thieves, we already knew that.
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rob 11:44AM (6/27/2007)
"Jon @ Jun 27th 2007 11:29AM
I gotta get out of this state."
"BKadalur @ Jun 27th 2007 11:37AM
me too"
ME THREE! :(
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