IN VIRGINIA: DOUBLE JEOPARDY FOR SPEEDING

http://www.freemarketnews.com ^ | Jan 25, 2005 | by staff reports

[FreeMarket1]

IN VIRGINIA: DOUBLE JEOPARDY FOR SPEEDING

Jan 25, 2005 - FreeMarketNews.com

by staff reports

FreeMarketNews.Com, Jan. 25, 2005 - A bill has been introduced into the Virginia House of Delegates that would place an additional penalty on motorists who have received speeding tickets. The bill, cosponsored by two Republicans, Thomas Rust and David Albo, would add so-called “abuser fees.”

A driver convicted of exceeding the speed limit by 30 mph in Virginia, would normally pay a fine of $100 with $50 in court costs, and have their license suspended for 90 days. The new plan would levy an additional $750 in fines on the hapless motorist.

Interestingly Albo, in addition to being a legislator, is also a traffic ticket attorney. The National Motorist Association comments on what would seem to be a clear-cut case of self interest, as opposed to public safety, in regard to his efforts. They state:

“If this measure passes, it will certainly be a win-win for him. When it comes time for re-election, he can claim that he stood.........Full Article www.FreeMarketNews.com

[Alberta's Child]

I know quite a bit about roadway design and traffic safety, and I can tell you that many statutory limits are absolutely arbitrary and have nothing to do with the safe operation of the roadways in question.

I don't know where you live, but as far as I know a "golden get-out-of-jail-free card" means absolutely nothing in a legal case like this. This might get someone out of a citation for speeding when they are pulled over by a cop, but in the event of an accident there is nothing that prevents another person from filing the formal complaint themselves. If you were to walk up to the cop on the scene and tell him that you were filing a formal complaint against the other driver for speeding, running a stop sign, etc., the other driver will be cited -- and YOU will be listed as the "complainant" on the ticket instead of a police officer.

[RedEyeJack]

The District of Colombia makes no pretense about the tax collection role of law enforcement. They have installed numerous cameras at intersections to photograph those who run red lights and have units that have radar integrated with cameras. When you get a "ticket" from these devices it comes from law enforcement but is more a "revenue-bill" than a traffic ticket. Yes, you have a choice to challenge the evidence but there is no way to avoid the fine (yes I know... obey the law, however, there are some roads that have average traffic speeds above the limit except at "rush" hour and some lights that are much "quicker" than others). This program is netting millions for DC and will be coming to a location near you in the future...

[SwankyC]

Turning the police into rolling tax collectors.

Ask yourself why cops hide and use radar detectors to give you those $300 speeding tickets for 2, 3 or 4 miles over the speed limit (Yes I know people go alot faster than that). Or even those $111 JAYWALKING tickets (I just got one). It sure as hell isnt public safety. I've long thought that cops are there solely as rolling tax collectors.

[SwankyC]

Ever wonder why motoring is not a Right but a privilege?

Ok, so you take points away and then suspend a license whenever you hit five or ten points. These hundreds of dollars in fines are horse manure and you know it.

[SwankyC]

They obviously don't give a tinker's dam about the law and/or their fellow drivers, but about their pocketbooks? You bet they do

That's a crock. Why doe sthe average driver still travel 70-75 on California freeways when the speed limit is either 55 or 65?

[SwankyC]

Sorry for the ignorance in advance but who the hell is Denny Crane?

[Lx]

Here in California they have had 'penalty assements' that last I saw were 175% of the fine.

[CORedneck]

You can thank the Driver License Compact (DLC) and Non-Resident Violator Compact (NRVC) for that. Coming soon, Driver License Agreement (DLA) which will be much more punitive when dealing with non-residents on traffic ticket matters and Canada and Mexico is invited to join in on the fun.

The DLA will even be an instrument for states to go after non-resident parking ticket scofflaws. The DLA will guarantee points at home for a traffic ticket in a different state, Canada and Mexico.

Do that.....I got a speeding ticket on I81 and had to drive 350 miles to Lexington to appear in court because I was clocked over 80....and on my birthday....very sour..... I had no problem paying the ticket...by mail....I was told that if I didn't appear in court they could suspend my liscense and tell Jersey and then I'd get my liscense suspended in my home state.....how ridiculous is that!!!!!!!

Beware!!!!

[Publius Valerius]

I'm living for the day that the radar detector industry will move offshore

Hmm. Note that in the liberty-loving Commonwealth of VA, radar detectors are illegal.

As an aside to the rest of your comment, there are devices you can make (cheaply) or buy that will jam police radar. They just send out a signal on the same band as the radar and the radar just gets gobbledy-gook. Not that I'm advocating law breaking.

[petitfour]

After reading your previous post, I am waiting for someone to ask, "Ever wonder why walking is not a Right but a privilege?" lol

I can't believe a cop actually gave a ticket for jaywalking. And the fine was really $111.00????

[BraveMan]

My condolences, mewzilla, for your loss. I understand your point of view . . .

Our 16 year old son was fatally injured in an automobile accident. He died at the scene. He was a belted passenger in a car driven by his 17 year old friend. By his own admission, the driver was traveling 7mph over the speed limit when the accident occurred. Several witnesses also contend he was speeding at the time of the accident.

This driver earned a speeding ticket on the first day of his new driver's license. Two weeks prior to the accident that killed my son, he was observed to be speeding approximately 20mph over the limit by a friend of ours.

Three months to the day after the accident, this driver was cited by the Wisconsin State Patrol for speeding 17mph over the limit in Sheboygan county.

Unbeknownst to us at the time of the accident, this driver's car had defective brakes (only the left front brake was functioning). In addition, his insurance premium had not been paid and his coverage had been canceled.

The burden we face in funeral/burial/paramedic costs alone have surpassed $10,000.00. Just a little food for thought regarding the actions of one chronic speeder and the resulting consequences.

[dhuffman@awod.com]

No. I know no such thing.

It is clear that 'nice' fines/sentencing has little effect on misdemeanors in general. The response is write more law or make the penalties stiffer. Why should driving offenses be any different? Break the law and be a BadGuy, be you speeder, robber, rapist or murderer.

Go armed.

[beezdotcom]

If they were really concerned about public safety, they'd focus on red light runners. I'd much rather face a car on the interstate going 30 over, than get T-boned by some idiot who thinks that he can beat the light - OR get rear-ended by some yahoo who thinks *I* should have run the red light so that he could, too.

[P8riot]

If they really want to raise revenue, they should have uniform fines for ALL infractions; speeding, failure to yield right of way, failure to signal a lane change, obstructing traffic, etc.... That way the folks who are REALLY causing the problems on the road might get nailed for the pigs they really are, but of course that means the police would have to patrol in order to catch them, not sit behind a radar gun.

Bad cop! No Donut!

There should also be a special place in Hell for people who speed up to keep others from changing lanes.

[P8riot]

I actually had a guy get out of the car behind me at a stop light threaten and curse me for not running the light. I put mister Kimber (still in holster) on the dashboard, didn't say a thing to him, and he shut up.

[P8riot]

As an aside to the rest of your comment, there are devices you can make (cheaply) or buy that will jam police radar

Now if someone would just invent something that cancels out the noise of those 10 kilowatt stereos that are all over the place.

[rockrr]

It's OK - until Monday I didn't know that he is a character played by Bill Shatner (remember Star Trek?) on a show called (I believe) Boston Public.

goldstategop made a reference to Denny Crane and I just couldn't help myself but respond with something that happened on Mondays episode.

Now back to our regularly scheduled program!

[GottaLuvAkitas1]

"Thanks for the heads up. I travel VA frequently. I guess I'll have to find another route that bypasses VA.
GE"

Sorry to hear you won't be coming to our beautiful state, but your statement brings up a good point.
I wonder if they thought of the fact that they will lose money from people like you and other future tourists?

[beezdotcom]

Yeah, I had some nutjob soccer mom do basically the same thing (without getting out of her car, that is.) I almost got out of MY car to go calmly tell her my son was offended by her hand gestures (mainly just to provide the added irritation of my driverless vehicle being stopped in front of her) - but then I quickly realized she was so crazed that she might literally do anything.

[beezdotcom]

Now if someone would just invent something that cancels out the noise of those 10 kilowatt stereos that are all over the place.

If you don't mind violating FCC regulations, you can build a device that will create really annoying interference in their sound system while they are in close proximity to you. Of course, the feds tend to see this as a BAD thing, since it can also interfere with aircraft communications and the like...