Armed With Checkbooks and Excuses, First Casualties of Va. Fees Go to Court(crazy new fines)

The Washington Post ^ | August 12, 2007 | Jonathan Mummolo

[RDTF]

The labor pains were coming, so Jessica Hodges got going. The 26-year-old bank teller from Burke sped toward Inova Fairfax Hospital, but before she got there, the law got her -- 57 mph in a 35 zone. Reckless driving.

Hodges's labor pains subsided -- they turned out to be a false alarm -- but the agony from her ticket is mounting. She was found guilty of the July 3 offense and given a $1,050 civil fee on top of a judge-imposed $100 fine and court costs, making her one of the first to be hit with Virginia's new "abusive driver fees," which have been greeted by widespread public outrage.

-snip-

Anger and exasperation have been common sentiments recently in Fairfax General District Court, where fee-facing drivers such as Hodges have started to join the daily swarm of traffic offenders. After waiting hours to give their side of the story to judges -- several of whom seemed just as annoyed with the fees as defendants -- many nevertheless left owing enormous sums that they said would be difficult to pay.

-snip-

The fees, which range from $750 to $3,000, were passed by the General Assembly in the spring as part of a package aimed at funding scores of transportation projects. Backers said the fees would both raise money and improve highway safety by targeting the state's worst drivers -- those guilty of severe traffic offenses such as DUI, reckless driving and driving on a suspended license.

But the fees have since been vilified by an angry public (more than 170,000 people have signed an online petition to repeal them), denounced by lawmakers who once supported them and ruled unconstitutional by judges in two localities who said they violate equal protection rights guaranteed under the 14th Amendment.

[goldstategop]

The politicians face re-election in November and unless the fees are repealed, I expect a legislative bloodbath - and they ALL deserve to be tossed out on their rear ends for their attempt to extort the public. If they want to raise taxes, fine - take the heat for it. But don't jack up traffic fines as a form of revenue enhancement.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[golfisnr1]

What are we becoming? A bunch of money grubbers.

[goldstategop]

Republicans nickel and diming - in Virginia and Texas. They are afraid to raise taxes so they've found another way to get the money.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[muawiyah]

Best bet to avoid the absorbitant fees is to get a Matricula Consula card from the Mexican embassy in DC as follows:

Embassy of Mexico in the United States of America

1911 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington, DC. 20006

Telephone: (202) 728 - 1600

Fax: (202) 728 - 1698

Office hours 9:00 a 18:00 ET

Get your card and just inform the court you are really an undocumented Mexican resident. That exempts you from the very large fines.

If the court hands you over to ICE, you can easily demonstrate you are an American citizen and walk free.

[goldstategop]

Illegals are exempt from paying the exorbitant fines in Virginia and Texas. Way to go, GOP!

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[geezerwheezer]

Virginia is entering the liberal side of things gradually. Rather draconian of their legislature and really silly to exempt out-of-state drivers, but Virginia is now getting the stupid government they voted for, so they may as well enjoy screwing themselves up!

[goldstategop]

They've done the same thing in Texas. The GOP is not the party of limited government any more. Time to face the music.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[ontap]

Damn! I got a 65 in a 55 and paid $160 and I thought that was ridiculous. Funny how they can crack hard on a speeder but can’t seem to do much with drug, illegals etc. I bet a drug dealer bails out less than a speeder pays.

[Old Sarge]

Hodges's labor pains subsided -- they turned out to be a false alarm

I can imagine the lawyer smirking, "Your Honor, we got us a breeder!"

[Virginia Queen]

Amen! For one thing, most military people who live in VA have a home of record elsewhere and can use the home-state plates as long as they are on active duty. Also, everyday the VA roads are filled with MD drivers (at least close to Wash DC) and many from DC. So, the only people expected to obey the law are the legal citizens of the state - the voters. Classic discrimination! Either apply it to everyone or to no one.

[muawiyah]

In Virginia there is no parole. You get sentenced you go to jail for the whole ticket.

Northern Virginia juries are considered "hanging juries" when it comes to killers. The prosecutor has but to ask and the jury will give him a convicted criminal already to ride the gurney.

This particular piece of legislation, though, which exempts out of staters, including undocumented tourists, is a bit much.

Needless to say the Governor is a Democrat with pretensions to royal rule.

[RDTF]

I just went on to Drudge and he has this article posted. It will give this worldwide attention.

Woman in labor fined $1150 for speeding to hospital...

[ontap]

“Undocumented tourists”!!! Surely you jest. They can’t even bring themselves to call them what they are anymore. Hopefully there is a legal reason for this.

[FormerACLUmember]

Best bet to avoid the absorbitant fees is to get a Matricula Consula card from the Mexican embassy in DC as follows: Embassy of Mexico in the United States of America 1911 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC. 20006 Telephone: (202) 728 - 1600 Fax: (202) 728 - 1698 Office hours 9:00 a 18:00 ET Get your card and just inform the court you are really an undocumented Mexican resident. That exempts you from the very large fines. If the court hands you over to ICE, you can easily demonstrate you are an American citizen and walk free.

Please God, tell me this is satire?

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

Find out just what the people will submit to and you have found out the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them; and these will continue until they are resisted with either words or blows, or with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress.

— Frederick Douglass, civil rights activist, Aug. 4, 1857

[SteveMcKing]

Bet she wasn’t even driving to the hospital.

She made up that excuse to avoid getting a ticket.

[RDTF]

I miss the good ole days when the cops would escort you to the hospital if they discovered you were having a medical emergency

[Rb ver. 2.0]

Richmond Courts have already ruled against the excessive speeding fines.

http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/19/1900.asp