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.

[KevinB]

As for your last question, I think screenames are like tatoos; they often represent a certain phase or era in one's life, not the full panopoly of one's experience.

I would add that there are some military lawyers who are in positions where they do nothing but big-time constitutional law.

Well, I assumed you were not a constitutional lawyer because your arguments make no sense to me. I'm not remotely interested in what some military lawyers do, but only in what you do. We will just have to agree to disagree and then we can each refer back to this thread once things have played out. My money says that the Legislature will see the writing on the wall and repeal the thing before any appellate court has a chance to look at it.

[Sonora]

I also saw her interviewed - it was a quick piece, but it appears that that was her third speeding ticket is a short time. Now, if that is true - that’s a huge difference. The fine would be appropriate.

[Fairview]

If she really did get three tickets in a brief period of time, then she’s pretty careless and irresponsible. But a thousand dollars?? I’m not at all sure that sum is appropriate.