Posted on 08/12/2007 4:30:08 PM PDT by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
"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
What are we becoming? A bunch of money grubbers.
"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
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.
"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
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!
"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
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.
I can imagine the lawyer smirking, "Your Honor, we got us a breeder!"
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.
Woman in labor fined $1150 for speeding to hospital...
“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.
Please God, tell me this is satire?
Bet she wasn’t even driving to the hospital.
She made up that excuse to avoid getting a ticket.
I miss the good ole days when the cops would escort you to the hospital if they discovered you were having a medical emergency
Richmond Courts have already ruled against the excessive speeding fines.
http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/19/1900.asp
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.