Virginia Introduces $3550 Speeding Ticket

www.thenewspaper.com ^ | 6/21/2007

[bad company]

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.

"The purpose of the civil remedial fees imposed in this section is to generate revenue," the new law states. (Virginia Code 46.2-206.1)

Driving as little as 15 MPH over the limit on an interstate highway now brings six license demerit points, a fine of up to $2500, up to one year in jail, and a new mandatory $1050 tax. The law also imposes an additional annual fee of up to $100 if a prior conviction leaves the motorist with a balance of eight demerit points, plus $75 for each additional point (up to $700 a year). The conviction in this example remains on the record for five years.

Other six-point convictions include "failing to give a proper signal," "passing a school bus" or "driving with an obstructed view." The same $1050 assessment applies, but the conviction remains on the record for eleven years.

Although the amount of the tax can add up quickly, the law forbids judges from reducing or suspending it in any way. The tax applies only to Virginia residents, so that out-of-state motorists only need to pay the regular ticket amount. Michigan, New Jersey, New York and Texas also impose a somewhat more modest driver responsibility tax which they apply to out-of-state residents.

The Virginia Supreme Court provides a full explanation of the new penalties for each traffic infraction in the 34k PDF file at the source link below.

[Tokra]

Good Grief. To hear all you chest thumpers, there isn’t a highway in the land that isn’t traveled at under 99MPH and every one of you own a vehicle that can do it safely in fact more safe than at 20mph as it soars through the air like superman and because your driving abilities are so amazing...... It’s a miracle! All in one forum, too!

You are reading things into my post that weren't there. I mentioned the high speeds on Detroit's freeways. I did not say anything about MYSELF driving at those speeds - I was referring to other drivers.

If you doubt my word - drive to Detroit sometime and motor around on the Lodge, Ford or Jeffries freeways and you'll see what I'm talking about.

[Hi Heels]

I did not make that statement. Ever. Get the VA soot out of YOUR eyes and read for context.

[Hi Heels]

Actually, I told you NO I did not agree with the fine in post 135 when you asked me. I repeated in large letters NO in post 145. I stated flat out that the fine was ridiculous in post 44.

I was arrested for doing 125mph in a 25mph zone back when I was 24 driving a 1956 corvette with a souped up engine. School zone. The fact that it was 3:30AM made little difference. I lost my license for 6 months, and was fined $750-a big one in the 70's. Had to do community service (sweeping main street).

My basic point is if 15mph is such a pittance, why have the lower limit? Make it realistic and enforce it strictly. Too much loosey goosey with the law. Ask 10 million illegal aliens.

[Hi Heels]

Not you necessarily. Read the thread. You can cut the testosterone with a knife. It’s pretty funny, actually.

[RDTF]

unbelievable. Welcome to the mightly Commonwealth of Virginia

[HIDEK6]

AS LITTLE??? On a highway marked 70MPH, AS LITTLE would be 85MPH. That's just stupid.

50 in a 35 is a LOT worse!

[HIDEK6]

Is there going to be a government program to pay for their tickets?

They'll let the women off, and Diverse-Americans will have a government-funded (that means you and me) assistance program.

Only the white guys will have to pay.

[bert]

Truckers didn’t label it “the communist state” for nothing

The state will collect gazillions on Shirley hiway alone.

[helper]

Did you notice that they went somewhat easy on the most common
offenses committed by illegals? All are $250ea.

[CGTRWK]

AGAIN, what is the point of having the speed limit if 15mph is seen to be such a insignificant infraction?

The point of the speed limit is give ACLU proof justification for pulling over suspicious vehicles (ie. older vehicles, especially those driven by blacks or teens) while fishing for drugs and outstanding warrants. More revenues for ticketing municipalities and the insurance companies are just icing.

If the speed limits were intended to be followed, they would be set reasonably and the abuses above would no longer be possible.

[Flora McDonald]

So far, Delegate Albo (r) is running unopposed this year.

[Darnright]

>So far, Delegate Albo (r) is running unopposed this year.<

Good thing I don’t live in Spr(dingbat)field. I’d be actively campaigning for the first breathing Democrat I came across.

[RFEngineer]

“So despite its questionable beginnings, this capitalist is all in favor of internalizing costs. This takes a step towards that.”

How about doing away with the need for all this “revenue generation” and cutting government? Is that too simple for a capitalist to grasp?

It is a stupid way for government to raise revenue, but they think they can get away with it because they think there are enough “goody two-shoes” that want to punish people who actually have someplace to go.

This is classic government behavior dividing it’s minions in some arbitrary way that is most profitable for them and then forcing one camp to pay - (they’ll get the other camp to pay some other way).

If you are really a capitalist, then you would know that private capital belongs in private hands where it will be put to most efficient use, not in the hands of government through some arbitrary revenue generation scheme - no matter what it is.

I predict that lawmakers will temper this quickly (if the courts don’t do it first) or be run out of office on a rail.

You folks that support this are losers. This is about big government, not speeders. Idiots!

[-YYZ-]

Sorry, I misunderstood which part of my question the “NO” was in response to. I still disagree with your point, however, for the reasons I have stated.

[zot]

Yeah, the People’s Republic of Maryland will surely do this soon.

[fr_freak]

But it's the law (at least in Virginia), and I can't go around driving whatever speed I think is acceptable just because I feel like it. That's madness.

The speed limit is the law, but this proposal is not yet law. That is the point - that such ridiculous proposals should be challenged and shot down before they become law, and in order to do that, citizens have to keep an eye on their increasingly out-of-control legislators. My point was that accepting such ridiculous proposals and allowing them to become law is bad enough, but the real danger is all of the legislative tricks and shenanigans that these guys pull to get bad and unpopular legislation passed before voters even know what's happening (or, as we see with the immigration bill, in spite of the voters's disapproval). If they get such legislation passed into law unbeknownst to citizens or in spite of them, at what point do the voters then decide that the law is unjust?

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Yikes, did you see this xsmommy?

[fr_freak]

Whoops - the excessive fines ARE law. I misread the article to say that this was still a bill, but the bill has been signed already.

[dragnet2]

Virginia Introduces $3550 Speeding Ticket

Pretty steep considering the government is proposing selling United States citizenship for what, 4 or 5 grand?

[hosepipe]

Socialists are indeed brain damaged to not see the negative impact of all kinds of licenses fees, penaltys, and other forms of TAXes..<p.
They don’t even see paying “tax” on something you OWN is renting it from the government.. like property taxs..