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.

[Hi Heels]

Yer kiddin'. And what is your point? My point is if 15 mph over the speed limit is "so little" and so insignificant, shouldn't we change the speed limit to be realistic and start ENFORCING the law? As was posted here earlier. It's a law, not a suggestion. I live in Los Angeles. I'm 53 years old. I've been driving since I was 16. I drive the freeways every day. The most crowded, the most congested, the fastest freeways in the country. I've had two moving violations in all that time, both for speeding. No accidents. My point is that the implication of the law that perceives that 15 miles per hour is okee dokee, then 20 isn't so bad, then the law needs to be changed to reflect the true speed of the road and then enforced. Please, all of the posters here, quit insulting my driving that you know nothing about, my common sense which is clearly intact, my geography which since I'm double degreed is superior to yours likely, etc. It's mean-spirited and uncalled for. EEEESSSHHH.....

I'm afraid I'm done addressing this issue when all I did was drop in this thread to voice an opinion over a stupid comment in the article before I was TWICE ripped a new one even though not one poster bothered to read the entire thread where I repeated myself over and over and over to the throngs of testosterone ladened NASCAR drivers....Have a good evening.

[Shortstop7]

Me neither. Nor will I ever visit there. Their tourism dollars will tank when the word of this gets out.

[holidayidol]

So, has anyone heard any fallout from this throughout/after the holiday? I’m sure that there have been plenty of tickets the past couple days.

[OBone]

It has long been a felony to be caught going 20 mph over the speed limit regardless, and the points stay for 11 years.”

LOL

No, it’s not yet a felony, but if the Virginia Legislature thought it could make them more revenue, they might make it one.

Don’t believe it? Get caught going 20 over the speed limit and find out.

OB

[TheLion]

As a Virgina resident, I am still scratching my head over this one. It is going to really hurt the poor. Anyone living from paycheck to paycheck is totally screwed.

[Trajan88]

speeding ticket = guilty until proven innocent.

I'm sure T.J. would have had a problem with that (that's if there were cars around in the late 18th/early 19th centuries).

[RFEngineer]

“Don’t believe it? Get caught going 20 over the speed limit and find out.”

*ahem* let me just assert my 5th amendment right against self-incrimination.

It’s not a felony.

[mware]

Damn even NJ doesn’t have that kind of tax.

[Koblenz]

The tax applies only to Virginia residents

So what about illegal immigrants who live in Virginia?

[sphinx]

Here in Shirleyville (formerly known as Atlanta) the speed limit on expressways is the odious 55.

Here in D.C. it's 45 because the Anacostia Freeway is, you see, an urban interstate. I got a speedcam ticket for going 56 at 7:00 a.m. on a bright sunny Saturday morning, dry pavement, very little traffic, no congestion.

Wasn't $3,550 though.

[SomeCallMeTim]

Yea well... so is driving 50 mph in a 35 mph zone as your slowing down entering a local “speed trap.

These fees are outrageous. I can’t believe free people will accept this kind of theft for long.

[Hi Heels]

I posted this in June. And if you read the rest of the thread, you’ll see why I ain’t posting to it anymore.