Posted on 06/27/2007 11:35:12 AM PDT by 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.
My take is that this illustrates that governments always will attempt to creep forward and do things that informed people would oppose.
People must constantly push back against govt meddling and over regulation.
Reagan’s solution was to defund them.
I think what he is saying is that they seem to be looking for ways to make what you are already doing illegal.
Big government is like the Ebola virus: once it infects its host, every system in the body is ultimately destroyed in an especially gruesome way.
1. Driving 85 may be stupid on a lot of highways, but it is also perfectly safe on quite a number of them if you are a decent driver and in a reasonably well-maintained auto. Let's not forget that the Interstates were PURPOSELY designed so that the average auto riding around in the mid-'50's (i.e those produced, on average, about 3-5 years before, and designed 10 years earlier), with the relatively primitive (by today's standards) tire, braking and handling technology could safely travel at 70 MPH. Don't tell me that cars designed in the '90s and in this decade can't travel 15 MPH faster safely - it just isn't true.
BTW, I live in Texas. There are many stretches of road (in rural areas, to be sure) where the speed limit is 80 MPH. If 85 was so incredibly unsafe, then there's no way that the limit would be up that high. Many other states also have similarly high limits, so it ain't just Texas.
2) Let's not talk about the top limit - what about when you're coming down the road at 40, and suddenly the limit goes from 40 to 25 because now you're in a "residential" area? Are you some kind of a maniac for driving at 40 for a couple of seconds (or even for a minute or 2, if you're carefully watching for kids and other hazards)? I don't think so.
3. Let's now talk about speed-traps. You know, those ambushes that the money-hungry government sets up PURPOSELY to catch people unawares, to fine them like crazy. To have fines of this size combined with road conditions set up to MAKE people break the law and the long-enshrined (and despicable) prohibition on radar detectors is, quite simply, highway robbery. And since it is the government that's doing it, it qualifies as TYRANNY.
Fines of this magnitude are INSANE and are simply a way to fleece the unsuspecting motorist. I'll not be visiting or even driving through VA anytime soon. If I have to go back to the NJ area (where I'm from, and still have family), I'll drive around Virginia. Besides, who wants to be illegal for simply operating a device that let's you know when you are being watched by the government? Screw VA!!!
Try the Indianapolis North Side....
It’s not called the “465 Motor Speedway” for nothing...
Average traffic does 70-80+ most times, except for the rushes...
Time to pi$$ on the fire, call the dogs and go home.
However, the fact that folks will get surcharged for points on their license is questionable. The way the fee structure is set up creates a double jeopardy. Plus, with the speed traps writing tickets for small things to generate local revenue, citizens can get slapped with state surcharges plus insurance premium increases for the slightest of offenses.
Yea, all their safety programs and education programs were working so well here in Texas they were not getting nearly the money they used to from ordinary traffic tickets. So now when you get a ticket you pay more. LOTS more.
Then next year you pay it all over again.
Then the next year you pay it all over AGAIN.
For one ticket.
But hey, they got that cash flowing again, right?
"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
We don’t. But apparently the Democrats and the Republicans here are part of the same group.
ACtually, it’s bit BRILLIANT...
And the Dems in Charge take the heat for it.
Will the Democrat inner-cities enforce this? Or is this one they will “chose” to ignore?
Hey now, don’t give our General Assembly critters more ideas!
Governments getting more and more dictatorial.
Neither party is guiltless in this.
Both tend towards dictatorial totalitarianism, but in different ways.
There's an easy solution: don't speed.
I suspect that this has something to do with the truck traffic on 81, but dude, seriously: just don't break the law. Problem solved.
That said, Virginia also just passed a law that states regional committees (ours is made up of the mayors of Norfolk, Va Beach, Chesapeake, Hampton, Suffolk, Portsmouth, Newport News, Williamsburg, etc.) can set different taxes to raise money for transpoprtation issues. It doesn’t even have to go through the state legislature!!!!
1) if you are driving a car that at 85 Mph loses control then you should get a better car. Honestly 85 is nothing compared to what most cars should be able to handle (properly maintained, of course). Actually, most cars today handle better and have better grip (due to down force) at higher speeds than low.
2) if “one little doggie in the road” causes you to ‘roll it’ just don’t drive. You don’t know how to properly control your vehicle and are a danger to us all.
Not to gang up on you but it sounds like you have very low confidence in your driving ability on top of owning a POS / poorly maintained SUV (just guessing, most cars and pickups don’t have that propensity for rollovers that SUVs do)
“AS LITTLE??? On a highway marked 70MPH, AS LITTLE would be 85MPH. That’s just stupid.”
Don’t get out much, do you? Next time you are out on any interstate in Virginia, try to keep up with traffic, then look at your speedometer!
FWIW, if you visit, these extra fees won’t apply to you.
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