Virginia's New Traffic Fines, how about NON-residents? Virginia to issue traffic fines as high as $3,000

By Dennis Cauchon, USA TODAY
Virginia is for lovers, or so the state slogan has declared since 1969. Starting Sunday, Virginia also will be the home of the $3,000 traffic ticket.
In an effort to raise money for road projects, the state will start hitting residents who commit serious traffic offenses with huge civil penalties.

The new civil charges will range from $750 to $3,000 and be added to existing fines and court costs. The civil penalty for going 20 mph over the speed limit will be $1,050, plus $61 in court costs and a fine that is typically about $200.

Virginia's traffic law is one of several thousand new state laws that take effect Sunday. Jan. 1 and July 1 are the most popular dates for state laws to become official.

July 1 is especially popular for new taxes and fees because it's the start of the budget year in 46 states. For example, Arkansas will cut its sales tax on groceries from 6% to 3% Sunday.

Virginia's new traffic penalties are expected to raise $65 million a year and are part of an effort to improve the state's roads without raising taxes.

A first-time drunken driver will face a $2,250 civil penalty, plus fines and court costs that typically run about $500 or more. Driving without a license? That's a mandatory $900 civil penalty, in addition to the ordinary $100 for a fine and court costs.

"It's outrageous," says traffic court attorney Thaddeus Furlong of Springfield, Va. "When Mr. and Mrs. Middle Class find out what they have to pay, there's going to be a backlash like you've never seen."

Some other states impose extra civil penalties for traffic offenses, but the cost is usually $100 or $200, Furlong says. "What sets this apart is the Draconian size of the civil penalties," he says.

Another difference: The civil penalties apply only to Virginia residents, not out-of-state drivers. Virginians must pay in three installments over 26 months or lose their licenses. The state Legislature didn't think it could enforce the extra penalties in other states.

Motorist club AAA Mid-Atlantic supports the new penalties.

"These penalties are harsh, but normal fines haven't gotten people to drive sanely. Maybe this will," says Lon Anderson, spokesman for AAA Mid-Atlantic.

He says the new law will help reduce the nearly 1,000 traffic deaths the state records annually.

"We wish motorists didn't have to pay more, but the fact is Virginia's transportation trust fund is broke," Anderson says.

That is just plain bullshit. It is NOT equal protection under the law. It is not "fair". It is only about money these bozos can't manage and an attempt to raise money they couldn't tax out of us. Elitist asses!

That said you should know that your beloved correspondent has had one (1) speeding/traffic ticket in 36 years of driving. It was deserved. Late at night after working for over 19 hours I was tired and I missed a speed limit sign I knew was in the area and was 14 MPH (actually I think it was less) over the limit. The deputy was a decent fellow and I was anything but mistreated. You see my license had expired, too! $750 for pursuing my duties rather than worrying obsessively about the due date for my driver's license seems a bit much to me. After all, letting your license "lapse" isn't in and of itself likely to kill anyone. I can see how driving when your license has been revoked because you are a danger to others would be a bad thing. Anyhoo, I don't think this is right (I guess you could tell by my language). Except for the money they think they will raise they might as well make traffic offenses capital offenses. Virginia has an efficient death row and by cutting down on the number of drivers we can reduce the need for road repairs and expansion. *That's sarcasm folks.*

Now, who voted for this thing? Oh, Emmett... did you vote for this?

Labels: AbuserFees, Culture, Politics

  ¶ posted by The Editor 2:10 PM