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Virginia |
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8/27/07-Virginia Republicans announced they will make significant revisions to the state’s controversial abusive driver fee laws during the upcoming session.
House Speaker William Howell, R-Stafford, and Senate Majority Leader Walter Stosch, R-Henrico, unveiled a plan to eliminate some traffic offenses that call for hefty fees, reduce others and apply the rules to out-of-state drivers.
With the November elections a little more than two months away, many Virginia lawmakers are rushing to address concerns from voters about the new “bad driver” fees. The fees are part of the state’s $1.1 billion long-term road plan that House lawmakers voted 85-15 to endorse and the Senate backed it on a 29-10 vote.
The GOP-authored transportation package was several years in the making when Gov. Tim Kaine signed it into law. Since the law took effect July 1, public outcry about the fines for certain driving violations has led many lawmakers to call for an end to them.
The fees for violations made by in-state drivers are payable in three annual payments ranging from $250 to $1,000. They are expected to generate $65 million a year for transportation.
Nonresidents are immune from the penalties because Kaine pushed for changes to the bill to clarify the fees would be limited to in-state drivers. That distinction led two district court judges to throw out the fees. The rulings, which apply only to Henrico County and the city of Richmond, say it is illegal to apply the penalties solely to in-state drivers.
Advocates say the new fees are not intended to apply to basic speeding and traffic violations. But the wording in the bill leaves that door open under certain circumstances, The Free Lance-Star in Fredericksburg, VA, reported.
In an effort to appease Virginia drivers – and voters – Republican leaders want to remove the fees on certain offenses, such as failing to report an accident or driving an uninsured vehicle. Other offenses that now call for pricey fees would be reconsidered, The Associated Press reported.
Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have called for a special session this year to address the fees. Those calls have been met with resistance from the Democratic governor. He said, however, that reimbursing certain car and truck drivers who pay abusive-driver fees is something that might be considered if the General Assembly amends the law next year.
“We might have the ability to do reimbursements,” Kaine recently told The AP. “I’m not going to commit to that, but if there’s a decision made by the legislature, that’s one option they could consider.”
In the meantime, Kaine is asking for more time to study the effectiveness of the fees in reducing wrecks and dangerous driving.
8/9/07-With an eye on the November elections, one Virginia state senator wants the new abusive driver fee laws thrown out.
Sen. Edward Houck, D-Spotsylvania, has asked that a bill be drafted to repeal the fees and provide refunds to those who paid their citations. He is expected to introduce the bill in the regular session that starts in January or in special session, if one is called.
The fees are part of the state’s long-term road-building plan that House lawmakers voted 85-15 to endorse and the Senate backed it on a 29-10 vote. Talk of repealing the fees has been a popular topic for many Democrats in the statehouse.
The GOP-authored transportation package was several years in the making when Gov. Tim Kaine signed it into law. Since the law took effect July 1, public outcry about the fines for certain driving violations has led many lawmakers to call for an end to them.
Houck said he would like to take back his vote but he knows it is something he cannot do. Instead, he wants lawmakers to right the wrong to Virginia drivers – and voters.
The fees for violations made by “bad drivers” are payable in three annual payments ranging from $300 to $1,000. They are expected to generate $65 million a year for transportation.
Nonresidents are immune from the penalties. That distinction led two district court judges to throw out the fees. The rulings, which apply only to Henrico County and the city of Richmond say it is illegal to apply the penalties solely to in-state drivers.
Advocates say the new fees are not intended to apply to basic speeding and traffic violations. But the wording in the bill leaves that door open under certain circumstances, The Free Lance-Star in Fredericksburg, VA, reported.
Calls to repeal the fees have been met with resistance from the Democratic governor. He said, however, that reimbursing certain car and truck drivers who pay abusive-driver fees is something that might be considered if the General Assembly amends the law next year.
“We might have the ability to do reimbursements,” Kaine recently told The Associated Press. “I’m not going to commit to that, but if there’s a decision made by the legislature, that’s one option they could consider.”
In the meantime, Kaine is asking for more time to study the effectiveness of the fees in reducing wrecks and dangerous driving.
Also on the agenda for the next session is including out-of-state drivers in the new fines.
7/31/07-Gov. Tim Kaine said he is standing by the recent increase in fines for certain driving violations, to the chagrin of many Virginia drivers.
The governor, however, said that reimbursing certain car and truck drivers who pay abusive-driver fees is something that might be considered if the General Assembly amends the law next year.
“We might have the ability to do reimbursements,” Kaine told The Associated Press. “I’m not going to commit to that, but if there’s a decision made by the legislature, that’s one option they could consider.”
The fee increases are part of the state’s long-term road-building plan. Of particular interest to Virginia truckers, it includes provisions to boost penalties for overweight trucks and heavy truck registration fees. It also increases the state’s 16-cent-per-gallon tax on diesel to 17.5 cents.
Other elements of the $3 billion plan rely on higher fines for the state’s worst drivers, tolls, tax and fee increases, surplus money and possible regional taxing authorities for Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia.
Supporters say the new fees do not apply to basic speeding and traffic violations. They will, however, apply to drunken drivers, driving in excess of 20 mph over the speed limit or other, more serious acts.
Residents statewide have been outspoken in their discontent for the “civil remedial fees” since they took effect July 1. The fees are payable in three annual payments ranging from $300 to $1,000 for violations made by “abusive drivers.”
Nonresidents are immune from the stiffer penalties.
Floating the idea of refunds was offered by the governor as a trade-off for calls to convene a special session to repeal the fees that are intended to target habitual traffic violators and those who commit the most serious offenses, The Daily News-Record in Harrisonburg, VA, reported. Kaine and other advocates would rather make any needed changes after the 2008 regular session starts in January.
Refunds are a possibility because the revenue from the fees has not been budgeted, The AP reported.
In the meantime, Kaine is asking for more time to study the effectiveness of the fees in reducing wrecks and dangerous driving.
“If it comes back that there’s no safety effect at all, then obviously that would be an important factor,” Kaine told The AP.
Also on the agenda for the next session is clarifying provisions in the bill and including out-of-state drivers in the new fines.
House Speaker William Howell, R-Stafford, and Senate Majority Leader Walter Stosch, R-Henrico, unveiled a plan to eliminate some traffic offenses that call for hefty fees, reduce others and apply the rules to out-of-state drivers.
With the November elections a little more than two months away, many Virginia lawmakers are rushing to address concerns from voters about the new “bad driver” fees. The fees are part of the state’s $1.1 billion long-term road plan that House lawmakers voted 85-15 to endorse and the Senate backed it on a 29-10 vote.
The GOP-authored transportation package was several years in the making when Gov. Tim Kaine signed it into law. Since the law took effect July 1, public outcry about the fines for certain driving violations has led many lawmakers to call for an end to them.
The fees for violations made by in-state drivers are payable in three annual payments ranging from $250 to $1,000. They are expected to generate $65 million a year for transportation.
Nonresidents are immune from the penalties because Kaine pushed for changes to the bill to clarify the fees would be limited to in-state drivers. That distinction led two district court judges to throw out the fees. The rulings, which apply only to Henrico County and the city of Richmond, say it is illegal to apply the penalties solely to in-state drivers.
Advocates say the new fees are not intended to apply to basic speeding and traffic violations. But the wording in the bill leaves that door open under certain circumstances, The Free Lance-Star in Fredericksburg, VA, reported.
In an effort to appease Virginia drivers – and voters – Republican leaders want to remove the fees on certain offenses, such as failing to report an accident or driving an uninsured vehicle. Other offenses that now call for pricey fees would be reconsidered, The Associated Press reported.
Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have called for a special session this year to address the fees. Those calls have been met with resistance from the Democratic governor. He said, however, that reimbursing certain car and truck drivers who pay abusive-driver fees is something that might be considered if the General Assembly amends the law next year.
“We might have the ability to do reimbursements,” Kaine recently told The AP. “I’m not going to commit to that, but if there’s a decision made by the legislature, that’s one option they could consider.”
In the meantime, Kaine is asking for more time to study the effectiveness of the fees in reducing wrecks and dangerous driving.
8/9/07-With an eye on the November elections, one Virginia state senator wants the new abusive driver fee laws thrown out.
Sen. Edward Houck, D-Spotsylvania, has asked that a bill be drafted to repeal the fees and provide refunds to those who paid their citations. He is expected to introduce the bill in the regular session that starts in January or in special session, if one is called.
The fees are part of the state’s long-term road-building plan that House lawmakers voted 85-15 to endorse and the Senate backed it on a 29-10 vote. Talk of repealing the fees has been a popular topic for many Democrats in the statehouse.
The GOP-authored transportation package was several years in the making when Gov. Tim Kaine signed it into law. Since the law took effect July 1, public outcry about the fines for certain driving violations has led many lawmakers to call for an end to them.
Houck said he would like to take back his vote but he knows it is something he cannot do. Instead, he wants lawmakers to right the wrong to Virginia drivers – and voters.
The fees for violations made by “bad drivers” are payable in three annual payments ranging from $300 to $1,000. They are expected to generate $65 million a year for transportation.
Nonresidents are immune from the penalties. That distinction led two district court judges to throw out the fees. The rulings, which apply only to Henrico County and the city of Richmond say it is illegal to apply the penalties solely to in-state drivers.
Advocates say the new fees are not intended to apply to basic speeding and traffic violations. But the wording in the bill leaves that door open under certain circumstances, The Free Lance-Star in Fredericksburg, VA, reported.
Calls to repeal the fees have been met with resistance from the Democratic governor. He said, however, that reimbursing certain car and truck drivers who pay abusive-driver fees is something that might be considered if the General Assembly amends the law next year.
“We might have the ability to do reimbursements,” Kaine recently told The Associated Press. “I’m not going to commit to that, but if there’s a decision made by the legislature, that’s one option they could consider.”
In the meantime, Kaine is asking for more time to study the effectiveness of the fees in reducing wrecks and dangerous driving.
Also on the agenda for the next session is including out-of-state drivers in the new fines.
7/31/07-Gov. Tim Kaine said he is standing by the recent increase in fines for certain driving violations, to the chagrin of many Virginia drivers.
The governor, however, said that reimbursing certain car and truck drivers who pay abusive-driver fees is something that might be considered if the General Assembly amends the law next year.
“We might have the ability to do reimbursements,” Kaine told The Associated Press. “I’m not going to commit to that, but if there’s a decision made by the legislature, that’s one option they could consider.”
The fee increases are part of the state’s long-term road-building plan. Of particular interest to Virginia truckers, it includes provisions to boost penalties for overweight trucks and heavy truck registration fees. It also increases the state’s 16-cent-per-gallon tax on diesel to 17.5 cents.
Other elements of the $3 billion plan rely on higher fines for the state’s worst drivers, tolls, tax and fee increases, surplus money and possible regional taxing authorities for Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia.
Supporters say the new fees do not apply to basic speeding and traffic violations. They will, however, apply to drunken drivers, driving in excess of 20 mph over the speed limit or other, more serious acts.
Residents statewide have been outspoken in their discontent for the “civil remedial fees” since they took effect July 1. The fees are payable in three annual payments ranging from $300 to $1,000 for violations made by “abusive drivers.”
Nonresidents are immune from the stiffer penalties.
Floating the idea of refunds was offered by the governor as a trade-off for calls to convene a special session to repeal the fees that are intended to target habitual traffic violators and those who commit the most serious offenses, The Daily News-Record in Harrisonburg, VA, reported. Kaine and other advocates would rather make any needed changes after the 2008 regular session starts in January.
Refunds are a possibility because the revenue from the fees has not been budgeted, The AP reported.
In the meantime, Kaine is asking for more time to study the effectiveness of the fees in reducing wrecks and dangerous driving.
“If it comes back that there’s no safety effect at all, then obviously that would be an important factor,” Kaine told The AP.
Also on the agenda for the next session is clarifying provisions in the bill and including out-of-state drivers in the new fines.