$3550 Speeding Ticket
 

Virginia Introduces $3550 Speeding Ticket

Virginia legislator introduces new speeding ticket tax that boosts penalties beyond $3550, driving business to his traffic law firm.


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.

http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/18/1818.asp

This is a conflict of interests and blatently rapes Virginians:mad:

Omfg!

That is insane! :freak: :dizzy2:

Virginia is mental! Just read the entire article. This has to be a joke, really.

In all my travels to the US, mostly driving, I have never seen more troopers per capita than Virginia. New York state has lots, but Virginia must get 50% of its total revenue from speeding tickets.

I guess there aren't really any other real crimes being committed, other than the state finding a legal way to rip off its residents?

virginia sucks

Holy cr@p!

When I got caught for 85mph in a 55mph construction zone in Limon, the ticket was only $250 and 3 points! Even that was plea bargained down to "defective vehicle", $65 in court fees and 1 point (thanks to an incompetent DA).

I have heard that Virginia and Ohio historically have been the two worst states for punitive, and revenue generating, traffic enforcement and speed traps.

It seems like highway robbery under cover of "law" enforcment.

Virginia additionally, I believe, is the only state in the USA which flat outlaws
radar detectors in automobiles.

That kind of thing fosters contempt and hatred of law and law enforcement.
The above scenario is scandalous, appearing at least on its face motivated solely by a greedy politician's move to craft a law to allow him literally and legally to steal money from motorists and put it in his own pocket.

It is worse than mere conflict of interest; it is for all intents and purposes brazen theft under cover of law, and the perpetrator should be removed from office, and criminally prosecuted, if it were possible under existing laws, either state or federal.

The Virginians ought to mount a recall campaign against this Republican politician, and either a referendum started to repeal the law, or get it repealed in their state legislature.

This is far, far worse than most taxes because it clearly was conceived to with the idea take money from citizens and put it right into the pocket of the lawmaker who proposed it.

It brings to mind the Boston Tea party, in fact.....

You ain't kiddin'! I am, no, make that WAS, a Virginia Republican. That SOB ought to be locked up. He should be put into a cell with that worthless POS judge from the District that just lost his stupid lawsuit against the Korean dry cleaners!

Maybe this guy would prefer to just randomly break down people's front doors, go into their houses, and "seize" anything of value "for the state treasury."

Something tells me this is unlawful.....this is some bad mojo....

Bad mojo for sure. Unlawful? I don't know. It is APPARENTLY the law now. I read about this in the Post yesterday. I'd like to see this SOB get a speeding ticket for 20mph over the limit. THAT would be great! They could just impound his car, seize his house, and sell off his wife and children . . .

That guy has a "I want bad karma" wish, doesn't he?

In just a few short months, he will have enough bad karma built up, his wife will shoot him in the head, and give him a terrible headache.

As a former long-term resident of Virginia, let me just say this:

NOTHING that the Virginia Republican Party does surprises or shocks me any longer. Nothing.

Although I will be mildly amused if they now turn around and claim that this law is someone else's fault -- liberals, godless Yankees living in Northern Virginia, mind control, what have you.

I suppose they feel this is a neat way to raise revenues without officially having a "tax." But I think this is far more abusive of personal liberty and fairness than an increase in the tax rate. Not to mention a gigantic perverse incentive to have the police ignore other crimes and to frame people for speeding. Ever try to fight a bogus radar gun readout?

-- Bokonon

The way the new fee works is if - and only if - you are a Virginia licensed driver then you have the pay the regular fine, but they tack on the fee to the cost of your driver's license fee. Essentially it works out that if your driving is worse then you will have to pay more for the privilege to have a license. The fee only applies to more serious violations (e.g., speeding + 20 MPH = reckless driving).

If you are licensed in another state then you only pay the regular fine.

I wonder though if you are a Virginia driver and you get one of these tickets if you could simply surrender you license and not have to pay the fee?

Apparently New Jersey has the same sort of system, only their fees are a little more reasonable.

There is an constitutional Equal Protection Under The Law issue which you could raise but I'm sure they considered it to some extent when debating the bill that became this law.

Needless to say, I will not be getting anywhere near those speeds.

I have driven through Virginia a number of times but always at the speed limit, that state has a reputation.


These days with the price of gas I really couldn't care less. Now its cheaper to fly to FL vs drive.

I have heard of other countries where you are not allowed to drive a car older than "x" years old.

So to me, what Albo the Lawyer did in the name of self-interest is equivalent to what "Legislator John Doe" the car salesman might hypothetically do to outlaw any car more than 10 years old.

My research shows that Albo just got elected the last time by a hair. And I think all Virginia legislators are up for re-election this November.

Already one incumbent has lost their party's primary in Hampton Roads. The challenger indicated she would introduce legislation to repeal HB 3202.

http://www.PetitionOnline.com/va3202/petition.html

Ken300D

Took the words right out of my keyboard. This guy is probably from No. VA.