Virginia jsut became the worst state to drive in...urgh...

[Goosemaster]

#45#%#%##@%!!!!!!!!

:|

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

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


Delegate AlboVirginia 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.

Source: PDF File Civil Remedial Fees (Executive Secretary, Virginia Supreme Court, 6/21/2007)

http://www.thenewspaper.com/rl.../2007/va-drivertax.pdf

urgh!!!:|

conniving bastards:|


<---glad he uses pub. transit

 

[mwtgg]

That is ridiculous and I wouldn't be surprised to see that struck down.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: mwtgg
That is ridiculous and I wouldn't be surprised to see that struck down.

Not before a few of the snipers take down a few comrades

 

[George P Burdell]

/glad he doesn't live in Virginia

 

[Sqube]

Man, you Virginia drivers are getting shafted something vicious with that one.

It doesn't apply to everyone driving through, right? Only people who reside in the state?

 

[zinfamous]

BS.

Virginia was ALWAYS the worst state to drive in.

 

[RossMAN]

Were you on your way to buying a new laptop, again?

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: zinfamous
BS.

Virginia was ALWAYS the worst state to drive in.

I was feigning ignorance for the sake of the troops... so that the many millions of tears pulling down on my smile would feel their acts futile....

alas ...

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
Were you on your way to buying a new laptop, again?

DAMN YOU

 

[Mike2002]

Now watch them do that little Operation Air, Land, and Speed thingy every weekend. This past weekend they said they wrote over 7,000 tickets during it. That'll be a looooooooot of money in a few weeks.

 

[Alone]

HOLY CRAP!

 

[mrSHEiK124]

WTF. How did a f*cking TICKET LAWYER get that kind of crap passed unnoticed?!?! Talk about ulterior motives.

 

[Brainonska511]

NY has something similar. I got a speeding ticket last July from a speed trap set up on the Verazano Bridge approach. After paying the $250 ticket, I got hit with something called the "New York State Driver's Assessment Program" which was a $300 fine payable over 3 years because the ticket I got was 6 points. I'm glad it wasn't more, as each additional point over 6 is another $50.

 

[Ronstang]

This country is quickly going down the drain because are lawmakers are too stupid to spend taxpayer's money wisely so they keep coming up with schemes to milk us of even more. It is time to kick them ALL out and do a fresh install.

 

[Triumph]

Goddamnit!!! :| Who the fack let this one pass? This constitutes cruel and unusual punishment!

 

[bcterps]

Only if you're a Virginia resident though, lol

 

[Compton]

LOL! Nice!

 

[biggestmuff]

Text

Let Dave know what you think:

dave@davealbo.com
703-451-3555

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

Two words: Poitical Suicide

This guy will never win another election. And if there are any smart guys in that legislature they will RUSH a bill to the floor striking down that piece of crap.

 

[CrackRabbit]

Originally posted by: Ronstang
This country is quickly going down the drain because are lawmakers are too stupid to spend taxpayer's money wisely so they keep coming up with schemes to milk us of even more. It is time to kick them ALL out and do a fresh install.

Country Over. Lawyers = Very Yes.

 

[Engineer]

Originally posted by: Ronstang
This country is quickly going down the drain because are lawmakers are too stupid to spend taxpayer's money wisely so they keep coming up with schemes to milk us of even more. It is time to kick them ALL out and do a fresh install.

QFT.

 

[kranky]

Virginia has the luxury of hosting many miles of very busy north-south Interstates and highways and they could be writing speeding tickets 24/7 if they wanted. My friend was coming through VA a couple months ago as the lead car in a 2-car caravan and got pulled over for speeding. I think they wrote him for going 15 over the limit and it was almost $600. His wife was driving the second car and he gave her a ticket too for the same amount since she stopped when my friend got pulled over.

VA probably takes in as much as they would if the highways were toll roads, but without the pesky costs of booths and toll collectors and the irritating stopping to pay the tolls.

And they indeed went to a ticket lawyer to get the ticket knocked down somewhat. Instead of costing him $1200 ($600x2) it ended up costing him about $700 in total - $400 for the lawyer and $300 for the tickets. What a racket, as the story in the OP makes clear.

 

[DrPizza]

wtf? Passing a stopped school bus is the same as failing to put on a right hand turn signal to head onto the offramp of a highway?!

 

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: kranky
Virginia has the luxury of hosting many miles of very busy north-south Interstates and highways and they could be writing speeding tickets 24/7 if they wanted. My friend was coming through VA a couple months ago as the lead car in a 2-car caravan and got pulled over for speeding. I think they wrote him for going 15 over the limit and it was almost $600. His wife was driving the second car and he gave her a ticket too for the same amount since she stopped when my friend got pulled over.

VA probably takes in as much as they would if the highways were toll roads, but without the pesky costs of booths and toll collectors and the irritating stopping to pay the tolls.

And they indeed went to a ticket lawyer to get the ticket knocked down somewhat. Instead of costing him $1200 ($600x2) it ended up costing him about $700 in total - $400 for the lawyer and $300 for the tickets. What a racket, as the story in the OP makes clear.

The idiots in Richmond have been busy setting special enforcement zones along selected parts of certain interstates which is where your friend must have gotten ticketed. Normal fines for speeding are nowhere close to that number. Currently they are $5 per MPH+$57 unless you get caught in the super double secret magic Highway Safety Corridor in which case the fine doubles. Other "gotchas" are construction zones and neighborhoods that have been designated enforcement zones.

The new stuff refered to in the OP are over and above the normal fines and only assesed to residents. This is the genius work of our so called "no new taxes" Republicans in the General Assembly and I predict that control will change come the next election based on these fees. The dumba$$es down there can call it a "remedial fee" and say it is all in the name of safety but given that they are looking at this as a major source of funding for new roads common sense tells you their self-interest is in us all not being safe so the "Remedial Fee" tax (oops sorry Republicans don't levy taxes so this magic money needs another name) cash rolls in.

 

[CptCrunch]

Originally posted by: Engineer
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Ronstang
This country is quickly going down the drain because are lawmakers are too stupid to spend taxpayer's money wisely so they keep coming up with schemes to milk us of even more. It is time to kick them ALL out and do a fresh install.</end quote></div>

QFT.

x2