Virginia Is For Lovers, Not Speeders
by CP Staff
Earlier this month, the Virginia House of Delegates voted to recreate an abusive driver fee program that generated taxpayer ire in the state last year.
Last year, the House also passed Virginia Code 46.2-206.1, a system of "Civil Remedial Fees" which also forbids judges from reducing or suspending it in any way.
One result is that the fine for any misdemeanor conviction for a motor vehicle related violation was automatically increased by $900. While the 2007 legislation applied only to Virginia residents, the latest effort targets out-of-state drivers as well.
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Virginia's Bill 161 imposes certain mandatory minimum fines, which can be as high as $3000, for specified traffic offenses.
The new penalties would hit all drivers convicted of misdemeanor and felony offenses that already carry possible fines of up to $2500.
Among the applicable offenses are: Voluntary and involuntary manslaughter, several DUI offenses, racing causing injury or death,
reckless driving causing death, failure to stop at an accident and not stopping for a marked or unmarked police car.
Interestingly, the author of both pieces of legislation was State Delegate David B. Albo (R-Springfield). Reportedly, Albo also heads the traffic law section for Albo and Oblon LLP, a Virginia law firm that defends drunk drivers against these same fines.
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