Virginia's new $3,550 speeding ticket
Virginia's new $3,550 speeding ticket
Traffic offenders face whopping additional fees that live on long after they've paid their fines. It's part of a growing 'driver responsibility' trend that targets chronic offenders.
By MSN Money staff and wires
Traffic patrols have long been known as roving tax collectors. But in Virginia, they really are collecting taxes.
Starting July 1, an array of traffic offenses, from expired licenses to speeding, come with a "civil remedial fee" attached. That means a motorist convicted of reckless driving (75 mph in a 55 zone would qualify) faces not only a fine of up to $2,500 and a year in jail, but a non-negotiable $350-a-year tax for three years. The law forbids judges from waiving or reducing the fee.
Many fees dwarf the fines. A driver who disobeys an officer's order to pull into a weigh station would be fined $35 and required to pay a $61 court processing fee. But the civil remedial fee would be $900 over three years.
Drunken driving? A fee of $1,000 a year for three years, plus fines and court costs. No insurance? That's $300 a year for three years, plus fines.
It doesn't stop there. Anyone unlucky enough to have 8 points or more on his license (reckless driving is good for 6 by itself) would pay an additional $100, plus $75 for any points over 8, up to $700 a year. (For a complete list of fee-carrying offenses, see this .pdf file.)
Such "driver responsibility programs" have become increasingly common for two reasons: Many states find that serial offenders make up the bulk of their cases, and they simply need the money. In fact, Virginia added a fee rather than increase fines because it wanted the money to improve its roads, and revenue from fines must go to public schools. The fees are expected to raise $200 million a year.
FULL STORY
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Insurance/Advice/VirginiasNewSpeedingTicket.aspx
Traffic offenders face whopping additional fees that live on long after they've paid their fines. It's part of a growing 'driver responsibility' trend that targets chronic offenders.
By MSN Money staff and wires
Traffic patrols have long been known as roving tax collectors. But in Virginia, they really are collecting taxes.
Starting July 1, an array of traffic offenses, from expired licenses to speeding, come with a "civil remedial fee" attached. That means a motorist convicted of reckless driving (75 mph in a 55 zone would qualify) faces not only a fine of up to $2,500 and a year in jail, but a non-negotiable $350-a-year tax for three years. The law forbids judges from waiving or reducing the fee.
Many fees dwarf the fines. A driver who disobeys an officer's order to pull into a weigh station would be fined $35 and required to pay a $61 court processing fee. But the civil remedial fee would be $900 over three years.
Drunken driving? A fee of $1,000 a year for three years, plus fines and court costs. No insurance? That's $300 a year for three years, plus fines.
It doesn't stop there. Anyone unlucky enough to have 8 points or more on his license (reckless driving is good for 6 by itself) would pay an additional $100, plus $75 for any points over 8, up to $700 a year. (For a complete list of fee-carrying offenses, see this .pdf file.)
Such "driver responsibility programs" have become increasingly common for two reasons: Many states find that serial offenders make up the bulk of their cases, and they simply need the money. In fact, Virginia added a fee rather than increase fines because it wanted the money to improve its roads, and revenue from fines must go to public schools. The fees are expected to raise $200 million a year.
FULL STORY
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Insurance/Advice/VirginiasNewSpeedingTicket.aspx
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I'd like to see them enforce that for non-residents. 0 -
The additional fees only apply to Virginia residents. Radar detectors are illegal in Virginia. If a Va. resident is caught with one, it is confiscated on the spot. A non-resident keeps theirs. The answer? Obey the law. Northern Va. needs more road money. 0 -
guess there's going to be a lot of people in jail. 0 -
Just get a Mexican ID card....lol....they'll let you drive away. 0 -
Its really only about extorting money from citizens that can aford it!
The jail cells are full they can't keep anyone in jail for hardly 25% of their terms now! What a money game this is becoming.
Governments excessive taxation running amock!0 -
money loss is the key to controling population in a captialistic world. hit them where it hurts. if it doesnt work, hit them harder. good laws![^] 0 -
quote:Originally posted by ObiWan
Just get a Mexican ID card....lol....they'll let you drive away.
Truth hurts. [:D][:D]0 -
quote:Originally posted by bobski
money loss is the key to controling population in a captialistic world. hit them where it hurts. if it doesnt work, hit them harder. good laws![^]
I guess they are good laws if you are a thief and a communist.0 -
quote:Originally posted by jimdeere
Radar detectors are illegal in Virginia. If a Va. resident is caught with one, it is confiscated on the spot.
land of commies and the CIA,
not setting foot (erm...wheel?) there anytime soon0 -
LOL ... don't want to hear anymore crap, James, about how Kalifornia is the
land of nuts ... you've even WAY out paced us here in Kalifornia!
... good start!
[}:)]0 -
What the hell is the country coming too...[V] 0 -
Our government is like cancer. Slowly and uncontrolably eating up every dollar we earn till it's all gone. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by sig232
Its really only about extorting money from citizens that can aford it!
The jail cells are full they can't keep anyone in jail for hardly 25% of their terms now! What a money game this is becoming.
Governments excessive taxation running amock!
+1
Any way to screw the working people in this country more. bleeners.[:(!][:(!]0 -
From the article:
"The sponsor of the law, David Albo, is a partner in one of Virginia's largest law firms; one of its specialties is traffic cases."
Seems like a huge conflict of interest.0 -
"Need more money" ????????????
They would do a lot better spending what they do collect a litle more wisely.0 -
quote:Originally posted by ECC
What the hell is the country coming too...[V]
the ideal is to make every law abiding citizen a criminal one way or another, this will justify further actions to take even more control0 -
So it's a "No NEW TAXES" scheme. We'll just raise your fees and fines. 0
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