Surely you’ve heard about the new legislation passed in Virginia regarding traffic abuser fees, HB 3202 (Virginia Code 46.2-206.1).<br/> <br/> Being a “regular offender” myself (I receive a speeding ticket every couple of years), I was particularly interested. I think raising taxes is clearly a better answer for a variety of reasons, but obviously the legislators don’t want to do that as it’ll affect their reelection.<br/><br/>There is a lot of information out there, but it’s not all available in one place. That’s where I come in…<br/><br/>Bill Text [<a href=”http://www.courts.state.va.us/publications/hb_3202.pdf” target=”_blank”>link</a>]<br/>Vote Results [<a href=”http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?071+vot+HV1767+HB3202″ target=”_blank”>link</a>]<br/>Bob Brink’s (my delegate) Blog [<a href=”http://www.7-west.org/2007/07/02/abuser-fees-are-the-new-droopy-drawers/” target=”_blank”>link</a>]<br/>USA Today Article [<a href=”http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-06-29-Va-new-driving-laws_N.htm” target=”_blank”>link</a>]<br/>Online Petition (these never work) [<a href=”http://www.petitiononline.com/va3202/petition.html” target=”_blank”>link</a>]<br/>TheNewspaper.com Article [<a href=”http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/18/1818.asp” target=”_blank”>link</a>]<br/>A blog [<a href=”http://www.davidpitlyuk.com/2007/06/27/new-virginia-civil-fee-for-traffic-tickets-is-nuts/” target=”_blank”>link</a>]<br/><br/>A letter I wrote to my representatives:<br/><br/><span style=”font-style: italic;”>I just wanted to write to the two of you to let you know how appalled I am that we are now discriminating against our residents only in order to generate revenue. I am not advocating breaking the law in any way, but to say that traveling on I95 at 80mph, which I’m certain both of you have done (it’s the flow of traffic), is worse than assault, stalking, sexual battery, shoplifting, identity fraud, prostitution, and a handful of others is simply ludicrous. I can understand this law if at the same time we’re going to raise artificially low speed limits, but that has not happened so I can only assume we’re not. If revenue is a concern, raise taxes, it’s that simple. The irony in imposing an even greater fine on people driving on suspended licenses (4 out of 5 times they are suspended due to not being able to pay other fines) is simply baffling. I realize this might be too late, but as a voter in your area, I beg that you reconsider this new legislation, which in my mind is The Commonwealth discriminating against it’s own citizens (others are not punished).</span><br/><br/>My Senator’s response to me: <br/><br/><i>Thank you for your message to Senator Whipple.<span style=””>  </span>She and many other legislators supported raising the gasoline tax.<span style=””>  </span>A 5 cent per gallon increase would have cost the motorist who uses 10 gallons a week fifty cents and 20 gallons $1.00 a week.<span style=””>  </span>This would have spread the burden of paying for road construction and maintenance since all drivers would contribute.<br/>However, the Republican majority in the House of Delegates believed that Virginians would not accept any tax increase for transportation improvements. <span style=””> </span>They insisted on using a “fee” based system, which severely penalizes even minor traffic offenses.<br/><br/>While many believe that reckless driving and DUI offenses should be punished more severely than they are, these fees will create a hardship for some citizens.<br/><br/>However, the bill, HB 3202, patroned by the Speaker of the House of Delegates passed because legislators realize that Virginia no longer can fund the transportation system, and the majority party will not support more equitable solutions.</i><br/><br/>My delegate’s response:<br/><br/><i>Thank you for sharing your views on the “abuser fee” provisions which were included as a revenue component of the recently enacted omnibus transportation bill (HB 3202). These fees were developed by the majority members of the House of Delegates primarily as a means of raising funds for transportation while avoiding consideration of a broad-based, dedicated revenue source – the approach that I would have favored. Although I have misgivings about “abuser fees,” and voted against them on several occasions in the past, I voted for HB 3202 as amended (and improved) by Governor Kaine. In my opinion, a number of features of the bill – including its funding for Metro and other mass transit operations, as well as its Northern Virginia regional package – outweighed the bill’s deficiencies, notably the “abuser fee” provisions.</i>