[boogie van]

The state of Virginia has adopted additional civil fines on top of the tickets you will receive for some minor driving offences. Some are pretty serious, some are not.

http://www.courts.state.va.us/publications/hb_3202.pdf

These additional fines will become effective July 1st. Drive Safe!

 

[freedomgli]

Any misdemeanor or felony driving related conviction (remember, getting caught 20mph+ over the limit or anything over 80mph is a felony in VA) now incurs a "civil remedial fee" of $350 + $350 + $350 = $1,050 on top of attorney fees, standard court fees, etc. This new $1,050 fee is, in essence, a tax. But it only applies to VA residents or those who have no valid license (e.g. driving while suspended).

 

[webba1]

Ouch guys, Sorry to hear that.

 

[Braineack]

besides the typical 20+ over, I think they are a good thing.

but when i went to fairfax court last week, and saw numerous number of plasma tvs and new construction....i doubt there is any finiancial "burden" in our area.

 

[freedomgli]

The fees do vary slightly for some offenses. Vehicular manslaughter costs $3,000. First DWI costs $2,250. If you're convicted of operating a motorcycle without the proper M endorsement on your license that'll be $900. Playing porno on your AVIC-Z1 and someone in a high-riding SUV spots it and calls you in that'll be $900. Using nitrous oxide on the street is a misdemeanor in VA. Pay up $900. It is unclear whether these "civil remedial fees" are in lieu of or in addition to regular fines associated with such offenses.

 

[Braineack]

yeah i dunno, but we'll see how long this last....but bankruptcy lawyers are going to have a field day.

 

[phinz]

Yet another reason I would never dream of living in Virginia.

 

[F1Bob23]

screw va and all there bs

 

[DRFT MX5]

Yup... that all officially sucks... starting to sound like getting caught dealing drugs carries less of a fine than driving over the speed limit...

 

[Braineack]

hahah it beats CA and dealing with the rice police and CARB refs.

 

[uncompiled]

besides the typical 20+ over, I think they are a good thing.

but when i went to fairfax court last week, and saw numerous number of plasma tvs and new construction....i doubt there is any finiancial "burden" in our area.

From the 24,000 square foot chateaus in Great Falls to the moderately-priced $1.5M townhouses in Rosslyn, I doubt that there is any financial burden in most of Northern Virginia.

 

[Braineack]

It's just as (if not cheaper) than most areas close to large cities.

but you fail to forget northern virginia is probably 75% migrant workers who stuff about 5-10 people into a residence.

plus drive 10 miles west (falls church, fairfax, centreville, manassas, gainesville) and you can buy a lot more with a lot less.

hell even south arlington is like half the cost of north arlington.

I'm 25 and own in arlington, 5 miles from the city. $3000 would be a burden

 

[AKADriver]

At least they make no effort to conceal the fact that it's a cash grab, pure and simple.

I want to know what genius in Richmond came up with the 20mph = felony speeding law. I do 20 over the limit literally every day. 75mph is the normal flow of traffic on 495 when there's no gridlock. Can someone explain how this carries the same legal standing as robbing a liquor store?

 

[freedomgli]

Won't someone think of the children! 75mph in a Porsche 911 with a well-trained, attentive driver behind the wheel is much different than a drowsy tractor trailer driver doing the same thing. Unfortunately, the law doesn't discriminate between the two and spirited driving by capable enthusiasts has been demonized for decades, only in the past 10 years or so has the punishment been so severe.

 

[boogie van]

I was talking with my dad about this last weekend, apparently part of the reason for these money grabbing fines is that VA plans to increase spending on transportation (fixing roads, making new roads, metro, etc..) by 40%.

 

[freedomgli]

So the failed government that failed to tax/save/spend/ wisely for decades has now realized the error of its ways and is going to wave a magic wand to correct the state's transportation woes once and for all? The roads will still be crap 10 years from now but you'll be living in even more fear of excessive punishment for truly minor offenses.

 

[uncompiled]

It's just as (if not cheaper) than most areas close to large cities.

You're absolutely correct. The Washington DC metropolitan area may be pricey, but the cost of living is still inexpensive in comparison to most major cities.

but you fail to forget northern virginia is probably 75% migrant workers who stuff about 5-10 people into a residence.

You said it, not me.

plus drive 10 miles west (falls church, fairfax, centreville, manassas, gainesville) and you can buy a lot more with a lot less.

hell even south arlington is like half the cost of north arlington.

I'm 25 and own in arlington, 5 miles from the city. $3000 would be a burden

I'm not saying that $3000 wouldn't be a burden, but many people are arguing that this "driving tax" places an unfair burden on people that are closer to the poverty line. I'm not going to agree or disagree, but that is quite possible.

On the other hand, this fee is really just targeted at bad drivers. If you don't drink and drive, you're not going to have to pay $3000. Yes, it's a burden, but it's only a burden because you failed to obey the law. If you get a ticket for 10MPH over the speed limit, you're not going to be charged that much.

 

[AKADriver]

It's really impossible to get a ticket for anything less than 20 over in most of NoVA, though. When normal traffic speed on 495 is 75 (in a 55 zone), if you were to speed ahead of traffic at all and make yourself a cop target, you'd be in deep crap instantly.

 

[freedomgli]

I got a speeding ticket last year while traveling on the outer loop of the Beltway in NoVa between Gallows Rd. and Braddock Rd. I was cited for going 74mph in a 55mph zone even though my speedometer was only indicating 70. I was in the middle lane behind a beige Toyota Sienna doing the same speed and we were being passed on both sides by faster traffic. But NOOOOOOO, it had to be the little red sports car that was terrorizing the peaceful citizens of the Commonwealth and needed to be punished.

 

[uncompiled]

I got a speeding ticket last year while traveling on the outer loop of the Beltway in NoVa between Gallows Rd. and Braddock Rd. I was cited for going 74mph in a 55mph zone even though my speedometer was only indicating 70. I was in the middle lane behind a beige Toyota Sienna doing the same speed and we were being passed on both sides by faster traffic. But NOOOOOOO, it had to be the little red sports car that was terrorizing the peaceful citizens of the Commonwealth and needed to be punished.

Well, I know how that works. My car is red as well... with a turbo-back exhaust, rollbar, and harnesses. When I get pulled over, I never get treated lightly.

It's really impossible to get a ticket for anything less than 20 over in most of NoVA, though. When normal traffic speed on 495 is 75 (in a 55 zone), if you were to speed ahead of traffic at all and make yourself a cop target, you'd be in deep crap instantly.

Speeding ahead of people speeding 20 miles over the speed limit? That argument isn't going to go very far in court. Driving 20 MPH over the speed limit is reckless driving in Virginia. If the speed limit was 75, then you wouldn't be speeding... but it's not. It's 55. That's how fast they want you to drive... if you want to go faster, pay the fines and help fund the new transportation budget... or move.