Letters to the editor

Letters to the editor / News Virginian
Published: August 8, 2007

Easy fix for driver fees

Fixing the abusive driver fee problem ("The folly of abusive driver fees," Aug. 5) can be accomplished in a one-day special session of the General Assembly if Virginia legislators ask Gov. Timothy Kaine to convene it.

Yet, political elites in both parties prefer to point fingers of blame at their opponents for political gain while Virginia drivers twist in the wind, paying $1,050 abuser fines for going over a white line.

In Virginia, "reckless driving" includes: improperly adjusted brakes; driving with an obstructed view of the driver to the front or sides of the vehicle; failing to give adequate and timely signals of intentions to turn, slow down or stop; failure to yield right-of-way; driving 80 mph on an interstate.

Each carries a fine and a $1,050 abuser fee.

"Aggressive driving" includes: following too close; failure to give way to an overtaking vehicle; passing on the right even on an interstate; evading a traffic control device (cutting through a parking lot); and failure to observe lanes marked for traffic.

This includes not stopping for a traffic light and crossing over the solid line to turn right. Each offense carries a fine and a $1,050 abuser fee.

DMV states, "Drivers who accumulate 8 or more demerit points will be charged ... $100 and ... an additional $75 for each demerit point over eight up to a maximum of $700." 

Points can stay on your record for three to 11 years. Three-point violations include: coasting in neutral (don't run out of gas), curfew violations, not dimming headlights, failure to renew license, driving too slow, improper U-turn, inadequate hazard lights, 1 mph over limit, driving over 30 mph with hazards on.

Clearly, everyone makes mistakes, including legislators who take an oath to protect the rights of Virginians threatened by excessive abuser fees.

Some legislators did not realize the impact of these fees. Now that everyone knows, why not ask the governor to call a special session to repeal these fees now, especially since a Henrico County district court judge has said the law is unconstitutional.

What is the General Assembly waiting for- We had a special session in 2004 to fix a mistake affecting Sunday Blue Law store closings. We need to do it for the abusive driver fees.

The names, addresses and e-mails of your delegate and senator are at http://conview.state.va.us/whosmy.nsf/main-openform.

As public servants, state delegates and senators must put your concerns first. Urge them to write Gov. Kaine about this special session now.

Del. Bob Marshall, R-13
Manassas