Virginia's new $3,550 speeding ticket

[R. Mears]

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...ingTicket.aspx

[Hondo]

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh, the Commonwealth of Virginia. I spent about 6 months up there, laying around. taking it easy, and living off my own funds earned before coming to Virginia. I never sought employment while there. These people have a tax or fee or levy on damn near everything. Personal property taxes, car tax (different from license and registration, it had to do with the value of your car on a yearly basis), and all manner of property confiscation laws. If you got it now, they're gonna get it sooner or later. The proof of payment of your personal property taxes is a sticker that goes in the lower middle of your car windshield. If, after the due date, you're driving around with no sticker, they can stop you and snatch your car.

Two places in the USA where radar detectors are illegal, Washington D.C. and Virginia. What are they afraid of? Revenue going to take a hit? Until moving to Virginia, I thought China was the only place communisium was alive and well.

Because I had all my mail forwarded to the Virginia address, my federal income tax return was also sent there. Virginia sent me all kinds of threatening letters for not paying my state income tax. It took 2 months, and a whole bunch of expensive long distance phone calls to prove to them (burden of proof on me) that I had not even been in Virginia during the tax year in question.

I was thrilled to leave and am sorry for those that must stay.

[edv]

Wow.

[Lousada]

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh, the Commonwealth of Virginia.

You should never move to Europe...

[Hondo]

You should never move to Europe...

You can bet I won't. Although, as the amount of people that expect something for nothing continues to grow along with those that want to rely upon government for their complete safety, well-being. and child-rearing, this entire country is starting to sink into the same stinking hole of socialism.

[mountainstar]

You can bet I won't. Although, as the amount of people that expect something for nothing continues to grow along with those that want to rely upon government for their complete safety, well-being. and child-rearing, this entire country is starting to sink into the same stinking hole of socialism.

Yup and it's probably going to get worse. Not only do I have to file federal and state taxes, apparently I have to file to pay city and county income tax as well.

[Mark in Oshawa]

Geeze, and Ithought the Province of Ontario was bad.....apparently NOT...

[jarrambide]

God save the state of Texas, one of 6 states without state tax, it may not be all that a libertarian would want but is still one of those places when the taxes are still reasonable, the government does not control you that much (compared to other states and other countries of course), if only the Astros and Texans could start winning.

[Hondo]

I miss texas. I need to get back there.

[R. Mears]

Don't come to communist left wing hardliner Illinios either. They were talking about eliminating the tolls on the tollway to ease congestion. Then the democrats took control and they doubled the toll fees. Talk about a 180.